Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

New targets for improved cancer immunotherapy

In the past two decades, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, showing promising results against various solid tumors. This study reviews recent developments in ICIs, focusing on new targets like T cell immunoreceptors with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (TIM-3), and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3). These targets aim to overcome resistance mechanisms limiting the effectiveness of current therapies, such as anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4. By identifying and developing these new ICIs, researchers hope to improve treatment outcomes and provide new therapeutic options for cancer patients.

14 Aug 2024

Novel vaccination strategy shows promise in boosting immunity and controlling influenza spread in pigs

Study demonstrates that a novel prime/boost vaccination protocol using live-attenuated influenza vaccines effectively induces strong immune responses in pigs, offering a promising approach for future influenza vaccination strategies.

13 Aug 2024

Exploring the distinct characteristics of Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma

This review offers an in-depth exploration of Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma (NLPHL), highlighting its distinct characteristics across various domains such as epidemiology, clinical presentation, histopathology, immunophenotype, genetic findings, and challenges in differential diagnosis.

13 Aug 2024

Lurie Children's and University of Utah Health receive $12 million for study on antibiotic use in pediatric pneumonia

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, in partnership with University of Utah Health, has been approved for $12 million in research funding by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for a study that will compare two ways to use antibiotics in young children with mild pneumonia, one of the leading reasons children seek acute care, who are well enough to be cared for at home.

13 Aug 2024

WHO considers declaring mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

The WHO is poised to activate its last-resort alarm for the growing mpox outbreak in central Africa by declaring it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) - with the committee responsible for the decision meeting on Wednesday.

13 Aug 2024

NIH study finds routine lab tests fall short in diagnosing long COVID

A National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported study has found that routine lab tests may not be useful in making a long COVID diagnosis for people who have symptoms of the condition

12 Aug 2024

Study uncovers OLAH as key driver of fatal respiratory disease

Respiratory infections can be severe, even deadly, in some individuals, but not in others.

12 Aug 2024

New research shows how testosterone may shield against severe Covid-19

A new study has revealed important information about how a patient's testosterone level can help protect them from severe Covid-19.

9 Aug 2024

Inflammation during pregnancy impacts child neurodevelopment

When a person experiences an injury or infection, the body's immune system responds with inflammation to start the healing process. However, inflammation can occur in much less helpful circumstances – for example, when a person experiences psychological stress or consistently eats a poor diet high in sugars, fats, and processed foods.

9 Aug 2024

Columbia study reveals bacteria create free-floating genes, challenging genetic code norms

Since the genetic code was first deciphered in the 1960s, our genes seemed like an open book. By reading and decoding our chromosomes as linear strings of letters, like sentences in a novel, we can identify the genes in our genome and learn why changes in a gene's code affect health.

9 Aug 2024

Renewed mpox threat finds public unprepared

It has been two years since the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency over an outbreak of mpox, a disease endemic to Africa that had spread to scores of countries. Now, in the summer of 2024, a deadlier version of the infectious disease has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to other African nations, the strain that originally hit the United States has shown signs of a resurgence, and this week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new alert on mpox to health care providers.

9 Aug 2024

Korean researchers accelerate race for respiratory disease cures

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted our lives, claiming nearly 7.1 million lives globally. Scientists and medical professionals have been working tirelessly to understand the virus, its transmission pathways, and effective treatments. The urgency of developing vaccines and treatments has never been greater, prompting calls for Korea to expedite its drug development efforts to match those of developed countries. Recently, a team of Korean researchers has made a breakthrough that will greatly enhance the efficiency of respiratory disease research, garnering attention.

9 Aug 2024

Cross-reactive T cells link SARS-CoV-2 to autoimmune triggers in MIS-C

Research identifies cross-reactive T cells targeting both SARS-CoV-2 and human SNX8 protein, providing insights into the autoimmune mechanisms driving MIS-C in children.

8 Aug 2024

ProDOL revolutionizes protein quantification in living cells

Scientists have developed a new way of counting labeled proteins in living cells that could become a standard and valuable tool in the field of biomedical research.

8 Aug 2024

Saliva test outperforms blood test in indicating the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children

A saliva test can more accurately indicate the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children than the standard blood test.

8 Aug 2024

Recombinant shingles vaccine linked to lower dementia risk, especially in women

Study published in Nature Medicine found that the recombinant shingles vaccine is linked to a reduced risk of dementia. This protective effect was particularly notable in females, suggesting a potential advantage of the recombinant vaccine over the live vaccine.

7 Aug 2024