Mad cow’s path to brain discovered (Moldova.org) An Italian researcher said she's figured out how the human mad cow disease travels from the stomach to the brain.Chiara Zurzolo, a biology professor at Naples University, said the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease prion uses the body's immune system to travel to the brain. The prion then starts killing brain neurons, which leads to dementia, ANSA reported Thursday.''The infection passes to the brain ... [News Source]

PM told to put meat on the bones of Korean trade deal (Queensland Country Life) Beef exporters have urged the federal government to conclude a free-trade agreement with South Korea within 18 months, after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said yesterday that talks would start in May. [News Source]

Mad cow’s path to brain discovered (UPI) NAPLES, Italy, March 5 (UPI) -- An Italian researcher said she's figured out how the human mad cow disease travels from the stomach to the brain. [News Source]

UL Responds to Research Center (KATC 3 Lafayette) UL responds to the to the Humane Society investigation. [News Source]

Humane Society alleges mistreatment at primate center (CNN) The Humane Society has accused a federally funded primate center of mistreating chimpanzees and other primates, saying that some animals showed signs of psychosis and self-mutilation. [News Source]

Antibody key to treating variant CJD (News-Medical-Net) Scientists at the University of Liverpool have determined the atomic structure of the 'binding' between a brain protein and an antibody that could be key to treating patients with diseases such as variant CJD. [News Source]

Primates abused? (The Daily Iberian) Primates tearing holes into their flesh, monkey psychosis and chimpanzees smashing to the ground after being shot with sedatives are some of the 338 Animal Welfare Act violations the Humane Society of the United States says it discovered during a nine-month undercover investigation of the New Iberia Research Center. [News Source]

Kiwi dollar plunge helps beef prices (Stuff) Farmgate returns for beef are 11 per cent ahead of this time last year despite flat or falling sales in key markets, Meat & Wool New Zealand says. The gains have all come from the big fall in the kiwi dollar. [News Source]

Regulation designed to prevent mad-cow disease (Jefferson City News Tribune) HALFWAY (AP) - The trucks blocking the driveway to the Halfway Packing Co. describe the firm's operations with the slogan: “Our business is dead.” Never has that been more true. [News Source]

FDA rule poses problem for handling dead Mo. cows. The company that collected cattle and horse corpses for disposal now is dead itself, the victim of a new federal regulation on cattle renderers that is designed to prevent mad-cow disease. [News Source]