Lyme Disease Vaccine In Its Final Clinical Trial

Daily Upsider on April 1, 2024

A forthcoming vaccine for Lyme disease is undergoing its final clinical trial, announced by French pharmaceutical company Valneva, in collaboration with Pfizer. This vaccine, dubbed VLA5, demonstrated a robust immune response during Phase 2 trials.

The upcoming Phase 3 trial will enlist 6,000 participants worldwide, focusing on regions with high Lyme disease prevalence such as Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United States. By targeting the outer surface protein (OspA) of the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria transmitted by ticks, the vaccine aims to prevent human infection.

Annaliesa Anderson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of Vaccine Research & Development at Pfizer, expressed anticipation for the Phase 3 results, emphasizing collaboration with research sites in the U.S. and Europe.

With over 476,000 annual Lyme disease cases in the U.S. and a 5.8 percent global incidence rate, the potential impact of this vaccine is substantial. Given Lyme disease’s capacity to progress into chronic illness, the prospect of preventing debilitating conditions for millions is a significant development.

Dubai Company Turns Used Cooking Oil to Biofuel

Daily Upsider on April 1, 2024

Lootah Biofuels, a Dubai-based company, is producing biodiesel from used cooking oil, introducing a fascinating new sustainable transportation solution.

This initiative results in a cost-effective, renewable, and environmentally friendly fuel alternative. The company has expanded its presence with fuel outlets across Dubai, with an annual production capacity of 60 million liters.

Yousif Bin Saeed Al Lootah conceptualized this project with the aim of making the UAE the first nation in the region to require biofuel blends at public fuel stations.

By offering payment for collected used cooking oil, Lootah Biofuels incentivizes providers such as restaurants, bakeries, and food chains, who contribute 500,000 liters of waste oil monthly.

Last year, the company converted this waste oil into 770 tons of biofuel.

According to the Lootah Biofuels website, used cooking oil boasts the highest carbon saving ratio among all biodiesel feedstocks, resulting in an estimated reduction of 500 million tons of CO2 emissions to date.

Shocking New Test: The Woman Who Can Smell Disease

Daily Upsider on April 1, 2024

Joy Milne, a retired nurse from Perth, Scotland, possesses the remarkable ability to detect Parkinson’s disease through smell. Her husband exhibited an unusual odor around his shoulders and neck long before his formal diagnosis.

This later led Joy to recognize the distinct smells association with the condition when she later identified the same scent at a Parkinson’s support group. This unique skill caught the attention of scientists, prompting the development of a skin swab test by researchers at Manchester University.

The test, which analyzes sebum from the patient’s back, demonstrated an impressive 95% accuracy in trials. Researchers identified 500 different compounds in the sebum samples, differentiating those with Parkinson’s from the control group. Currently, no chemical test exists for Parkinson’s, resulting in lengthy waiting lists for neurological consultations.

Professor Perdita Barran, leading the research, envisions the potential for these tests to be implemented in general practitioners’ offices, offering quick diagnoses within three minutes. Efforts are underway to transition the test from research labs to hospital analytical labs, with hopes to begin testing individuals in the Manchester area within two years.

The fact that Joy can smell Parkinson’s is rather shocking. The fact that they have used that to help create a whole new type of test is just incredible.

First New Antibiotic in 60 Years, Thanks to AI

Daily Upsider on March 30, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has aided in the discovery of a new antibiotic targeting the drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA. This breakthrough is crucial given MRSA’s status as a superbug, notorious for its resilience against conventional treatments, leading to over 35,000 deaths annually.

Utilizing a deep-learning algorithm, scientists identified novel compounds and assessed their efficacy against MRSA. James Collins, a professor at MIT and one of the study’s authors, highlighted the AI’s ability to predict potential antibiotics. However, conventional AI models often operate as ‘Black Box’ systems, lacking transparency in their decision-making process.

To address this limitation, researchers adapted an algorithm called Monte Carlo tree search, previously used in explainable AI systems like AlphaGo. This modification enabled the AI model to not only estimate antimicrobial activity but also provide insights into the molecular structures responsible for this activity.

The findings have been shared with Phare Bio, a nonprofit associated with the Antibiotics-AI Project, for further analysis of the compounds’ properties and potential clinical applications. Meanwhile, Collins’ lab continues to design new drug candidates based on these insights and employs AI models to explore solutions for combating other bacterial strains.

It is great to see the good side of advancing technologies!

Microsoft Campus Goes Geothermal for Heating & Cooling

Daily Upsider on March 27, 2024

After four years of construction, the Microsoft’s Redmond campus modernization nears completion. Spanning 72 acres, the project incorporates numerous environmentally-conscious designs and features, with the Geothermal Energy Center (TEC) standing out as a remarkable achievement.

To regulate the campus temperature, a 6.5-acre geothermal well field was established last year, comprising approximately 900 boreholes drilled up to 550 feet deep. This initiative aims to meet 50% of the heating and cooling demands without emitting carbon.

Despite challenges such as an unmapped subsurface environment and past construction debris, GLY Construction successfully completed the drilling within budget and on schedule. Their approach included virtual design and construction techniques, ensuring precision down to 256ths of an inch.

The closed-loop geothermal system utilizes the earth’s energy to heat and cool water, with enough refrigeration capacity to cool 3,000 homes during summer. Recognized as Project of the Year by Engineering News Record, the TEC boasts a heating capacity of 28 million Btus per hour and nine chillers capable of providing 9,000 tons of refrigeration.

The well field area now hosts 2.5 miles of walking and biking trails, alongside sports facilities like softball fields, cricket pitches, and basketball courts. Enormous water tanks store exchanged water for heating and cooling purposes, all powered by renewable energy sources.

The broader Redmond East campus renovation encompasses 6.7 million square feet and incorporates various carbon-reducing measures, including an all-electric kitchen and rainwater collection cisterns. Throughout construction, Microsoft and its contractors diverted 95% of demolition waste from landfills and reduced embodied carbon in building materials by at least 30%.

Reflecting on this environmentally-focused endeavor, Michael Green building systems director of OAC, lauds it as unparalleled in his four-decade career in construction.