tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695693265049490064.post6218240521827514744..comments2008-06-05T01:17:05.450-07:00SciPhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635296283765717517sciphu@sciphu.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695693265049490064.post-91153284192387355982008-06-05T01:17:00.000-07:002008-06-05T01:17:00.000-07:00The neighboring countries in this case, are very similar both culturally and in terms of genetics. It is therefore highly unlikely that the containment in Sweden was caused by genetic resistance in Norway or Denmark. This is also mentioned in the article (section 6, last two sentences). Although not an expert on biological warfare or similar issues, I strongly believe that the fear of production of population-specific modified microorganisms for hostile purposes is unwarranted. One would think also that C. trachomatis is unsuitable as a biological weapon, and finally, C. trachomatis is probably not a candidate for illegal commercial exploitation since it is widespread across the globe already.SciPhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635296283765717517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695693265049490064.post-14532159689733692882008-06-04T21:07:00.000-07:002008-06-04T21:07:00.000-07:00I have wondered at this possibility for some time. How close genetically are the neighboring countries? If someone with the data can run the math and analyses a specific genetic resistence or vulnerability thourgh a specific difference might be detected. Nasty possibilites if anyone is motivated to target specific populations deliberately and has enough knowledge, access, etc. or for profit motives are a possibililty. Keep up the good work. Referring this on to othersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695693265049490064.post-83688962776696274682008-06-04T00:23:00.000-07:002008-06-04T00:23:00.000-07:00Yes you are absolutely right. In Sweden they were using Abbott and Roche kits almost exclusively and this is probably the reason the mutant spread so rapidly in this country. In Norway the C. trachomatis market is divided between Becton Dickinson (BD) and Roche. The BD kits picks up the mutant and this is probably the reason why the mutant has not outcompeted other strains in Norway. I do not have information on the dominating diagnostic methods in other European countries. But, even if this does explain the explosion of the mutant strain in Sweden, and the lack of such an explosion in Norway, the mystery that the mutant hasn't crossed the Swedish borders to a larger extent still remains. Nils ReintonSciPhuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04635296283765717517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695693265049490064.post-2352098113340493842008-06-03T20:20:00.000-07:002008-06-03T20:20:00.000-07:00I wonder weather there is a difference in the use of the Abbott and Roche kits between the countries? Is there less use of these kits for diagnosis and more symptomatic diagnosis of Chlamydia infection?Scott Eakernoreply@blogger.com