In Brief

Compiled by Tessa Vanderhart

Ebola inoculation a success

Researchers at the University of Manitoba have, for the first time, successfully vaccinated monkeys against both Ebola and Marburg, two of the deadliest viruses capable of infecting humans. Although the vaccines have a 100 per cent success rate in the monkeys, it will be several years before they are approved for human use to combat the spread of the viruses in Africa. The breakthrough, carried out by Dr. Steven M. Jones and Dr. Heinz Feldmann in the departments of immunology and medical microbiology, respectively, produces the first viable inoculum against the viruses in non-human primates.

Healthy chocolate — who would have thunk?

It comes as no surprise to chocoholics, but the finding that chocolate can actually be a healthy choice may someday reconcile health and taste at the vending machine. According to the research of Dr. Arnie Hydamaka and others in the department of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, chocolate contains large amounts of flavonols, which act as antioxidants. Eating high-flavonol chocolate, such as dark chocolate or relatively unprocessed cocoa, has recently been linked to preventing cancers and other diseases associated with free radicals. In fact, chocolate has over six times the flavonol content of blueberries, and much more than other good sources of antioxidants like tea. “Chocolate is not chocolate is not chocolate – there are so many chocolates out there. And nobody knows, when you buy a chocolate bar … exactly what the antioxidant activity is. Maybe that’s one thing Health Canada should look at, in putting onto a label, in case people want to eat chocolate for its health aspects,” said Hydamaka. He says the Mars corporation, in addition to researchers at the U of M, is currently doing research to reduce the unhealthy components of chocolate – fat and sugar.

TV on Buses?

A local man has recently garnered public attention with his idea of installing televisions on city buses. It’s not as crazy as it might seem: Chris Minaker wants the TVs to show 45 minutes of community programming and 15 minute cycles of local business advertising to generate money and, ultimately, improve transit. “Something like this could be a huge benefit to the city of Winnipeg,” said Minaker. “People can find out about what’s going on in the community. Also, there is the potential to generate some money for Winnipeg Transit in the absence of government funding. Every time the city grows … it just results in poorer transit service.” Although Minaker has hand-delivered a letter to Katz, who was “intrigued” by the prospect, the idea is a long way from becoming reality. Just ask Morley Callaghan, Promotions Manager for Winnipeg Transit: “We’ve had at least two proposals in the four years that I’ve been with Transit, and this certainly isn’t something new,” said Callaghan. “If somebody came to us with a proper proposal and a developed business plan, then we would certainly look at that concept.”