Tracking foodborne disease outbreaks throughout the world | More MERS-CoV cases reported in Saudi Arabia | U.S. confirms: Assad used chemical weapons against rebels, civilians | Free of gene patents, personalized medicine enters a new era | House slashes bioweapon detection funds, citing upgrade delays | Saliva proteins may protect older people from influenza | Chimerix and BARDA continue smallpox countermeasure development | NIH awards $13M for UConn immunology research | Politicians back Remploy over MoD outsourcing decision | Researchers identify a new mechanism of TB drug resistance | NSF solicitation: Instrument development for biological research | Double dose of antiviral drug offers no added benefit in severe influenza | Industry briefing day for UK CBRN equipment capability plan | BARDA public health and medical consequence modeling network | Vaccine blackjack: IL-21 critical to fight against viral infections

See what we’re reading this week at Global Biodefense on topics like cuts to bioweapon detection funds, Saudi Arabia coronavirus case update, chemical weapons use in Syria and more…

Tracking foodborne disease outbreaks throughout the world (CDC)

More MERS-CoV cases reported in Saudi Arabia (CIDRAP)

U.S. confirms: Assad used chemical weapons against rebels, civilians (HSNW)

Free of gene patents, personalized medicine enters a new era (PBS)

House slashes bioweapon detection funds, citing upgrade delays (NTI GSN)

Saliva proteins may protect older people from influenza (ACS)

Chimerix and BARDA continue smallpox countermeasure development (Chimerix)

NIH awards $13M for UConn immunology research (UConn)

Politicians back Remploy over MoD outsourcing decision (Stirling Observer)

Researchers identify a new mechanism of TB drug resistance (JHSPH)

NSF solicitation: Instrument development for biological research (NSF)

Double dose of antiviral drug offers no added benefit in severe influenza (WellcomeTrust)