Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

New pathway linking neuron selectivity to cognitive disorders uncovered

Neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have determined how a brain cell surface molecule shapes the way certain neurons behave.

3 Oct 2024

New insights into the link between respiratory infections and chronic lung diseases

A 3D reconstruction of a mouse lung four days after infection with fluorescent Sendai virus reveals widespread virus presence (red) and active replication (green).

3 Oct 2024

Emergency response underway as Rwanda battles deadly Marburg virus

The World Health Organization (WHO) is readying emergency supplies to send to Rwanda following the country's first outbreak of the highly contagious Marburg virus, as authorities attempt to trace people who may be at risk.

1 Oct 2024

New humanized mouse models created to study COVID-19

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have developed six lines of humanized mice that can serve as valuable models for studying human cases of COVID-19.

1 Oct 2024

Macrophage memory following COVID infection provides cross-virus protection

More than 200 viruses can infect and cause disease in humans; most of us will be infected by several over the course of a lifetime.

30 Sep 2024

Advanced brain mapping reveals neuronal subtypes and their connections

Scientists at the Salk Institute are unveiling a new brain-mapping neurotechnology called Single Transcriptome Assisted Rabies Tracing (START). The cutting-edge tool combines two advanced technologies-;monosynaptic rabies virus tracing and single-cell transcriptomics-;to map the brain's intricate neuronal connections with unparalleled precision.

30 Sep 2024

Over 80% of women are iron deficient by their third trimester

Iron deficiency is prevalent among pregnant women, impacting health outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring and nutrition during pregnancy.

30 Sep 2024

How viral persistence and immune dysfunction drive long COVID

Study explores the biological drivers and mechanisms of long COVID, shedding light on its epidemiology and potential therapeutic interventions. It emphasizes the role of viral persistence, immune dysfunction, and coagulation in the development of this condition.

29 Sep 2024

WHO announces recommended viral composition for 2025 influenza vaccines

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced the recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2025 influenza season in the southern hemisphere.

27 Sep 2024

Study shows gradual waning of MMR vaccine effectiveness over time

The MMR vaccine remains the best protection against measles, according to a modelling study in England which suggests the level of protection decreases slightly over time.

27 Sep 2024

Study: MMR vaccine remains the most effective measure to prevent measles infection

Most measles cases in England are among unvaccinated individuals. But, between 2011 and 2019, the proportion of measles cases in adults who received two doses of the MMR vaccine in England increased from 1.9% (20/1064) to 7.2% (57/790), however the cause of this increase remains unclear.

26 Sep 2024

Japanese bats found carrying high levels of novel viruses, raising concerns about zoonotic outbreaks

Researchers identified over 60% of bats in Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture carrying multiple zoonotic viruses, including 10 novel herpesviruses, highlighting rapid viral evolution and migration risks.

26 Sep 2024

Rise in SUID and SIDS during COVID-19 pandemic linked to respiratory viruses

The risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, especially in 2021, according to a new study led by researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine.

26 Sep 2024

Antiviral drug molnupiravir linked to new mutations in SARS-CoV-2

Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug used to treat patients with COVID-19, appears to be driving SARS-CoV-2 to mutate and evolve, with some of these new viruses being transmitted onwards, a new study has shown.

26 Sep 2024

Nursing aides plagued by PTSD after ‘nightmare’ covid conditions, with little help

One evening in May, nursing assistant Debra Ragoonanan's vision blurred during her shift at a state-run Massachusetts veterans home.

26 Sep 2024

Drug-free nasal spray demonstrates effectiveness in blocking viral and bacterial infections

Researchers from the Brigham detail how the spray they created may offer broad-spectrum protection from respiratory infections by COVID-19, influenza, everyday cold viruses, and pneumonia-causing bacteria

25 Sep 2024

Pigs identified as possible carriers of rat hepatitis E virus infecting humans

New research suggests that pigs may function as a transmission vehicle for a strain of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) common in rats that has recently been found to infect humans.

25 Sep 2024

H5N1 bird flu is mutating fast and jumping to mammals - could the next pandemic be here?

Researchers reveal how H5N1 viruses rapidly adapted to mammals through genetic reassortment and specific mutations, raising concerns over potential pandemic risks. Evidence from mink, marine mammals, and dairy cattle shows mammal-to-mammal transmission.

25 Sep 2024

CRISPR-Cas13 emerges as a game changer in RNA-targeted therapies

In recent years, the scientific community has made significant strides in the field of gene editing, particularly through the development of the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) systems.

25 Sep 2024

COVID-19 pandemic reduced sexual partners and activity in the U.S.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the number of sexual partners and sexual encounters in the U.S., with non-married women experiencing the most pronounced declines.

24 Sep 2024