Arizona Bioscience News: Valley fever vaccine for dogs; Using biotechnology for crops; Rising COVID-19 cases

November 11, 2021

By Matt Ellsworth

Rising COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated Arizonans causing more infections among vaccinated / KJZZ 

The average number of COVID-19 cases reported daily in Arizona has risen more than 25% in the last two weeks with about one in five of the state’s COVID-19 cases in October being a breakthrough infection. 


New Valley fever vaccine for dogs is the first in the world to offer protection against a fungal disease / Arizona Republic 

The Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona has announced a new vaccine highly effective at protecting dogs against Valley fever—the first to combat a fungal disease of any kind. 


TGen finds direct evidence of person transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to pet / KJZZ 

TGen’s infectious disease arm in Flagstaff has found the first direct genetic evidence in the U.S. of an owner transmitting COVID-19 to their pet. 


How a desert plant’s DNA could help save Arizona’s farm crops in a changing climate / Arizona Republic 

No matter the methods, many plant engineers have a common goal: to maintain or even increase yields with fewer resources. Read moreInside a farm studying drought resistant plants 


NAU presents proposal for 2022-2024 Technology and Research Initiative Fund / Arizona Daily Sun 
 
Northern Arizona University plans to use its $47.9 million in funds from the Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF) over the next three years on five strategic areas of research. 


Aducanumab is promising for some Alzheimer’s patients, but not all will get it / Cronkite News 

Aducanumab is the first drug approved for Alzheimer’s by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2003 and has shown to reduce amyloid plaques in the brain—potentially delaying cognitive and functional decline—but there’s no evidence that it can restore lost memory or cognitive function. 


Campaign launches to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates in Arizona’s Black communities /Arizona Republic 

The Arizona Coalition for Change is launching a new campaign, “Sleeves Up Arizona,” that addresses low COVID-19 vaccination rates in Black communities.  


Retired UA professor’s gifts in honor of late wife aids cancer research, charity in India / Arizona Daily Star 

The University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center received a $1 million gift for an endowed professorship to strengthen the center’s efforts to solve the most challenging issues in pediatric cancer. 


Here are 15 Arizona tech leaders to watch in 2022 / AZ Big Media (Op-ed) 
 
Steven Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, highlights 15 tech leaders in Arizona who have helped to produce innovation and created successful and thriving companies that represent some of Arizona’s premier employers. 


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