Dec. 31, 2009 The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in
samples that can be easily obtained in clinics and emergency
rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic
influenza. Reports that H1N1 pandemic influenza in Argentina was
associated with higher morbidity and mortality than in other
countries led investigators in the Center for Infection and
Immunity (CII) at the Mailman School of Public Health of
Columbia University, their colleagues at Argentina's National
Institute of Infectious Diseases (INEI), and Roche 454 Life
Sciences to look for viral mutations indicative of increased
virulence and for co-infections that could contribute to
disease. Complete genome sequencing of nasopharyngeal samples
representing severe or mild disease revealed no evidence of
evolution toward a more virulent phenotype or development of
antiviral resistance. However, MassTag PCR, a method for
sensitive, simultaneous surveillance and differential diagnosis
of infectious diseases, found a strong correlation betwe