Home Administration of CVD 103-HgR: A Live Attenuated Oral Cholera Vaccine.

Vaccination is a well-established means for prevention and spread of disease in people traveling abroad. Although vaccines to diseases such as cholera are recommended by world health agencies, they are seldom required even when traveling to endemic regions. Consequences of noncompliance can affect traveler's health and spread diseases to new regions, as occurred in Haiti in 2010 when United Nations peacekeepers from Nepal, where a cholera outbreak was underway, introduced the disease to the region. Steps to increase vaccine recommendation compliance should therefore be an integral part of vaccine development. PXVX0200 contains Center for Vaccine Development 103-HgR live, attenuated recombinant Vibrio cholerae vaccine strain, and is indicated for single-dose immunization against the bacteria that causes cholera. It is supplied as one buffer and one active component packet to be mixed into water and ingested. Administration instructions are designed to be "user friendly" with flexibility for self-administration, thus promoting compliance. Studies to support self-administration were conducted to cover stability of the vaccine outside of normal storage conditions, potency in case of misadministration, and disposal procedures to minimize environmental impact. The principal findings showed that the stability of vaccine was maintained under conditions allowing for transport times and temperature conditions as well as when misadministration errors were made. Finally, the vaccine was effectively neutralized with hot water and soap to prevent bacterial environmental contamination in the event of an accidental spill. The conclusion is that PXVX0200 oral vaccine is stable, easy to formulate and dispose of, and is amenable to self-administration.

Screening of organic halogens and identification of chlorinated benzoic acids in carbonaceous meteorites.

The occurrence of halogenated organic compounds measured as a sum parameter and the evidence of chlorinated benzoic acids in four carbonaceous meteorites (Cold Bokkeveld, Murray, Murchison and Orgueil) from four independent fall events is reported. After AOX (Adsorbable organic halogen) and EOX (Extractable organic halogen) screening to quantify organically bound halogens, chlorinated organic compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography. AOX concentrations varying from 124 to 209 microg Cl/g d.w. were observed in carbonaceous meteorites. Ion chromatographic analysis of the distribution of organically bound halogens performed on the Cold Bokkeveld meteorite revealed that chlorinated and brominated organic compounds were extractable, up to 70%, whereas only trace amounts of organofluorines could be extracted. Chlorinated benzoic acids have been identified in carbonaceous meteorite extracts. Their presence and concentrations raise the question concerning the origin of halogenated, especially chlorinated, organic compounds in primitive planetary matter.

Arsenic mobility and groundwater extraction in Bangladesh.

High levels of arsenic in well water are causing widespread poisoning in Bangladesh. In a typical aquifer in southern Bangladesh, chemical data imply that arsenic mobilization is associated with recent inflow of carbon. High concentrations of radiocarbon-young methane indicate that young carbon has driven recent biogeochemical processes, and irrigation pumping is sufficient to have drawn water to the depth where dissolved arsenic is at a maximum. The results of field injection of molasses, nitrate, and low-arsenic water show that organic carbon or its degradation products may quickly mobilize arsenic, oxidants may lower arsenic concentrations, and sorption of arsenic is limited by saturation of aquifer materials.