Reported by: Dr. Venkat S. Karra, Ph.D.
Microbes are tiny organisms that live everywhere—in air, soil, rock, and water. These microscopic organisms are found in plants and animals as well as in the human body. Some live in heat, while others live in freezing cold. Some microbes need oxygen to live, but others do not. Some microbes keep us healthy while others can make us sick. Indeed, the relationship between microbes and humans is delicate and complex.
Infectious pathogens include some viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites. These pathogens are the cause of disease epidemics. Their existence date back more than 3.5 billion years, placing them among the oldest living things on Earth.
Since the 19th century, we have known that microbes cause infectious diseases. Near the end of the 20th century, researchers began to learn that microbes also contribute to many chronic diseases and illnesses. Mounting scientific evidence strongly links microbes to some forms of cancer, coronary artery disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and chronic lung diseases.
Recently we have come across a report on the new syndicated TrendsmemeTM Report: Infectious Disease – Antimicrobials.
This report was released by Medmeme, LLC and with an emphasis on three indications—pneumonia, tuberculosis, and malaria – because they command the largest R&D effort and market in infectious diseases, and also they offer a window into issues relevant broadly across the therapeutic category. Based on the number of clinical trials reported in the Medmeme database, R&D for the broad field of pneumonia is the most active of the three indications.
A major problem common to all three indications is drug resistance and there is a significant need for novel new treatment approaches that work by different mechanisms.
Medmeme CEO Mahesh Naithani says that “There’s no doubt that serious measures are necessary to overcome the huge challenges. For this, the effort of cooperation between government, science, and the industry is very important. I’m particularly referring to The Infectious Diseases Society of America, the physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases, working with the FDA to have it allow labeling antibiotics that fight drug-resistant strains of bacteria as “orphan drugs”, he says.
From this, companies may see these drugs on a faster track for approval and would be encouraged to join the effort in developing treatments. The new FDA guidelines on the design of antibiotic clinical trials are already having an impact on the pace of the progress for these innovative drugs. And the partnering in Europe of GSK, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Basilea Pharmaceutica with leading scientists to form a consortium dedicated to sharing information and development data also addresses the lack of antibiotics in the pipeline.
And the good work of NGO’s that will bring the successes of these efforts to the developing countries is highly needed. It’ll take all this, and more, to win the battle.
Read more on this report at the following URL:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/7/prweb9727894.htm?goback=%2Egde_4346921_member_138106292
Thank you.
Please advise if a forthcoming post on e-coli should be under Infectious disesses or we need a new category for Bacteriology
The microbes in the Human Body are:
Ear (outer) – Aspergillus (fungus)
Skin – Candida (fungus)
Small intestine – Clostridium (Bacteria)
Intestines – E. coli (Bacteria)
Vagina – Gardnerella vaginalis (Bacteria)
Stomach – Lactobacillus (Bacteria)
Urethra – Mycobacterium (Bacteria)
Nose – Staphylococcus aureus (Bacteria)
Mouth – Streptococcus salivarius (Bacteria)
Large intestine – Trichomonas hominis (protozoa)
I would suggest, instead of a separate category, a subgroup of bacteria, fungus, protozoa, and viral under the category “infectious diseases”. I believe, it would be less confusing to post as well as to search.
Dr. Karra,
Thank you for your sound advice like always, I’ll follow up on that