A new combination of analytical chemistry and mathematical data analysis techniques allows the rapid identification of the species, strain and infectious phase of the potential biological terrorism agent Coxiella burnetii. The bacterium causes the human disease Q fever, which can cause serious illness and even death.

Australian contract research organisation Datapharm has entered into a strategic alliance with Brussels and Cambridge based Symfo, a specialist in electronic diary solutions for patients. [ + ]

Prana Biotech (ASX:PBT, NASDAQ:PRAN) announced today that its candidate PBT2 therapy for Alzheimer's disease has come through a phase I single-dose escalation trial in the Netherlands, with a superior pharmacokinetic profile to its predecessor, clioquinol. [ + ]

Melbourne's Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) has entered into an agreement with US-based ALZA Corp to determine the feasibility of delivering a number of compounds nominated by ALZA using Phosphagenics' patented transdermal delivery system, TPM-01. [ + ]

Sydney-based Peptech (ASX:PTD) expects to boost its R&D spend in the next year, in the wake of a net profit of AUD$25.7 million for the year ended September 30. [ + ]

Novogen (ASX:NRT) has cited a "voting systems error" as the reason why a significant number of proxy votes were cast against the resolution to adopt the company's remuneration report for the year ended June 30 at its AGM in late October. [ + ]

South Australia's LabTech Systems (NSX:LTS) has lodged a prospectus for an IPO to raise up to AUD$5.5 million to progress the development of its MicroStreak technology and assist in moving the company's shares and options from the Newcastle Stock Exchange to the Australian Stock Exchange. [ + ]

SSH Medical (ASX:SSH) re-listed today on the ASX following a capital raising of AUD$4.26 million and the acquisition of unlisted Brisbane-based materials sciences specialist Bio-Layer. [ + ]

University of Queensland researchers have identified a protein that is crucially involved in how memories are stored and processed, paving the way for new strategies to treat conditions of certain mental disorders.

The European Bioinformatics Institute and Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology-Ghent University have launched the PRoteomics IDEntifications database (PRIDE; www.ebi.ac.uk/pride). PRIDE allows researchers who work in the field of proteomics - the large-scale study of proteins - to share information much more readily than was previously possible. This will allow them to exploit the growing mass of information on how the body's complement of proteins is altered in many disease states, paving the way towards new predictive and diagnostic methods in medicine.

Five years ago, x-ray crystallography made it possible for the first time to study ribosomes in cells, where the synthesis of proteins takes place. But it hasn't been understood just how amino acids are joined together to form proteins. Now researchers at Uppsala University have discovered the only possible mechanism and have used it to explain a number of biochemical experiments.

Brisbane medical diagnostics developer Panbio (ASX:PBO) has successfully completed a seven-month search for a new CEO in what executive chairman Jim Kalokerinos has described as a "longer process than hoped." [ + ]

Melbourne-based gene testing company Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG, NASDAQ:GENE) appears to be nearing settlement of its long-running court case against US rival Applera Corp over Applera's refusal to take a licence to use GTG's patents on the use of so-called 'junk' DNA markers for gene testing. [ + ]

Stem Cell Sciences (AIM:STEM, SCS) has granted US-based biopharmaceutical company Lexicon Genetics an exclusive license to its Internal Ribosome Entry Site (IRES) technology for genetically modified mice. [ + ]

Perth-based Regenera (ASX:RGA) has revealed plans to acquire US-based Advanced Ocular Systems (AOS) for US$31 million (AUD$40 million) in a plan to expand its portfolio of ophthalmic products and technologies. [ + ]