What is Herpetic Simplex Keratitis? Herpetic Simplex Keratitis (HSK) is an eye infection of the cornea, the clear dome that covers the front of the iris and pupil. It is also known as Herpes Simplex Keratitis. What are the symptoms of Herpetic Simplex Keratitis? Some common symptoms include: Eye pain Tearing Redness Blurry vision Sensitivity to light Sensation of foreign objects What causes this infection? HSV-1 causes Herpetic Simplex Keratitis Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) causes this infection. There are two types of HSV; HSV-1 and HSV-2. Herpes Simplex Keratitis is usually caused by HSV-1 which can also cause cold sores

Human Influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) Virus What is the history of Influenza? Records show that the flu has been around for at least 1,500 years. The history of influenza begins with Hippocrates (5th century BC) who first reported that an influenza-like illness spread from Northern Greece to the islands south and elsewhere. In the 1300s, a flu epidemic hit Florence, Italy, which they called influenza di freddo (“cold influence”), no doubt a reference to what they thought caused the disease (viruses weren’t discovered until 1892). History records various flu epidemics, from one in 1580 that spread from Asia to Europe and

Viral pneumonia in kids? Most people don’t realize it, but this disease is one of the leading killers of children under the age of five around the world.  People often think of malaria, diarrhea, birth asphyxia, or preterm birth complications as early childhood killers.  And they are. But so is viral pneumonia, often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). “Of the more than 30 million childhood cases worldwide, RSV causes 1.4 million hospitalizations in the first 6 months of life and 120,000 deaths before five years of age worldwide each year. Severe complications include pneumonia and bronchiolitis.” 1 The problem

Come along with me today while I broaden my knowledge of one of our newest products, an HIV RNA quantitative PCR control. I’ll be chatting with Thomas Parks, the lead molecular scientist on the development team for this highly innovative material. First, I’ll fill you in at rapid speed with what I know already. Advanced Biotechnologies released HIV-1 (IIIB Strain) Quantitative Viral RNA as a new product in 2018. This HIV RNA quantitative PCR molecular standard is especially helpful for validation of clinical laboratory tests and verification and validation of diagnostic laboratory tests because: – It contains the entire viral

How effective is UV sterilization? Does it work for bacteria and viruses? What are the pros and cons? These are questions I hear a lot working in the microbiology field, especially when people think about how dirty their cell phone gets. With more and more UV sterilization products coming on the market, you might be wondering if they are worth trying. So, let’s dig in! UV light has been used for sterilization and disinfection as early as the mid-20th century. With advancements in technology, and specifically in the UV bulbs themselves, its reliable long lifespan (thousands-of-hours) and smaller size (e.g.

Since RNA is so chemically fragile, working with the molecule can feel a bit like skydiving without a parachute. While we’ve previously discussed protecting RNA using ribonuclease inhibitor proteins (RIs), RIs have very limited utility and use due to their own fragility. So, are there other more robust measures that can be implemented to guard the safety and integrity of RNA during routine manipulation? Fortunately, the answer is yes. Protection of RNA begins with protection of the biological sample itself. The sample containing your RNA of interest is usually chock full of RNases. One way to protect your RNA is