Africa / AHH / Animal Diseases / Cattle / ECF / ILRI / LIVESTOCK-FISH / Partners / Vaccines

First use of whole genome ‘synthetic biology’ — poster child for new science — in Africa

Synthetic biology is the design and construction of biological devices and systems for useful purposes (figure from The Official Andreas CV Blog). Four years ago, Time Magazine columnist Nancy Gibbs argued (The risks and rewards of synthetic biology, 28 Jun 2010) the need for early, inclusive and expansive public debate on advances at the frontiers of … Continue reading

Africa / AHH / Cattle / ECF / ILRI / LIVESTOCK-FISH / Partners / Vaccines

Vish Nene and Dirk Werling filmed on affinities between East Coast fever in cattle and malaria and cancer in people

South Africa’s first 24-hour television news channel, eNCA, has broadcast a 2-minute film that describes how the disease East Coast fever affects cattle in Africa and how research to develop a new-generation vaccine against it may hold promise for research on the human ailments of malaria and cancer. Continue reading