Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

UAMS receives $1.8M grant to lead new treatments for herpes viruses and cancers

A surprise discovery that could lead to new treatments for herpes viruses that infect more than 90 percent of the world's adult population has led to a $1.8 million grant to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

5 May 2014

Johns Hopkins biochemists figure out HIV-fighting activity of enzyme

Johns Hopkins biochemists have figured out what is needed to activate and sustain the virus-fighting activity of an enzyme found in CD4+ T cells, the human immune cells infected by HIV. The discovery could launch a more effective strategy for preventing the spread of HIV in the body with drugs targeting this enzyme, they say.

2 May 2014

Longer looks: Failure to meet Veterans' health needs; new views of the 1918 flu pandemic; a crumbling mental health system

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

2 May 2014

No increased HPV-linked oral cancer risk for long-term partners, says study

Partners of patients diagnosed with human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) were no more likely to test positive for oral HPV infection than people in the general population, according to a study published in the April 28 online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

2 May 2014

Biotech to the rescue

MIT professor Ram Sasisekharan's three biotech companies — Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Cerulean Pharma, and Visterra — share a similar goal.

1 May 2014

EGPAF launches new training program to address health care worker shortages in Malawi

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) is proud to launch a new training program to address health care worker shortages in Malawi. The program kicked-off today by enrolling students from 21 rural and remote areas of Malawi into a three-year training program to become nurse midwife technicians.

29 Apr 2014

Researchers develop animal model of human hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers have developed an animal model of human hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in rhesus macaques, an advance that may lead to treatments, vaccines and improved methods of diagnosing the disease.

29 Apr 2014

Scientists identify natural human antibodies against virus that causes MERS

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified natural human antibodies against the virus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a step toward developing treatments for the newly emerging and often-fatal disease.

29 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: Boehner's 'truthful gaffe' on health law; Larry Kramer's AIDS crusade; costly drugs

Although "repeal and replace" has been the Republican position on Obamacare since 2010, "replace" has been there mainly because it polled well. Republicans were satisfied with the health-care status quo in 2009, and would have been glad to repeal Obamacare to return to it. As Steve Benen points out, Republicans voted for just-plain-repeal many times.

29 Apr 2014

People with low cholesterol levels in immune cells experience slower HIV progression

People infected with HIV whose immune cells have low cholesterol levels experience much slower disease progression, even without medication, according to University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health research that could lead to new strategies to control infection.

29 Apr 2014

Scientists extract infectious sample of MERS coronavirus from two camels in Saudi Arabia

There is new, more definitive evidence implicating camels in the ongoing outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. Scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, King Saud University, and EcoHealth Alliance extracted a complete, live, infectious sample of MERS coronavirus from two camels in Saudi Arabia.

29 Apr 2014

Sinovac Biotech commits to commercialize Sabin Inactivated Polio Vaccine in China

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China that focuses on the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of vaccines, announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Intravacc (Institute for Translational Vaccinology) from The Netherlands to develop and commercialize the Sabin Inactivated Polio Vaccine (sIPV) for distribution to China and other countries.

28 Apr 2014

University of Michigan scientists uncover how cells block mutation-causing activity of junk DNA

There's a civil war going on inside every one of the 37 trillion cells in your body. Now, University of Michigan scientists have uncovered how your cells keep this war from causing too much collateral damage.

26 Apr 2014

SFU researchers trace evolution of HIV in North America

A study tracing the evolution of HIV in North America involving researchers at Simon Fraser University has found evidence that the virus is slowly adapting over time to its human hosts. However, this change is so gradual that it is unlikely to have an impact on vaccine design.

26 Apr 2014

SGO welcomes new options for detecting and preventing cervical cancer

The FDA approval of primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing will provide doctors one more tool to use in cervical cancer screening, a health routine responsible for saving countless lives. As the largest organization of doctors specializing in the treatment of women's cancers, including cervical cancer, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology welcomes new options for detecting and preventing this terrible disease.

25 Apr 2014

New Ebola variant identified in Guinea

Performed in less than a month, sequencing of the complete genome and subsequent phylogenetic analysis show that the virus present in Guinea forms a clade (variant) that is distinct from strains previously identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Gabon. Epidemiological investigations also linked the laboratory confirmed cases with the initial deaths recorded during the December 2013 outbreak.

25 Apr 2014

Georgia State researcher receives grant to develop novel therapeutics against RSV infection

Dr. Richard Plemper, a professor in the new Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, has received a five-year, $2.83 million federal grant to develop novel therapeutics against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection.

25 Apr 2014

FSA project to map occurrence of norovirus in food premises

The University of Liverpool is leading a -2 million Food Standards Agency (FSA) project to map the occurrence of norovirus in food premises and industry workers.

25 Apr 2014

TSRI scientists discover new HIV target

A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) working with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has discovered a new vulnerable site on the HIV virus. The newly identified site can be attacked by human antibodies in a way that neutralizes the infectivity of a wide variety of HIV strains.

25 Apr 2014

Aetna raises earnings outlook

In other market news, coverage continues of the cost and effectiveness of Sovaldi, a new drug to treat hepatitis C, and the related earnings gained by Gilead Sciences, its manufacturer.

25 Apr 2014

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

UAMS receives $1.8M grant to lead new treatments for herpes viruses and cancers

Johns Hopkins biochemists figure out HIV-fighting activity of enzyme

Longer looks: Failure to meet Veterans' health needs; new views of the 1918 flu pandemic; a crumbling mental health system

No increased HPV-linked oral cancer risk for long-term partners, says study

Biotech to the rescue

EGPAF launches new training program to address health care worker shortages in Malawi

Researchers develop animal model of human hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Scientists identify natural human antibodies against virus that causes MERS

Viewpoints: Boehner's 'truthful gaffe' on health law; Larry Kramer's AIDS crusade; costly drugs

People with low cholesterol levels in immune cells experience slower HIV progression

Scientists extract infectious sample of MERS coronavirus from two camels in Saudi Arabia

Sinovac Biotech commits to commercialize Sabin Inactivated Polio Vaccine in China

University of Michigan scientists uncover how cells block mutation-causing activity of junk DNA

SFU researchers trace evolution of HIV in North America

SGO welcomes new options for detecting and preventing cervical cancer

New Ebola variant identified in Guinea

Georgia State researcher receives grant to develop novel therapeutics against RSV infection

FSA project to map occurrence of norovirus in food premises

TSRI scientists discover new HIV target

Aetna raises earnings outlook

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production