Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Two Zika vaccine candidates protect newborn mice against neurological damage

Two vaccines against Zika virus developed at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have successfully conveyed immunity from female mice to pups conceived weeks after the mother's vaccination.

4 Oct 2016

Researchers confirm long persistence of Zika virus in semen and reveal its presence within spermatozoa

Recent work has shown that Zika virus persists in semen for up to 6 months after infection. In a correspondence published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the researchers, in addition to confirming its long persistence in semen (in this case for more than 130 days, i.e., over 4 months), reveal the presence of the virus even within spermatozoa.

4 Oct 2016

Can vitamin D reduce asthma attacks? An interview with Professor Adrian Martineau

In the past vitamin D was just thought to be important in regulating calcium homeostasis and bone health as vitamin D deficiency is best known for causing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

4 Oct 2016

Discovery of rare flu-thwarting mutation could provide new strategy for live influenza vaccines

A rare and improbable mutation in a protein encoded by an influenza virus renders the virus defenseless against the body's immune system. This University of Rochester Medical Center discovery could provide a new strategy for live influenza vaccines in the future.

4 Oct 2016

Women infected with Rift Valley fever virus have increased risk of miscarriages

The mosquito-borne Rift Valley fever virus has been linked to miscarriage in humans. A study of 130 pregnant Sudanese women with fever showed that the risk of miscarriage was seven times greater if the woman was infected with Rift Valley fever virus.

4 Oct 2016

Researchers move one step closer to developing effective universal flu vaccine

Researchers at McMaster University and two American universities have taken another step closer to developing a much more effective, "one-punch" universal flu vaccine.

4 Oct 2016

Scientists find evidence of link between coronavirus and neurological disease

For the first time, researchers have found proof of a direct association between strain OC 43 of the human coronavirus (HCoV) and neurological disease in humans.

3 Oct 2016

New molecular biology technique could help identify virus-fighting potential of existing drugs

A new, computer-based screening method could reveal the virus-fighting potential of drugs originally developed to treat other conditions, reports a study in PLOS Computational Biology.

3 Oct 2016

CDC recommends flu shot via injection for safe and effective prevention of diseases

This year, everyone will have to roll up their sleeves and receive the flu shot via injection, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer recommends the nasal flu mist vaccine due to ineffectiveness.

30 Sep 2016

Scientists design new universal flu vaccine to protect against future global pandemics

An international team of scientists have designed a new generation of universal flu vaccines to protect against future global pandemics that could kill millions.

30 Sep 2016

Zika-related travel recommendations extended to Southeast Asia

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week highlighted the risk of Zika infection in eleven Southeastern Asian countries and recommended that pregnant women avoid them wherever possible.

30 Sep 2016

WHO, OIE and FAO reiterate call for world free from dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030

The World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are reiterating their call for a world free from human rabies transmitted by dogs by 2030.

30 Sep 2016

Parents do not perceive need to vaccinate children against influenza, study finds

Despite the fact that influenza leads to more hospitalizations and deaths among children than any other vaccine-preventable disease, parents frequently decline vaccinating their children against influenza because they don't perceive the need, according to a new case-control study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

30 Sep 2016

Studies find environment plays major role in shaping immune system

Like fingerprints, immune systems vary from person to person. And although we all inherit a unique set of genes that help us respond to infections, recent studies have found that our history and environment—like where and with whom we live—are responsible for 60% to 80% of the differences between individual immune systems, while genetics account for the rest.

29 Sep 2016

Scientists solve structure of BinAB toxin that kills larvae of certain type of mosquitoes

Could we get rid of mosquitoes without polluting the environment? Yes, we can! The BinAB toxin, produced in crystal form by a bacterium, specifically kills the larvae of Culex and Anopheles mosquitoes, but it is inactive on tiger mosquitoes (or Aedes), the vectors for dengue fever and chikungunya.

29 Sep 2016

HPV vaccine can decrease incidence of cervical pre-cancers among young women, research shows

Every 20 minutes, someone in the United States receives a cancer diagnosis related to human papillomavirus. HPV causes cancer of the cervix, anus and throat.

29 Sep 2016

Tumor Paint lights the way for surgeons during brain surgery

In December of last year, Laura Coffman began to notice that something wasn't quite right with her 2-year-old son, Hunter. He was leaning to one side and seemed to lose his balance easily. When he became lethargic and started vomiting a few days later on Dec. 28, she knew it was time to see the pediatrician.

28 Sep 2016

Research uncovers new clues to combat dengue and Zika virus

Structural biology research conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has uncovered how small insecticidal protein crystals that are naturally produced by bacteria might be tailored to combat dengue fever and the Zika virus.

28 Sep 2016

Research findings offer promising treatment target for blinding diseases

New research published in Cell Reports identifies a potential treatment target for blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and advanced dry age-related macular degeneration.

28 Sep 2016

Researchers unravel mystery of first Zika virus-related death in the continental U.S.

The first Zika virus-related death in the continental U.S. occurred in June of this year, but even now, months later, two aspects of this case continue to puzzle health experts.

28 Sep 2016

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Two Zika vaccine candidates protect newborn mice against neurological damage

Researchers confirm long persistence of Zika virus in semen and reveal its presence within spermatozoa

Can vitamin D reduce asthma attacks? An interview with Professor Adrian Martineau

Discovery of rare flu-thwarting mutation could provide new strategy for live influenza vaccines

Women infected with Rift Valley fever virus have increased risk of miscarriages

Researchers move one step closer to developing effective universal flu vaccine

Scientists find evidence of link between coronavirus and neurological disease

New molecular biology technique could help identify virus-fighting potential of existing drugs

CDC recommends flu shot via injection for safe and effective prevention of diseases

Scientists design new universal flu vaccine to protect against future global pandemics

Zika-related travel recommendations extended to Southeast Asia

WHO, OIE and FAO reiterate call for world free from dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030

Parents do not perceive need to vaccinate children against influenza, study finds

Studies find environment plays major role in shaping immune system

Scientists solve structure of BinAB toxin that kills larvae of certain type of mosquitoes

HPV vaccine can decrease incidence of cervical pre-cancers among young women, research shows

Tumor Paint lights the way for surgeons during brain surgery

Research uncovers new clues to combat dengue and Zika virus

Research findings offer promising treatment target for blinding diseases

Researchers unravel mystery of first Zika virus-related death in the continental U.S.

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Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

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