Untitled Document

Auburn University

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Good morning! Here's today's summary of news coverage of Auburn University.
NOTE: Any errors in text are due to formatting by the publication.

Total Clips: 4

Headline		Date	Outlet
	Nanobac Pharmaceuticals and Fetzer Memorial Trust Enter Groundbreaking Collaboration to Photograph N	08/08/2006	Forbes
	Pollution News No new LMBV kills reported	08/08/2006	Bassmaster - USA
	Auburn die-hard's asking questions	08/07/2006	WAFF-TV
	College Briefs	08/07/2006	Press-Register


Nanobac Pharmaceuticals and Fetzer Memorial Trust Enter Groundbreaking Collaboration to Photograph N 08/08/2006 Forbes		Return to Top
Stories about this groundbreaking technology developed at Auburn University continue to appear in a variety of scientific, medical and technical journals and business magazines. Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB:NNBP) ("Nanobac" or "the Company") today announced it has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Fetzer Memorial Trust to photograph the replication cycle of disease-related calcifying particles (also known as nanobacteria or Calcifying Nanoparticles), using light microscopes to break the 200 nanometer ("nm") resolution barrier. The breakthrough allows Nanobac scientists to determine if calcification, which occurs in most diseases on the leading causes of death list, has a biological mechanism, which would make it susceptible to therapy. Results could generate new approaches to the treatment of calcifying diseases such as heart disease, kidney stones and diabetes, and validate the significance of related Nanobac diagnostics and therapies. "Until now, scientists had to 'fix' or inactivate such nanoparticles to see below the 200 nm threshold using electron microscopy," explained Nanobac's Co-Chairman and Research Group head, Dr. Benedict Maniscalco. "Now we can photograph the replication cycle without inactivating the particles. This is essential because some have a replication time of days rather than minutes or hours, which rendered electron microscopy ineffective for this purpose." The technology was developed at Auburn University and is marketed by Aetos Technologies. The "CytoViva"(TM) microscope system is capable of resolving details at or below 100 nm and of detecting particles as small as 50 nm, representing a significant improvement over conventional light microscopes. The CytoViva(TM) system was selected in June by R&D Magazine as one of the top 100 most technologically significant products introduced to the marketplace in 2006. This international award is often referred to as the 'Oscar of Inventions.' Calcifying nanoparticles have been isolated by many researchers in diseases ranging from atherosclerosis to kidney stones, but support for research into therapies against these particles has been hampered by lack of visual proof that the particles self-replicate. "Since the 1980s scientists have tried to photograph replication of calcifying nanoparticles, without success," Dr. Maniscalco added, "Now we have the tools to do it, thanks to the innovative approach of the Fetzer Memorial Trust." The Fetzer Memorial Trust has supported development of this technology for many years, and has made arrangements for Nanobac to use one of a very few available microscopes. The research is being done by Nanobac scientists at Nanobac laboratories located at the NASA Johnson Space Center Astrobiology Laboratories in Houston, Texas, as part of Nanobac's recently announced new core research priorities. The microscope is currently located in Nanobac's labs and work has begun. Initial results are expected by year-end. Nanobac has the exclusive right to intellectual property resulting from discoveries about calcifying nanoparticles in this research project. About Nanobac Pharmaceuticals Nanobac Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a life science company dedicated to the discovery and development of products and services to improve people's health through the detection and treatment of Calcifying Nanoparticles, otherwise known as "nanobacteria". The Company's pioneering research is establishing the pathogenic role of nanobacteria in soft tissue calcification, particularly in coronary artery, prostate, and vascular disease. Nanobac's drug discovery and development is focused on developing new and existing compounds that effectively inhibit, destroy or neutralize CNPs. Nanobac manufactures In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) kits and reagents for the detection of Calcifying Nanoparticles. IVD products include the NANOCAPTURE(TM) and NANO-SERO(TM) ELISA assays and the Nano-Vision(TM) line of antibodies and reagents. Nanobac's BioAnalytical Services works with biopharmaceutical partners to develop and apply methods for avoiding, detecting, and inactivating or eliminating CNPs from raw materials.
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Pollution News No new LMBV kills reported 08/08/2006 Bassmaster - USA		Return to Top
AU expert on fish health John Grizzle is the source of information for this story. KISSIMMEE, Fla. — As he spoke to state BASS conservation directors about fish health, John Grizzle delivered some good news: "We didn't hear of any new largemouth bass virus [LMBV] kills in 2004," said the expert on fish health from Auburn University. "But people still are out there looking." Grizzle added that many unknowns still exist regarding the virus, including its cause, how it spreads, and what prompts it to suddenly evolve from a virus to a lethal disease. Fisheries affected by LMBV did suffer a downturn, the scientist explained, with higher mortality seen in larger fish, along with reduced growth rates and lower weights observed in affected populations overall. "But bass populations do recover," he said. In addition to offering an LMBV update, Grizzle provided a general look at fish health. First, he explained why diseases occur and why it's important to determine the cause of disease in wild fish. They occur either because the "injurious agent" changes or resistance decreases. With the former, the amount might increase or the environment might become more hospitable for its strengthening. In the latter, a skin or gill injury might make a bass vulnerable, as could weakening of its immune system through stress. Determining causes, he said, helps prevent spread of disease and reduces unnecessary concern. If fish are suffering from low dissolved oxygen in a pond or small lake, for example, resource managers could remedy that by adding aeration. Grizzle classified low dissolved oxygen as a noninfectious disease, along with "toxicants" such as nitrogen, phosphorous, pesticides, herbicides, and other man-made chemicals. Infectious diseases include parasites, bacteria and viruses. Some parasites, such as roundworms, and a few bacteria can affect humans. But viruses, such as LMBV, do not affect humans, Grizzle emphasized. "There are pathogens out there [in other countries] that aren't here yet," he added. "We still need to worry about importing them." One of those is a virus found, thus far, only in Taiwan. It kills bass and other species, with a 30 to 50 percent mortality rate among fish infected.
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Auburn die-hard's asking questions 08/07/2006 WAFF-TV		Return to Top
New information keeps trickling out about alleged wrongdoing in which questions center around the validity of courses offered to student athletes at Auburn. The latest reports indicate any student can take those classes based on a special need. Still, the university is investigating while half a state of diehards is left wondering. Kerrick Whisenant bleeds orange and blue, wears his class of '99 ring, and pays yearly alumni fees to the university he loves. "Disappointed," he says. "You'd like to think your alma mater is doing everything above board." An alma mater that is currently investigating itself after one Sociology professor blew the whistle on another, claiming a colleague offered student athletes good grades in one-on-one directed reading courses that required little or no work. Of those student athletes, a handful played on Auburn's undefeated 2004 squad, 18 in all, including current Tampa Bay Buccaneer star Carnell Williams and current Washington Rredskin defensive back Carlos Rogers, leaving the university asking one question: are those classes legit? Auburn University president Ed Richardson released a statement reading: "I also want to make clear that in the event that any academic misconduct is confirmed, we will take appropriate action to insure that Auburn University's strong academic reputation is not damaged." It's a strictly internal investigation that's still in full swing some say the same should probably swing open elsewhere. "And therefore your disappointment turns to why isn't everybody being called out on this instead of just the school with the disgruntled professor?" Whisenant asks.
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College Briefs 08/07/2006 Press-Register		Return to Top
Earl H. "Buddy" Weaver of Brewton will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree during Auburn's summer graduation today in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. Weaver previously earned three degrees from Auburn, including a doctorate of education. He's co-chairman of the "It Begins at Auburn" campaign, a six-year organized effort by alumni volunteers to raise $500 million in new private support for Auburn. The campaign has raised nearly $400 million so far. Troy University Mike Staples, director for auxiliary services on Troy University's Montgomery campus, won the Vergil Parks McKinley Award for July. The award is given once a month to a non-faculty staff member who has demonstrated outstanding attitude, innovation and work ethic. Staples has been a member of the Troy staff since 1996. University of South Alabama ? Mohammad Alam and Aed El-Saba, faculty members in the department of electrical and computer engineering at the University of South Alabama, presented 12 technical papers at the 2006 International Society for Optical Engineering Defense and Security Symposium in Orlando, Fla., in mid-April. Ten of the papers were co-authored by USA graduate students and postdoctoral research associates in the department.
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