Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

T cell-inducing dengue vaccines could confer broader protection for kids born to vaccinated mothers

For a long time, a dengue vaccine was the holy grail in dengue research. Now that a dengue vaccine is finally on the market (Sanofi's Dengvaxia), other issues have arisen, such as what happens in the babies of vaccinated mothers.

22 Dec 2017

Higher ‘mutational burden’ of tumors predicts success rate with cancer immunotherapies

The "mutational burden," or the number of mutations present in a tumor's DNA, is a good predictor of whether that cancer type will respond to a class of cancer immunotherapy drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors, a new study led by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers shows.

21 Dec 2017

Researchers develop more accurate method to gauge incidence of HIV infections

Researchers at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute have led an effort to develop a more accurate way to gauge the incidence of HIV infections in large populations, which will improve research and prevention strategies worldwide.

21 Dec 2017

New test could prove to be quicker, cheaper way to diagnose respiratory viral illnesses

A new test that measures RNA or protein molecules in human cells can accurately identify viral infection as a cause of respiratory symptoms, according to a Yale study.

21 Dec 2017

Smartphone app can detect worsening symptoms during cancer treatments

Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy can be remotely monitored using their smartphone sensors and an algorithm that detects worsening symptoms based on objective changes in patient behavior, according to a new study from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

20 Dec 2017

FDA approves new gene therapy targeting rare form of inherited vision loss

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec-rzyl), a new gene therapy, to treat children and adult patients with an inherited form of vision loss that may result in blindness.

19 Dec 2017

Ottawa researchers use viruses to target and destroy HIV

While Ottawa researchers are known for their work on cancer-fighting viruses, one team is applying these viruses to a new target: HIV.

19 Dec 2017

EPFL scientists create gold nanoparticles to combat all viruses

HIV, dengue, papillomavirus, herpes and Ebola - these are just some of the many viruses that kill millions of people every year, mostly children in developing countries. While drugs can be used against some viruses, there is currently no broad-spectrum treatment that is effective against several at the same time, in the same way that broad-spectrum antibiotics fight a range of bacteria.

18 Dec 2017

“Man flu” actually a thing and not to be ridiculed, says science

“Man flu” refers to a common cold or flu which when occurring in men is usually presented with exaggerated symptoms and the severity of those symptoms. It has long been ridiculed in society. Science now explores if men truly suffer more when they are down with a cold.

17 Dec 2017

Cancer immunotherapy’s effectiveness may depend on patient’s genetic makeup

Cancer cells arise when DNA is mutated, and these cells should be recognized as "foreign" by the immune system. However, cancer cells have found ways to evade detection by the immune system.

15 Dec 2017

Scientists unravel mystery of how immune cells remember infections decades later

A perplexing question in immunology has been, how do immune cells remember an infection or a vaccination so that they can spring into action decades later? Research led by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, in collaboration with investigators at Emory University, has found an answer: A small pool of the same immune cells that responded to the original invasion remain alive for years, developing unique features that keep them primed and waiting for the same microbe to re-invade the body.

14 Dec 2017

Mosquito-infected monkeys may provide better understanding of Zika transmission routes

Monkeys who catch Zika virus through bites from infected mosquitoes develop infections that look like human Zika cases, and may help researchers understand the many ways Zika can be transmitted.

14 Dec 2017

Studies reveal possibility for memory T cells to serve a dual purpose

Scientists of two new complementary studies researching mice and humans claim that they have the strongest evidence yet that memory T cells responsible for long-term immune protection also serve an additional role.

14 Dec 2017

Study finds social stigma as barrier to successful treatment of children with HIV in Ethiopia

The social stigma surrounding HIV is still strong in many parts of the world. Children living with HIV in Ethiopia are at high risk of receiving inadequate treatment - or no treatment at all - on account of deeply rooted prejudice.

14 Dec 2017

Human ‘common cold’ virus kills healthy chimpanzees in Uganda

In the wild, chimpanzees face any number of dire threats, ranging from poachers to predators to deforestation.

13 Dec 2017

Lactic acid bacteria can offer protection against subtypes of influenza A virus

Lactic acid bacteria, commonly used as probiotics to improve digestive health, can offer protection against different subtypes of influenza A virus, resulting in reduced weight loss after virus infection and lower amounts of virus replication in the lungs, according to a study led by Georgia State University.

13 Dec 2017

Male virgins still at risk for acquiring HPV, study finds

Men who have never engaged in sexual intercourse are still at risk for acquiring HPV, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Infectious Diseases by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health.

13 Dec 2017

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

T cell-inducing dengue vaccines could confer broader protection for kids born to vaccinated mothers

Higher ‘mutational burden’ of tumors predicts success rate with cancer immunotherapies

Researchers develop more accurate method to gauge incidence of HIV infections

New test could prove to be quicker, cheaper way to diagnose respiratory viral illnesses

Smartphone app can detect worsening symptoms during cancer treatments

FDA approves new gene therapy targeting rare form of inherited vision loss

Ottawa researchers use viruses to target and destroy HIV

EPFL scientists create gold nanoparticles to combat all viruses

“Man flu” actually a thing and not to be ridiculed, says science

Cancer immunotherapy’s effectiveness may depend on patient’s genetic makeup

Scientists unravel mystery of how immune cells remember infections decades later

Mosquito-infected monkeys may provide better understanding of Zika transmission routes

Studies reveal possibility for memory T cells to serve a dual purpose

Study finds social stigma as barrier to successful treatment of children with HIV in Ethiopia

Human ‘common cold’ virus kills healthy chimpanzees in Uganda

Lactic acid bacteria can offer protection against subtypes of influenza A virus

Male virgins still at risk for acquiring HPV, study finds

Texas Biomed scientists develop new animal model that mimics key features of Zika infection

Chemical found in marijuana could help HIV patients maintain their mental function

Scientists discover specific mechanism of Zika virus-associated microcephaly

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