Jul. 9th, 2009

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Antifungal Pepper Compound Has Potential in Agriculture and Medicine
___________________________________________

ARS News Service
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Rosalie Marion Bliss, (301) 504-4318, rosalie.bliss@ars.usda.gov
July 9, 2009
--View this report online, plus photos and related stories, at www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr
___________________________________________

Dried, ground cayenne peppers have been spicing up cuisine for thousands of years. Now, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and colleagues have found that a patented antifungal plant compound in cayenne, called CAY-1, holds promise for dual use as an antifungal in both agriculture and medicine.

The substance is believed to work by attaching to fungal membranes, where it causes cell components to leak, eventually killing the cell. CAY-1 may also enter fungal cells, and adversely affect certain signaling pathways that, in turn, damage the mitochondria-the powerhouses for several cellular processes-in cells.

Anthony De Lucca, a microbiologist with the Food and Feed Safety Research Unit at the ARS Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) in New Orleans, La., led a study in which he and colleagues isolated 10 fungi-either primary or secondary grape pathogens-from diseased grapes grown in a hot, humid environment. Primary pathogens directly cause infection, whereas secondary pathogens infect after the hosts's defenses have been compromised by stress, injury, or other infection.

They tested CAY-1 against these fungi in the laboratory. CAY-1 was lethal during the early spore germination cycle of seven of the fungi, but was inactive against dormant spores. While CAY-1 was lethal to the grape pathogens, additional research is required to indicate if, and how, the compound could be used safely on grapes. This work was published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture.

The SRRC researchers also have collaborated with physician Thomas Walsh and others at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md., to study CAY-1 activity against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum, which are skin fungal pathogens that infect immune-compromised individuals. The study showed that CAY-1 is active in the laboratory against these skin pathogens. That study was published in the journal Medical Mycology.

Read more about this research in the July 2009 issue of Agricultural Research magazine, available online at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul09/mold0709.htm.

ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.




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Aired in March of 2001

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Center for Infectious Disease Research And Policy

CIDRAP News Headlines
Thu Jul 09 15:45:01 CDT 2009

Novel H1N1 Flu Breaking News

HHS to fund $350 million for state preparedness
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to rapidly distribute $350 million that Congress recently provided for pandemic efforts by states, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said today. Speaking at a federal "flu summit," Sebelius said HHS will announce the funding tomorrow. She said $260 million will go to state health departments for general and vaccine efforts and $90 million will go to hospitals for surge capacity. "We hope to push the money out the door by July 31," she said. [HHS pandemic flu Web site]

Thailand, Argentina launch community mitigation measures
Thailand's government has ordered more than 1,000 schools to close for 15 days starting Jul 13 and has asked Internet cafes, popular with youth, to close during the time to curb the spread of pandemic flu, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported today. Elsewhere, Argentina will close financial markets and banks tomorrow to slow the spread of the virus, Reuters reported yesterday. It encouraged private businesses to do the same. Today is a national holiday in Argentina. [Jul 9 ABC story]

Tanzania, Zimbabwe confirm first novel flu cases
Tanzania's health ministry today confirmed the country's first novel H1N1 case, a British student who arrived in the country about a week ago and told immigration officials he felt sick, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Also, Zimbabwe's state media today reported the country's first two cases, an Asian man who had recently arrived from London and a squash player hospitalized in South Africa, the Kenya-based Daily Nation reported. It's unclear where the player was infected. [Jul 9 AP story]
New Zealand: flu season eclipses 12-year high
An official with New Zealand's influenza center said today that flu activity has reached a 12-year high point and predicted the season hasn't peaked yet, Bloomberg News reported. A flu surveillance report released today for the week ending Jul 5 notes that novel H1N1 makes up 80% of circulating flu strains in New Zealand, an increase from the 48% reported in the previous week's report. [Jul 9 Bloomberg News story]

Japan quarantines American university student group Japanese health officials quarantined 20 American university students Jul 3 after two of their Japanese instructors were diagnosed as having novel flu, the AP reported yesterday. Authorities are monitoring the students' health, but so far none have shown any flu symptoms. The students are from California colleges, and the quarantine is scheduled to end tomorrow. [Jul 8 AP story]

CDC updates home care guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday updated its guidance on caring for people who are sick with novel H1N1 flu at home. The revision incorporates interim guidance on facemask and respirator use that the CDC updated in late May. The updated home care guidance suggests that all caregivers, not just those in high-risk groups, who must have close contact with a sick person try to use a facemask or N-95 disposable respirator. The update also lists where to buy the items. [Jul 8 CDC home care guidance]



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