Nature Middle East update: 5 June 2014

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Nature Middle East update 05 June 2014 In this issue Featured Latest news and features Latest research Editor's choice Editor's blog Our picks Stay connected: sponsor Featured MERS Attacks: The story and evolution of the deadly Middle East virus The WHO has not declared MERS-CoV an epidemic yet, due to current low human-to-human transmission. But is there reason for concern? MERS epidemic “unlikely” in Egypt Egypt's recent record of uncontrolled epidemics has brought fears of a widespread outbreak of the MERS-CoV virus, but experts say the virus in its current form is unlikely to become an epidemic in the country.  Researchers identify potent coronavirus inhibitor A newly-identified compound could stop the spread of dangerous coronaviruses, but is still a long way from clinical trials. Call for improved genetic services in Arab countries An estimate of congenital birth defect rates shows a higher incidence of anomalies among live births in Arab countries compared to those in Europe, North America and Australia. The problem is compounded by a lack of reliable genetic services in all but a handful of Arab countries. Top Latest news & features Feature: The global reach of the MERS coronavirus First discovered in Saudi Arabia in September 2012, the MERS-CoV has recently spread further from the Middle East across most continents of the world. Feature: The story of the first MERS patient  How did a small laboratory attached to a private hospital in Saudi Arabia isolate and identify what later came to be known as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)? Feature: Can we win the battle of MERS? With the number of reported cases of MERS sharply increasing and doubling in just one month, is there reason for concern, or can we still stop the spread of the disease? Top Latest reseach First vaccine for Leishmaniasis in Medical research , Pharmacology and drug discovery Making hardy plastics recyclable in Chemistry Improved characterization of genetic variation by machine-learning algorithm in Genetics Top Editor's choice Genetically improving cancer therapy Scientists have identified a gene mutation that can cause intellectual disability, seizures and ataxia that could help improve personalized cancer therapy. Top Editor’s blog - House of Wisdom Do we need science media centres in the Arab world? Top Our picks Get free access to some premium content of relevance to you published in journals and portals across the Nature Publishing Group. Note - free access is only available through the Nature Middle East Our picks page. Hepatitis C drugs not reaching poor Ewen Callaway Nature News Published online 15 April 2014 Top You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. You can change or discontinue your e-mail alerts at any time, by modifying your preferences on your nature.com account at:www.nature.com/nams/svc/myaccount (You will need to log in to be recognised as a nature.com registrant). For further technical assistance, please contact our registration department For print subscription enquiries, please contact our subscription department For other enquiries, please contact our feedback department Nature Publishing Group | 75 Varick Street, 9th Floor | New York | NY 10013-1917 | USA Nature Publishing Group | Chiyoda Bldg, 2-37 Ichigayatamachi | Shinjuku | Tokyo 162-0843 | Japan Nature Publishing Group's worldwide offices: London - Paris - Munich - New Delhi - Tokyo - Melbourne San Diego - San Francisco - Washington - New York - Boston Macmillan Publishers Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales under company number 785998 and whose registered office is located at Brunel Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. © 2014 Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All Rights Reserved.