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CDC researchers have developed a novel method that generates globally amplified DNA copies retaining parental methylation information; making accurate DNA-archiving for methylation studies much more feasible and cost-effective than undertaking such an endeavor with alternate technologies. This unique approach eliminates a significant bottleneck in the collection of methylation information in the genome(s) of an individual organism, hosts and pathogens.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus primarily infects animals but also has the capacity to infect humans. The disease causes abortion and death among RVF-infected livestock, resulting in substantial economic loss to people living in many parts of Africa and Arabian Peninsula. Currently, there is no commercial vaccine for RVF. CDC scientists have developed a RVF virus replicon particle (VRP) vaccine candidate.

CDC scientists have developed recombinant flavivirus nucleic acids for the generation of broad protective immunity against flaviviruses, as well as the development of sensitive serologic diagnostic tools. Mosquito borne viral encephalitis is often caused by a flavivirus, such as Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue virus or West Nile virus. Infection by these pathogens is often lethal to both humans and animals.

This CDC developed collection device is a small (approximately 1 cubic foot) open-sided container that attracts mosquitoes seeking a daytime resting location. The container is dark-colored and constructed of molded wood-fiber or recycled, high-density plastic. Mosquitoes that enter the dark space of the container are aspirated through a battery-powered fan into a collection receptacle. The receptacle is especially attractive to Culex and Anopheles mosquitos' vectors of West Nile Virus and malaria parasites, respectively.

This CDC developed optimization technology allows one to characterize the behavior of the coefficient of variation (CV) for a range of mass spectrometer machine settings. Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) are used for the early detection of numerous diseases, for example cervical cancer . A critical step in the analytical process is the optimization of experiment and machine settings to ensure the best possible reproducibility of results, as measured by the CV.

CDC researchers have developed a multiplexed diagnostic assay for sensitive detection and distinction between viral group members based on the presence/absence of infection-generated antibodies within a clinical serum sample. For example, this assay can be used for rapid discrimination of a clinical unknown as specifically a West Nile or St. Louis encephalitis viral infection. This is particularly beneficial as these two viruses are typically difficult to distinguish by standard serological assays.

This new technique uses microsphere/microbead-based flow-analysis as a platform.

A quantitative RT-PCR-based assay has been developed to rapidly detect all known strains of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). RVFV infections occur in both humans and livestock animals resulting in significant mortality and economic loss. Upon outbreak, RVFV has been known to cause devastating loss among livestock (primarily sheep and cattle) with outbreaks characterized by sweeping "abortion storms" and elevation newborn animal mortality approaching 100% in affected areas. The CDC-developed assay is capable of detecting and quantifying RVFV infection in both human and veterinary samples.

CDC researchers have developed an assay for detection and diagnosis of poxviruses within clinical samples or from lab culture-systems. The assay specifically targets chordopoxviruses (except avipoxviruses) for PCR-based identification; an improvement upon the current standard of cell culturing methodologies. Individual chordopoxvirus species can cause disease in humans (e.g., vaccinia, cowpox, monkeypox/Molluscum contagiosum) and animals (e.g., sheeppox, myxoma, swinepox, mule deer pox, tanapox/Orf virus, Bovine popular stomatitis virus).

This invention provides a rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for the detection of pathogenic fungi and subsequent species-specific discrimination. CDC scientists have developed nucleic acid probes to identify the six most medically important Candida species and endemic mycoses, and to differentiate them from other medically important fungi in a multi-analyte profiling system.

CDC researchers have characterized epitopes of Bacillus anthracis Lethal Factor (LF), a critical component of the B. anthracis lethal toxin. These epitopes may allow for development of therapeutics for the treatment or prevention of B. anthracis infection. They may also allow screening for B. anthracis LF in a sample and development of a peptide anthrax vaccine.