Science (Vol. 306, No. 5696, October 2004)

120 Pages·2004·13.395 MB·English

E
DITORIAL
Genomics and Drug Toxicity
A s genomics has revolutionized the study of biology, so has it affected how drugs are
discovered. Pharmaceutical companies have also realized another major application: how
drugs are assessed for safety. The analysis of gene expression profiles is now actively used
alongside conventional toxicological assays to assess drug safety. Such toxicogenomic analysis
is being used to predict drug toxicities and to gain a more in-depth understanding of toxic
mechanisms, so that more successful drug candidates can be selected.
The U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) sees genomics as a beneficial aid to the drug risk
assessment process primarily through its ability to identify specific patients who are either likely to benefit
from a particular drug or who may experience harm. The use of toxicogenomics also
has promise in proving hypotheses that support safe drug use in humans through a
mechanistic understanding of toxicities found in drug-treated animals. Take the case in
which rats were treated with a certain class of hypolipidemic drugs. Changes in the
expression of specific liver genes were seen that have been shown to correlate with
observed liver toxicity. However, when treated human and rat liver cells were compared,
analogous gene expression changes were not seen in the human cells.* Thus, by gaining
a better idea of the mechanisms of toxicity in an animal species, it becomes feasible to
examine species-specific effects to better assess the possible relevance of animal
findings to humans. After a number of conferences and workshops based on recent
FDA draft guidelines, there was agreement that some standards ought to be adopted for
the generation and subsequent submission of toxicogenomic data to the FDA. This
would help ensure that any regulatory decisions based on an interpretation of data can
be made in a consistent manner.
A number of groups are actively addressing the issues of standardization of toxicogenomic
data generation and exchange. The European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) has created
Tox-MIAMExpress to incorporate toxicity and toxicogenomics data into their Array
Express database.† Such efforts help identify the essential elements of a microarray
experiment that are critical to interpreting a gene expression profile in the context of an
associated toxicity. Some aspects of toxicogenomics experiments that are suitable for further standardization
include data normalization methods, statistical assessments of gene expression, gene annotation and function,
data visualization methods, and issues related to quality control of transcripts and probes.
Once a compound is selected for development by a pharmaceutical company, submission of toxicogenomic
data to the FDA as part of a risk assessment package may be needed to help address safety concerns. An
approach being taken by the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) Pharmacogenomic
Standards nonclinical working group is to develop hypothetical cases in which the submission of toxicogenomic
data would assist in the interpretation and determination of the relevance of specific toxicity issues. In the
example of the hypolipidemic drugs mentioned above, the availability of toxicogenomic data submission
standards would offer drug companies the ability to submit data at a molecular level highlighting the species-
specific nature of an animal finding, thereby helping to address the safety concerns of regulators.
The development of standards for toxicogenomic data generation and interpretation will help establish
toxicogenomic approaches as scientifically accepted practices in the complex process of drug risk assessment.
Central to this process is the continuation of the ongoing dialogue between molecular and traditional
toxicologists from drug companies, regulatory bodies, and academia. The development of a scientific
consensus on toxicogenomic data standards and data interpretation would mean fewer safety concerns and fewer
delays in the drug approval process, resulting in improved availability of safe and effective drugs. The
development and acceptance of toxicogenomic data submission standards promise to significantly improve
the drug risk assessment process, which would benefit the pharmaceutical industry and public alike.
V
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ME. Peter G.Lord and Thomas Papoian
O
N Peter G.Lord is in Pharmaceutical Research and Development at Johnson & Johnson in Raritan,NJ.Thomas Papoian is at the U.S.Food and Drug
VERLAY) GE A*Jd.mWi.nLisatwraretinocne inet R aol.c,kJ.vBillieo,l.MCDh.em.276,31521 (2001). †W.B.Mattes et al.,Environ.Health Perspect.112,495 (2004).
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EWS
An avian flu’s Mitochondrial
surprising link to
reach metabolic
syndrome
to that effect. Michael Werner of the Biotech
BIOETHICS
Industry Organization warned that even
Stem Cell Researchers Mull
biotech investors “don’t distinguish between
stem cell research and cloning.”
Ideas for Self-Regulation So far only one group—in South Korea—
has successfully cloned a human embryo (Sci-
ence, 12 March, p. 1669), but more are on the
Scientists and ethicists gathered at a brain- “There’s definitely a need to create stan- horizon. In the United Kingdom, the Interna-
storming session last week in Washington, dards in the field so it won’t take 6 to 12 tional Centre for Life in Newcastle last August
D.C., to discuss voluntary limits on human months to start work,” said blood researcher got the first license to clone human embryonic
cloning and embryonic stem (ES) cell Leonard Zon of Children’s Hospital in cells for research (Science, 20 August, p.
research. The event echoed the 1975 meeting Boston. He ticked off a list of offices that 1102). Another British researcher, Ian Wilmut,
in Asilomar, California, where an earlier gen- have to pass on any proj- is applying for a license to
eration tried to establish guidelines for genet- ect—including adminis- use nuclear transfer to study
ic engineering. As was the case 29 years ago, tration, research, finance, amyotropic lateral sclerosis.
researchers are eager to move ahead: Even as legal, ethics, intellectual At Harvard, Melton’spropos-
the session at the National Academy of Sci- property, and public af- al to use these techniques to
ences got under way, for example, Harvard fairs. Researchers also create embryonic stem cell
University officials were announcing that must contend with a lines expressing the genes for
diabetes researcher Douglas Melton is apply- patchwork of state regu- diabetes and Parkinson’s and
ing for permission to use nuclear transfer— lations, noted George- Alzheimer’s disease is under
otherwise known as research cloning—to town University bioethi- review, and Zon and George
create new human cell lines in a privately cist LeRoy Walters, who Daley hope to create lines
funded effort to model diseases. described rules ranging expressing the genes for
In the United States, federal funds may be from California and blood diseases. China, India,
spent only on government-approved human New Jersey’s aggressive Japan, Singapore, Belgium,
ES lines, yet private funding is flowing to the pro-research policies to and Israel have sanctioned
field, largely without regulation. This has in- nine states’bans on hu- nuclear transfer; Sweden is
creased pressure on scientists to develop their man embryo research. expected to do the same.
own rules. To get started, the academies cre- On top of this tangle of Leading the way.Harvard’s Melton. Given the qualms over
ated an 11-member Committee on Guide- standards are dizzying stem cell research and
lines for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Re- moral questions, such as: If an embryo is be- cloning, some participants at last week’s
search, co-chaired by cancer researcher ing created for research, is it better to do it meeting thought voluntary guidelines would
Richard O. Hynes of the Massachusetts Insti- through in vitro fertilization or nuclear trans- be insufficient to reassure the public. Alison
tute of Technology and Jonathan Moreno, di- fer? And what does it mean to accord an ear- Murdoch of the Newcastle center said she
rector of the University of Virginia Center for ly embryo “respect”? holds the “very strong view that really
Biomedical Ethics. Last week experts made Much of the political debate over stem strong regulation, with every embryo ac-
suggestions covering all aspects of work with cell research in the United States has focused counted for,” is needed. Speakers also saw a
human ES cells, from informed-consent pro- on the Bush Administration’s prohibition on need for oversight of the loosely regulated in
cedures to distribution of cell lines. using federal funds to work with human ES vitro fertilization industry so that any cell
cell lines other than a handful already line that might end up in a clinical applica-
in existence 3 years ago. All these tion can be shown to have a squeaky-clean
lines were established from “spare” pedigree. As it stands now, said Michael Ma- G
N
embryos created at fertility clinics. linowski of Louisiana State University WA
H
More ethically charged are efforts School of Law in Baton Rouge, “much as- W.S.
tfoe rcrirnegat eD nNeAw isntetom acne lel nliuncelse abtyed t reagngs-. stiiosnte idn rtehper noadmucet ioofn t riesa thmuemnat.n” experimenta- OFFICE;
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Many researchers are eager to get on Some called for a standing oversight body NE
wwaitrhne dsu ocfh p ustbulidci eress.i sBtauntc es, pceoamkpelris- lmikiett eteh es eRt uepco amftberin Aasnitl oDmNaAr. LAedovni sKoarsys ,C cohmair- HARVARD
cated by the fact that stem cell re- of the President’s Bioethics Council, noted DE/
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search is conflated with cloning in that Asilomar led to a voluntary gene-splicing USTI
many minds. “I hate to break the news, moratorium and called for a similar morato- M):J
but there really isn’t much support for rium on nuclear transfer. “This is momentous OTTO
nuclear transfer,” said Franco Furger, enough that it should be decided on a national O B
What scientists want.This colony of human ES cells director of the Human Biotechnology level,” he said. The committee is to come up OP T
was cultivated from a blastocyst that a South Korean Governance Forum at Johns Hopkins with proposed guidelines in February. DITS (T
group created using nuclear transfer. University, who cited a variety of polls –CONSTANCEHOLDEN CRE
586 22 OCTOBER 2004 VOL 306 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org
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Foc us
590 592 596 599 603
The immune Oscillating Airborne
system’s climate threat to
regulatory cops Hawaii
MALARIA
A Complex New Vaccine Shows Promise
After years of dashed hopes, a vaccine against It uses several techniques to boost the immune cal malaria in the first 6 months following the
malaria has shown tantalizing results in a system’s fight against the malaria parasite. Its injections, a team from GSK Biologicals and
clinical trial in Mozambique. In a study in- designers engineered a hybrid protein that the University of Barcelona reported in the 16
volving 2022 children between the ages of 1 combines a protein fragment from the para- October issue of TheLancet. Data suggest that
and 4, the vaccine lowered a recipient’s site, Plasmodium falciparum, with a piece of a the vaccine is considerably more effective at
chance of developing malaria symptoms by protein from the hepatitis B virus. The Plas- preventing the most dangerous form of the dis-
30%. The results are the most promising so modiumprotein is a promising target because ease, lowering a recipient’s risk of severe
far in the search for a vaccine against a dis- it is present on the parasite’s surface when it is malaria by 58%. Among children between
ease that kills between 1 million and 3 million first injected into the bloodstream by the bite ages 1 and 2, the results looked even better:
people per year. “Malaria has had a sense of of an infected mosquito. The hepatitis B pro- The vaccine seemed to reduce the chance of
hopelessness and intractability around it,” tein is included because it is particularly effec- severe malaria by 77%, although the numbers
says Melinda Moree of the Malaria Vaccine tive at prompting an immune response. The were quite small. “These are the best results
Initiative, an independent nonprofit group vaccine also contains a powerful new adju- we’ve ever seen with a candidate malaria vac-
that helped fund the trial. “These results bring vant, developed by GSK Biologicals, that in- cine,” says Pedro Alonso of the University of
hope to us all that a vaccine may be possible.” creases the body’s production of antibodies Barcelona in Spain, who led the trial.
Even so, the approach faces several hurdles, and T cells. The sheer number of malaria parasites that
including whether the complex vaccine would The combination seemed to work, at least people in endemic areas are exposed to makes
be affordable in the poor countries most af- partially. Although it didn’t prevent all children it difficult to develop a vaccine that prevents
fected by the disease. from being infected with the parasite, it did all infection, notes GSK scientist Joe Cohen.
A consortium led by GlaxoSmithKline seem to keep them from becoming sick. Chil- In addition, Plasmodiumhas evolved multiple
(GSK) Biologicals in Rixensart, Belgium, dren who received the full three doses of the ways to elude the human immune system.
developed the vaccine, called RTS,S/AS02A. vaccine were 30% less likely to develop clini- Cohen says scientists aren’t sure exactly (cid:0)
PLANETARY SCIENCE
Flipped Switch Sealed the Fate of Genesis Spacecraft
A design error by spacecraft contractor Lock- contractor and NASA’s ever before. Gene-
heed Martin Astronautics Inc. caused engi- Jet Propulsion Laborato- sis was thus prone
neers to install critical sensors upside down in ry (JPL) as spacecraft to the same sorts
the Genesis sample return capsule, dooming it operator. In 1999, the of problems as
to slam into the Utah desert floor last month at Mars Climate Orbiter the Mars probes,
360 kilometers per hour, according to the chair broke up as it skimmed although its partic-
of the mishap investigation board. The acci- too close to Mars. Engi- ular problem “still
dent, Lockheed Martin’s third major incident neers at the two organi- should have been
of late, may be another reminder of an era zations had misunder- caught” by later re-
when space missions were underfunded, too stood which units of views, says Logs-
rushed, and undermanaged. Chances are good, thrust—English or met- don. In its final re-
however, that an identically equipped space- ric—the other group port, due out by
craft, Stardust, will escape a similar fate. was using. And in the Fateful reversal. Incorrect drawings led early December,
According to board chair Michael same year, Mars Polar assemblers to install critical sensors upside down. Ryschkewitsch’s
Ryschkewitsch of NASA’s Goddard Space Lander crashed onto the board hopes to doc-
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, if the surface after a software error caused its retro- ument why those reexaminations failed.
two pairs of sensors had been installed right- rockets to shut down too far above the surface. More pressing, perhaps, is the state of the
side up, they would have triggered Genesis’s Before pointing fingers over Genesis, says Stardust spacecraft’s sensors. Also a Lockheed
parachutes. Flipped according to incorrect space policy analyst John Logsdon of George Martin/JPL mission, Stardust will be depend-
drawings that assemblers were following, the Washington University in Washington, D.C., ing on identical sensors to trigger its landing
sensors’spring-loaded weights were already critics should consider its history. Although sequence in January 2006 as it returns sam-
at the end of their range of possible motion as Genesis launched late enough to get additional ples of comet dust. “Preliminary indications
the capsule hit the upper atmosphere and reviews after the 1999 Mars losses, it was are that the design and installation of the
began slowing, so deceleration could not designed years earlier, at the height of the switches on Stardust are correct,” says NASA
DIT:JPL/LMA drivTe hthee smn athfruo uregcha tlhles rtewquoi reeadr tlriiegrg emr ipsohianpt.s “dfeassigtenr,. cShpeaacpeecrr,a bfte wtteerr”e ebreai nogf NdeAsiSgAne md, ibssuiiolnt, dFiegpuuetroya .a Tssimoce iwatiell naod mdoiunbits tterlal.tor Orlando
CRE involving Denver-based Lockheed Martin as and operated by fewer people in less time than –RICHARDA.KERR
www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 306 22 OCTOBER 2004 587
Published by AAAS
how the vaccine works, for other diseases have ScienceScope
but they suspect that the seemed to protect young
antibodies and T cells children only to prove in-
produced may both inter- effective in infants, he NSF Worries About Growing
rupt the parasite’s ability notes. It is not yet clear Antarctic Ice …
to infect liver cells and how long the protection
National Science Foundation (NSF) offi-
help the immune system lasts. And the vaccine
cials are hoping that an unexpected in-
target infected cells for also has to show its met-
crease in Antarctic sea ice won’t compli-
destruction. tle in areas with more in-
cate plans to resupply two U.S.research
Alonso notes that tense malaria transmis-
stations by ship.But just in case,they are
even partial protection sion than Mozambique.
already pondering how else to get
against malaria could Another possible
23 million liters of fuel and 5 million kilo-
save thousands of lives drawback is the vac-
grams of material to the McMurdo and
every year. Combined cine’s cost, which Jean
South Pole stations during the busy aus-
with techniques such as Stephenne, president of tral summer scientific season.
using bed nets and in- GSK Biologicals, esti- For the past 4 years,the Coast Guard
secticides, “the vaccine mated at $10 to $20 per has used both of its polar-class icebreak-
could have a huge im- dose; multiple doses will ers to clear paths for cargo ships through
pact,” he says. But he likely be needed. Cohen the ice around McMurdo Sound and
and others caution that New hope.A team member treats a acknowledges that it channel.Although one of the behemoths
the vaccine still must be child with malaria at the Manhica won’t be cheap to pro- is now awaiting repairs,in July,Coast
tested for efficacy and Health Research Center in Mozambique. duce. “If it gets on the Guard officials said that going solo would
safety in younger chil- market, it would be the be fine because the newly formed 1-
dren, as large-scale immunization efforts in most complex vaccine ever developed,” he meter-thick ice cover was only 40 kilo-
Africa target children younger than 1 year. says. Hoffman notes that the vaccine is about meters.But by August it had grown to
“It is a very exciting, encouraging result as effective as bed nets and other conventional 200 kilometers.So next week the ser-
vice’s Polar Starwill set out alone from
that establishes the feasibility of developing a malaria prevention methods, although it
Seattle (a 6-week trip) to battle the ice.
malaria vaccine,” says Stephen Hoffman of would be much more expensive. (A bed net
“We’re still confident Polar Starcan get
Sanaria, a Rockville, Maryland–based typically costs about $5.) Moree agrees: “Any
the job done,”says the Coast Guard’s Capt.
biotech company working on a different type vaccine that goes forward will have to be cost-
Dennis Holland.NSF officials hope he’s
of malaria vaccine. But questions remain effective, or it will not be used.”
right.But last week they outlined several al-
about the GSK vaccine. Candidate vaccines –GRETCHENVOGEL ternatives,including renting a commercial
ice breaker and offloading fuel and supplies
CANADA several kilometers up the channel.
Martin Backs Science Academy –JEFFREYMERVIS
… As South Pole Research
OTTAWA—Canadian Prime Minister Paul the U.S. National Academies, on which CAS Group Aims for Fresh Start
Martin has given the green light to what one is modeled—with help from a small CAS
prominent scientist calls “scientific advice secretariat. A board of governors, featuring The international body that oversees re-
on a shoestring budget.” two representatives apiece from the three search in Antarctica hopes that an infu-
On 5 October, Martin promised that his founding organizations and six members of sion of funds and ideas will rescue it from
budget next spring would include $27.6 mil- the public, will choose the panelists for each its scientific doldrums.“We need to focus
on some big-issue science to raise our
lion over 10 years for a Canadian Academies study. (The board could grow if other mem-
profile,”says Colin Summerhayes,execu-
of Science (CAS). The announcement culmi- bers join CAS.)
tive director of the U.K.-based Scientific
nates a decade-long campaign by leading sci- CAS may also do a small number of self-
Committee on Antarctic Research,a 32-
entists for a national organization that would initiated studies, Leiss said. But he expects
nation body that earlier this month
deliver independent assessments of pressing the government to provide the bulk of the
approved a new research agenda,changes
scientific questions. But its status is dependent academies’support. “What they’ll get is a
to its organizational structure,and a dues
on the survival of Martin’s minority govern- kind of definitive resolution of some really
increase.
ment, which narrowly avoided being toppled thorny issues,” says Leiss, adding that all its
The new research plan calls for Antarctic
in a procedural vote following his speech. reports would become public. scientists to focus on five interdisciplinary
CAS would be run by the Royal Society Leiss credits Canada’s new science adviser, themes,including Antarctica’s role in global
of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Engi- Arthur Carty, with putting the campaign over climate and ocean systems (see
neering (CAE), and the Canadian Institute of the top. Carty will serve as the gatekeeper and www.scar.org).The one-time dues increase
Advanced Medicine. Officials from the conduit between the government and the new will help erase a $100,000 shortfall in the
three organizations have long touted the idea academy, submitting formal requests for the group’s $322,000 annual budget.Germany
NA (Science, 27 October 2000, p. 685). “We’re academy to undertake a study and receiving and the United Kingdom have pledged to
ARCELO pdroaecstnic’at llhya tvhee” osnulyc hc oaunn torryg iann tihzea twioonr,l da tdhdast igtisv fei nCaal nreapdoar tas .“ Cvoarictye ”s aoyns tthhee aincatedrenmayti ownialll dnouaulblyle t thhreoiur gcho n2t0r0ib8u.tBiount sp,etros u$a2d8i,n0g0 0o tahne-r
NIC B CAE executive director Philip Cockshutt. science front and a point of entry for coun- countries to follow suit will be “a bit of a
OSPITAL CLI LeiRsso eysatli mSaotcesie tthya tp aCsAt Sp rwesilild ecanrtr yW oilulti anmo tercitess. sHeee kailnsgo iptlsa ninsp tuot coonn sinutlet rwnaitthio intsa lm permoj-- htheea dBaricthiseh,” Apnrteadriccttisc CShurrivse Rya.pley,director of
DIT:H more than five studies a year—compared bers in preparing his recommendations to –FIONAPROFFITT
CRE with the 200 or so churned out annually by government. –WAYNEKONDRO
www.sciencemag.org SCIENCE VOL 306 22 OCTOBER 2004 589
Published by AAAS
N E W S O F T H E W E E K
BIOTERRORISM AND THE COURTS
Butler Appeals Conviction, Risking Longer Sentence
Taking a high-stakes legal gamble that could bacteria missing from his Texas Tech labora- by the government’s refusal to try him sepa-
lengthen his 2-year prison term, former tory, sparking a bioterror scare (Science, rately on the plague and financial charges,
plague researcher Thomas Butler is appeal- 19 December 2003, p. 2054). The govern- its use of vague university financial policies
ing his conviction for mishandling bacteria ment ultimately charged him with 69 counts as the basis for criminal charges, and a
samples and defrauding his university. Gov- of lying to investigators, moving plague bac- judge’s ruling that barred Butler from gain-
ernment prosecutors say they will respond teria without proper permits, tax fraud, and ing access to university e-mails. He is asking
with their own request to erase a judge’s de- stealing from his university by diverting the appeals court to strike down the convic-
cision that cut 7 years off a possible 9-year clinical trial payments to his own use. Last tions or at least order a new trial. Prosecu-
prison term. December, a Texas jury acquitted him of the tors are expected to file a response later this
“Butler is taking a huge, huge risk,” says central lying charge and most of the plague- month, and a hearing in New Orleans,
former prosecutor Larry Cunningham, a law related allegations but convicted him on 44 Louisiana, could come as early as January.
professor at Texas Tech University in Lub- financial charges and three export violations Butler has rolled the legal dice before. He
bock. “The judge gave him a sweet deal; this involving a mismarked Federal Express rejected a pretrial government plea bargain
gives the government a shot at overturning it.” package containing bacteria. offer that included 6 months in jail. Turley
Butler “is willing to risk a longer sen- Although government sentencing guide- expects the government to ask the appeals
tence to fight for important principles,” says lines called for a 9-year sentence, federal court to impose the full 10-year sentence
Jonathan Turley, one of Butler’s attorneys judge Sam Cummings reduced it to 2 years, allowed by the export violations but says
and a law professor at George Washington in part because Butler’s research had “led to that move would be a “vindictive, gross
University in Washington, D.C. “The trial the salvage of millions of lives.” Butler is abuse of prosecutorial discretion.”
was rife with irregularities; the government currently in a Texas prison. If the government wins, Butler will lose
is pursuing a longer sentence because it is Prosecutors were unhappy with the sen- more than his argument. Because the appeal
embarrassed about losing its core case.” tence, say sources familiar with the case, but is expected to take longer than his current
Prosecutors declined comment. agreed not to challenge it unless Butler filed sentence, he could find himself back in
Butler, 63, captured national headlines an appeal. He recently did just that, arguing prison after spending time as a free man.
last year after he reported 30 vials of plague in an 80-page brief that his trial was marred –DAVIDMALAKOFF
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Bird Flu Infected 1000,Dutch Researchers Say
AMSTERDAM—At least 1000 people—many lished in The Lancet in February, RIVM team says is better at picking up antibodies
more than assumed—contracted an avian virologist Marion Koopmans and her col- to avian flu in humans. (It uses red blood
influenza virus during a massive poultry out- leagues reported that they detected the cells from horses, rather than turkeys or
break in the Netherlands last year, according H7N7 virus—using the polymerase chain chickens, in a key step.)
to a new study. In another unexpected find- reaction or by culturing the virus—in eye They found antibodies in about half of
ing, those who developed symptoms after be- swabs of 89 of them. 500 people who had handled infected poultry;
ing infected passed the virus on to based on the total number of poultry workers
a whopping 59% of their house- at risk, the team concludes that at least 1000
hold contacts, say the researchers people must have become infected, most of
at the National Institute for Public them without symptoms. Wearing a mask and
Health and the Environment goggles did not seem to prevent infection;
(RIVM), whose results were pub- taking an antiviral drug called oseltamivir
lished in Dutch last week. (Tamiflu) did, but a quarter of the cullers and
Flu experts were cautious in half of the farmers did not use the drugs.
discussing the findings, which Among 62 household contacts of conjunc-
they had not yet been able to read. tivitis patients, 33 became infected—another
But if correct, they are “another surprisingly high figure, Stöhr says. Having a
warning signal,” says Klaus Stöhr, pet bird at home increased household mem-
head of the World Health Organi- bers’risk of becoming infected, perhaps
zation’s global influenza program. because the birds replicated the virus too.
Every time an avian virus infects a Take your pills.Many of those exposed to infected chickens Detecting antibodies to avian influenza is
human being, Stöhr says, the risk did not take antiviral drugs,the study found. “tricky,” and the results need to be corroborat-
that it will mutate into a pandemic ed, cautions flu specialist Maria Zambon of
strain grows. To gauge the true reach of H7N7, Koop- the U.K. Health Protection Agency, whose lab
Almost 31 million poultry were culled mans and her colleagues also tested those at may retest the Dutch samples. UTERS
in the Netherlands before the virus, a strain risk, such as poultry farmers and those hired Human antibody tests for H5N1, the avian N/RE
called H7N7, was contained. By the end of to cull and remove poultry, for antibodies flu virus currently ravaging Asian poultry, are ORE
O
tehrien aoruitabnr,e aankd, tshoem vei r4u5s0 h paedo pkliell ehda do nreep voertt-- afignaiitnivset tahned v liornugs.e Tr-hlaiss ttiensgt pprrooovfid oefs imnfoercet idoen-. othnagt,o ianltgh, oSutgöhh rf asra yms.o rSeo lefathr,a lt hteo rheusmulatsn ss,h tohwe HAEL K
ed health complaints, mostly an eye infec- They used a new variation on the classic virus has caused few, if any, infections beyond DIT:MIC
tion called conjunctivitis. In a paper pub- hemagglutinin inhibition test, which the the known 43 patients. –MARTINENSERINK CRE
590 22 OCTOBER 2004 VOL 306 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org
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