Before and After XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial Treatment

XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial treated surfaces provide advanced protection against harmful biological contaminants such as: E.coli, Chlorella vulgarus, Salmonella, and just about any other bacteria, fungi, yeast, mold, dust and algae.

XMICROBE™

Long Lasting Germ Protection !

Dry Air Blamed For Flu Outbreaks

MSNBC.com -
By Emily Sohn

It’s one of the hallmarks of winter: The misery of being stuck in bed with the flu. Now, scientists are finally figuring out why the virus hits hardest in the wintertime and why some winters are worse than others.

Blame dry air.

Extremely low humidity levels in winter, according to new research, fuel influenza outbreaks. Particularly dry spells make the problem worse. The discovery might help scientists prepare for epidemics and for the rash of secondary illnesses, like pneumonia, that often slam people once they’re already down.

“It is the first step toward potentially forecasting the risk of influenza outbreaks,” said Jeffrey Shaman, an atmospheric scientist at Oregon State University in Corvallis. “By getting a handle on what’s going on with influenza, we are also getting a handle on the other diseases that really piggy back on influenza.”

To explain why flu and related illnesses strike far more often in the winter than at other times of year, theories have fallen into three categories. One idea is that people spend more time indoors in the winter and schools are in session, so there is more person-to-person contact.

Another theory is that, with less exposure to sunlight, people have lower levels of melatonin and vitamin D, weakening their immune systems and making them more likely to succumb to influenza viruses. Scientists have also hypothesized that temperature and humidity affect how long the virus can last after someone coughs or sneezes.

Previous research has shown that influenza viruses survive longer in air when temperatures are colder and relative humidity is lower. Relative humidity, which appears in many weather reports, describes how close conditions are to the point of forming fog or clouds.

But relative humidity isn’t the best measurement for studying flu outbreaks, Shaman said, because relative humidity varies with temperature. So, there is actually less moisture in the air on a rainy winter day in Seattle than there is on a sunny summer day in the same city.

He thought it would be more useful to look at absolute humidity, which measures exactly how much moisture is in the air, regardless of temperature.

On that scale, Shaman said, winters are usually twice as dry as summers in a place like San Diego and Arizona, four times drier in New York, and up to five times drier in a particularly cold state like Minnesota.

Along with colleagues, he analyzed 31 years of data from around the United States and used a computer model to show that influenza outbreaks were more likely to occur when absolute humidity levels were low. Like a sliding scale, progressively drier air led to progressively higher likelihood that an outbreak would occur, the researchers reported in the journal PLoS Biology. Temperature didn’t play much of a role.

“People had recognized that there was seasonality to this, but nobody has really come up with a unifying explanation,” said Gregory Poland, Director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, Minn. Humidity, he said, “is likely is part of that unifying explanation.”

Humidity is probably not the only explanation, however, and the weather forecast will probably never serve as a flu forecast. Even in dry conditions, the virus needs to be hanging around, and people need to come into contact to spread it. Still, any insight into what drives epidemics is a step toward saving lives.

When absolute humidity is low, for example, local hospitals could start stockpiling anti-viral medications and other supplies, and they could increase moisture levels in patient rooms.

Humidifying your home could help, too, but moist air alone is not the answer, Shaman said.

“The best defense against influenza remains vaccination. That can’t be stressed enough,” he said. “I would never suggest anyone forgo that to go out and buy a humidifier.”

XMICROBE™ Mode of Action

 

XMICROBE™

Long Lasting Germ Protection !

XMICROBE™ – A Greener Approach to Extended Sanitization

BioShield Services, LLC has developed a technology centered around XMICROBE™ a silicone quaternary ammonium salt microbiostatic agent which provides a durable, long acting, environmental friendly surface protection. While there are no “green” disinfectants, XMICROBE™ supports many of the twelve principles of green chemistry as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)1.

The following specifics relate to those principles which apply to the use of XMICROBE™ and are identified using the numbers and headings from the USEPA list:

Prevention:

XMICROBE™ is applied as a spray and generates no excess solutions which must be disposed of. Remaining solution is stable and may be stored for use in the next application.

Designing Safer Chemicals:

Upon application, XMICROBE™ bonds first to the surface and then to itself through its cohesive bonding properties forming a large co-polymer compound. The special bonding abilities of XMICROBE™ can be attributed to its multifunctional bonding receptors. Each bonding site, on the surfaces that are treated or the cell membrane’s receptor proteins, are easily adhered to because XMICROBE™ contains a variety of complimentary binding proteins. The multivariate bonding combinations make XMICROBE™ an excellent combatant for treating surfaces against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, molds, yeast, mildew, and algae. It is extremely effective in destroying Staph, MRSA, E. coli, Salmonella and Influenza A. Once bonded XMICROBE™ immediately begins its assault against microbes using long protein chains which are synthesized from highly reactive, positively charged “R” group amino acids. It is because of the charged “R” group that XMICROBE™ has the ability to bond to a wide diversity of negatively charged, infectious and potentially fast spreading micro organisms. Because the bonds formed between XMICROBE™ and the microbes are covalent bonds the strength of the bond has no dislodgeable residue leaching, off-gassing migration or diffusion of the molecule. Once the bond has been established the length and reactivity of the molecular proteins spikes work quickly and effectively in eliminating the micro organism threat. The methodology is mechanical in nature preventing any creation of resistant strains or toxic residues. Normal cleaning removes any dirt, residue or dead organisms allowing the efficacy of the polymer surface to continue.

Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries:

XMICROBE™ continues to hold its bond even after the annihilation of the micro organism which has a twofold benefit. One, since the covalent bond between XMICROBE™ and the unwanted organism is never compromised, the possibility of latent pieces of microbial DNA being taken up and integrated into a host cell’s genetic code is virtually impossible. Two, due to the positive-to-negative charged bonds, the reactive “R” groups of the proteins are rendered impotent eliminating the possibility of XMICROBE™ rendering to another surface.

Water is the only solvent used for dilution of the XMICROBE™ concentrate to the desired application strength.

Design for Degradation:

The resultant polymer surface is durable and tightly bonded to the surface to which it is applied. Any breakdown material is non-toxic and is removed by normal periodic cleaning. Due to the chemical structure of the ammonium salt the compound renders itself harmless by simple decomposition, leaving behind no harmful residue or lingering byproducts.

Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention:

The XMICROBE™ concentrate is classed as a pesticide by USEPA and normal precautionary handling is required. There are no carcinogens in the compound. It is non-flammable, stable under normal conditions and is not subject to hazardous polymerization. In the event of accidental spill, the solution can be deactivated by addition of an anionic surfactant or detergent.

The XMICROBE™ material when used by or according to a certified technician of the Healthier Environment Living Program™ (HELP) provides affordable, long lasting antimicrobial protection. This protection can by monitored and managed through ongoing Indoor Air and Surface Quality testing provided by HELP. View more information on www.HealthierPrograms.com or call 888-558-5254.

Erik J. Waters

Independent Microbiologist

December 2009

XMICROBE™

Long Lasting Germ Protection !

Poison (Chemicals) vs. Mechanical Elimination

Conventional products penetrate living cells and kill by way of poisoning or chemically altering the organism. They are designed to act quickly and dissipate quickly to avoid adverse effects to humans and animals due to their toxic ingredients. (The XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial Does Not) 

Most commercial antimicrobials used for treating building surfaces do a great job of getting a quick kill on bacteria and fungi, although most have a limited spectrum of effectiveness. (XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial Has A Broad Spectrum Of Effectiveness) 

Heavy metal based antimicrobials, such as silver ion may leach into the environment and lose their effectiveness over time. (The XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial Is Water Based That Won’t harm The Environment) 

Here’s The Big Difference… 

XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial takes a totally unique approach. It provides long-term control of growth on treated surfaces because the surface itself is modified to make it antimicrobial active. 

The active ingredient in the XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial forms a colorless, odorless, positively charged polymer, which chemically bonds to the treated surface. You could think of it as a layer of electrically charged swords. 

When a microorganism comes in contact with the treated surface, the sword punctures the cell membrane and the electrical charge shocks the cell. Since nothing is transferred to the now dead cell, the anti-microbial doesn’t lose strength and the sword is ready for the next cell to contact it. 

XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial protection continuously fights the growth of microbes. Plus, the XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial protection makes the surfaces in your home easier to clean and keeps them cleaner and fresher between cleanings. 

XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial has undergone extensive independent laboratory testing and has a long 35 year history of safe use. It is registered with the EPA for all applications in which it is used.

XMICROBE™

Long Lasting Germ Protection !

A Look at XMICROBE™

As you can see to the left, XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial works like a bed of nails to draw and impale microbes. 

XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial is an EPA Registered revolutionary product. XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial prevents the growth of an amazingly wide array of bacteria, mold, mildew, algae and yeast.

XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial acts like a bed of microscopic spikes that pierce the cell walls of microbes.

XMICROBE™ Antimicrobial is a totally new approach to providing long lasting anti-microbial protection.

XMICROBE™

Long Lasting Germ Protection !

Where Did the Flu Go? It’s Hiding

Livescience.com -

With spring and summer, the flu seems to die out. But it’s just gone into hiding, a new study finds.

The influenza virus is known to evolve rapidly, adapting to new hosts and swapping genes to become more virulent. Researchers wondered if existing flue strains die off each spring, to be replaced each fall by new founding strains from other parts of the world, or if a “hidden chain of sickness” persist over the summer.

A genetic analysis by University of Michigan postdoctoral fellow Trevor Bedford and colleagues reveals that in the United States, not all strains of influenza die off at the end of winter. Some move to South America, and some migrate even farther.

“The prevailing view that has developed over the past three years or so is the out-of-tropics hypothesis, in which the strains that bring about each temperate flu season originate from China and Southeast Asia, where influenza A is less seasonal,” Bedford said.

He and his colleagues tested that hypothesis by analyzing genetic sequences from influenza A (H3N2) viruses collected from patients around the world between 1998 and 2009 and constructing a tree showing relationships among the viruses. The resulting mathematical model accounted for evolutionary processes and rates of migration.

“We found that although China and Southeast Asia play the largest role in the influenza A migration network, temperate regions—particularly the USA—also make important contributions,” Bedford said. Rather than dying off at the end of our flu season, many strains simply move on to more favorable environments.

The results have implications for public health efforts aimed at combating the flu. For example, the new knowledge that influenza frequently migrates out of the U.S. argues for caution in using antivirals, which can promote development of drug-resistant strains. If, as previously thought, those strains died out at the end of the season, they would not be a problem, but their newly-discovered ability to survive and circulate means resistant strains can spread from the U.S. throughout the world. On the flip side, the finding also means that vaccination programs outside of China and Southeast Asia can be effective in curbing influenza’s spread.

In addition, growing knowledge about patterns of flu migration eventually may make it possible to tailor vaccines to particular locations, Bedford said. “We found, for instance, that South America gets almost all of its flu from North America. This would suggest that rather than giving South America the same vaccine that the rest of the world gets, you could construct a vaccine preferentially from the strains that were circulating in North America the previous season. As we gather more data from other regions, this could be done for the entire world.”

The research also can inform disease surveillance, Bedford said.

“By doing this kind of research, we get a clearer idea of where in the world flu is actually coming from. We know that it’s mostly Southeast Asia, but now we see that it can come out of temperate regions as well, so our surveillance needs to become more global.”

Bedford’s coauthors on the paper are postdoctoral fellow Sarah Cobey, professor Peter Beerli of Florida State University, and Mercedes Pascual, who is the Rosemary Grant Collegiate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

The research was funded by Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. It was detailed online May 27 in the  journal PLoS Pathogens.

Picture Credit: CDC/Cynthia Goldsmith

Nursing Home Test; ‘Didn’t find’ proof immunization stops virus

Canadian nursing home believes there is not enough evidence that proves Influenza vaccine shots are effective.  Despite various attempts at proving that influenze is reduced by the vaccines, no proof was found.  Read more

Is swine flu killing more young than old? Read what the CDC has to say

By STACEY SINGER
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Typically, influenza takes the old and frail. But the latest data compiled by the CDC shows this year’s H1N1 flu is anything but typical.

Click here to read article

H1N1 Flu School Guidance

CDC Guidance for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators for School (K-12) Responses to Influenza during the 2009-2010 School Year

This document provides guidance to help decrease the spread of flu among students and school staff during the 2009-2010 school year. This document expands upon earlier school guidance documents by providing a menu of tools that school and health officials can choose from based on conditions in their area.  Click here to read the entire article from the CDC official site.

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