Latest news with #ASMMicrobe2025
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Airborne fungal spores may help predict Covid, flu surge: Study
New Delhi: Monitoring fungal spores in the outdoor air can predict surges in flu and Covid-19 infections, according to a study. Researchers from Lynn University in Florida, US, discovered that airborne concentrations of fungal spores -- but not pollen -- were strongly linked to increases in flu and Covid-19 cases. When airborne concentrations of fungal spores rose, the scientists often saw a jump in infections within a few days. The study models were able to predict flu and Covid-19 surges with high accuracy, particularly in the fall season. However, pollen didn't show the same connection or prediction. 'The findings from our study suggest that monitoring airborne fungal spore levels could help predict short-term outbreaks (spikes) of flu and Covid-19, giving public health systems an early warning signal,' said Felix E. Rivera-Mariani, Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Lynn. 'Our findings also highlight the potential role of environmental factors -- not just person-to-person spread -- in contributing to the incidence of respiratory viral infections. That could open new doors for targeted public health alerts, especially in areas with high outdoor airborne fungi," Rivera-Mariani added. In the study, the team examined daily data from 2022 to 2024, in two major health regions in Puerto Rico—San Juan and Caguas. The data included the daily incidence of people diagnosed with Covid-19 and flu, and the concentrations of airborne fungal spores and pollen recorded on the same days. The scientists then implemented statistical and machine learning models to see if high levels of these environmental exposures could predict spikes in flu and Covid-19 cases within the same week or the following week (called lag-effect). 'The findings may help inform environmental risk alerts, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly or those with asthma and allergic rhinitis,' Rivera-Mariani said. The study was presented at ASM Microbe 2025 in Los Angeles, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Health
- Business Wire
Integrated DNA Technologies Announces Innovation Roadmap Advances to Infectious Disease Portfolio
CORALVILLE, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a global genomics leader, is expanding its infectious disease portfolio with new solutions to enhance worldwide research efforts in monitoring infectious disease dynamics, supporting surveillance and accelerating biomarker discovery. As part of its innovation roadmap, focused on enabling academic and medical researchers, health organizations, and the scientific community prepare for ongoing and future global health challenges, IDT has unveiled two new powerful tools: The PrimeTime™ Influenza Kit and PrimeTime Research Pathogen Panels. These differentiated offerings expand upon IDT's current infectious disease portfolio of qPCR and next generation sequencing (NGS) solutions comprised of stand-alone library preparation, target enrichment and normalization chemistries, as well as connected DNA solutions, to support researchers exploring viral evolution, epidemiological studies, drug resistance mechanisms, drug development research and more. 'Building on IDT's storied impact on the global fight against infectious diseases, these new tools reflect the ongoing innovation investments we're making to empower researchers to stay ahead of current and emerging health challenges,' said Adler Edward. Share First to Market: Complete Solution for Influenza Research Launching at ASM Microbe 2025 is IDT's PrimeTime Influenza Kit, the first complete qPCR solution of its kind designed specifically to amplify common influenza strains. The kit targets Influenza A, Influenza A (H5N1), Influenza B, and RNase. It includes an internal control for sample quality assessment, a pre-mixed primer and probe set, PrimeTime 4x Broad-Range Master Mix and direct amplification enhancer. This streamlined solution enables researchers to generate high-confidence data for both seasonal and emerging influenza strains. New Cost-effective Solution to Accelerate Sexual Health and Pathogen Research IDT is also showcasing its new PrimeTime Research Pathogen Panels, a customizable, high-throughput solution that allows researchers to identify key sequences and mutations across 10 diverse research applications—spanning respiratory, gastrointestinal and sexual health studies—and an 11th category for viral infection research. The mix-and-match format across targets and dyes enables scientists to select from a broad list of targets to maximize cost and time savings. The panels' flexible assay configuration facilitates rapid, multiplexed detection and characterization of pathogens, with up to 211 available targets including sexually transmitted infections, human papillomavirus, urinary tract infections and more. With seamless integration into existing qPCR workflows, this single-tube offering equips researchers with innovative tools for exploring pathogen dynamics across individual and population-level studies. 'Building on IDT's storied impact on the global fight against infectious diseases, these new tools reflect the ongoing innovation investments we're making to empower researchers to stay ahead of current and emerging health challenges,' said Adler Edward, VP, Gene Reading Components at IDT. 'By delivering robust, customizable and high-quality solutions, backed by IDT's trusted technical and scientific expertise, researchers can feel confident in accelerating their discoveries and deepening their understanding of pathogen dynamics in human health.' To learn more about IDT's infectious disease innovation roadmap and how these new offerings are shaping the future of virus transmission research, visit IDT at ASM Microbe 2025 at booth #1723. To place an order, click here. About IDT Building from a strong foundation of innovation, expertise, and reliability, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) has evolved from an oligo manufacturer to a leading genomics provider. We work shoulder-to-shoulder with scientific and global health partners to enable genomics breakthroughs at scale. Our vision of enabling researchers to rapidly move from the lab to life-changing advances reflects our ongoing commitment to a healthier, brighter future for all. IDT is proud to be part of Danaher, a global science and technology leader. Together we combine our capabilities to accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow's science and technology to improve human health. For more information about IDT, visit and follow the company on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Disclaimer: RUO — For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, IDT does not intend these products to be used in clinical applications and does not warrant their fitness or suitability for any clinical diagnostic use. Purchaser is solely responsible for all decisions regarding the use of these products and any associated regulatory or legal obligations.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zymo Research Launches Microbiome Grant to Support Innovation in Microbial Sciences
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zymo Research is proud to introduce the Master the Microbiome Grant, a global initiative dedicated to advancing research in microbiomics, metagenomics, and microbial sciences. This grant empowers researchers by providing access to industry-leading sample and library preparation solutions and services, as well as opportunities to share their research with the field at-large. By supporting scientists tackling pressing global health and environmental challenges, Zymo Research reaffirms its commitment to enabling breakthrough discoveries, while ensuring researchers have the resources they need to continue pushing the boundaries of microbial exploration. Grant Details Grand Prize: A $5,000 USD credit for any of Zymo Research's microbiome products and services, plus an invitation with travel and accommodations to present at ASM Microbe 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. Four Finalists: Each will receive a $2,500 USD credit for any of Zymo Research's microbiome products and services. Eligibility and DeadlinesThis grant is open to researchers worldwide. Proposals must be original and align with the grant's mission of advancing microbiome science. Applications are due by March 31, 2025, with winners announced by April 30, 2025. For application and submission details, please visit Zymo Research's website. About Zymo Research Corp. Zymo Research, a privately owned biotech company founded in 1994, is a global leader in molecular tools for life sciences. Driven by the principle "The Beauty of Science is to Make Things Simple," Zymo Research is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that address complex scientific challenges. Zymo Research offers a comprehensive range of technologies, including sample collection reagents and devices, DNA/RNA purification kits, and NGS library preparation kits, as well as microbiomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and genomics sequencing services. In addition to providing cutting-edge research tools, Zymo Research is committed to sustainability. By developing environmentally friendly solutions, the company strives to reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future through scientific innovation. For more information, please visit and follow on LinkedIn, Bluesky, X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Zymo Research Corp. Sign in to access your portfolio
