Brussels, 26/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - An additional €12 million will be allocated to tackling pathogens such as the virulent Escherichia coli (E.coli) which hit Germany hard recently, causing the deaths of 46 people, the Commission announced on Tuesday 9 August. Over €2 million will be specifically devoted to research on the E.coli bacterium alone when the cross-border consortium, named ANTIGONE (Anticipating the Global Onset of Novel Epidemics), starts work this autumn. The additional funding will come from the EU's 7th research framework programme which already has a budget of some €170 million for 2007-13 for research into novel epidemics. The research will focus on “ways to prevent future epidemics and deal with new outbreaks”, the Commission says. (J.K./transl.rt)