Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Nasal COVID-19 vaccine shows promise in preventing virus spread

The lightning-fast development of COVID-19 vaccines just months after the virus appeared was a triumph of modern science and saved millions of lives.

31 Jul 2024

Bird flu cases are going undetected, new study suggests. It’s a problem for all of us.

A new study lends weight to fears that more livestock workers have gotten the bird flu than has been reported.

31 Jul 2024

Stem cell therapy advances: MSCs show potential in managing COVID-19 and influenza infections

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. The emergence of infectious diseases, including viral zoonoses, has allowed intensive research into novel therapeutic approaches.

31 Jul 2024

Wildlife species show high SARS-CoV-2 exposure linked to human activity

Researchers found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in six wildlife species and higher seroprevalence in high human activity areas. Seven new human-to-animal transmission events of the Omicron variant were identified.

30 Jul 2024

Study reveals link between illicit fentanyl use and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs

An international team of researchers from University of California San Diego and el Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Mexico have revealed a significant association between the use of illicit fentanyl and the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico.

30 Jul 2024

California lawmakers debate sending local health inspectors into immigration facilities

Covid-19, mumps, and chickenpox outbreaks. Contaminated water, moldy food, and air ducts spewing black dust.

30 Jul 2024

Maternal immune response to flu linked to fetal brain changes

A bad case of the flu during pregnancy can increase the risk for fetal neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. But it's not the virus itself doing the damage; it's the mother's immune response.

29 Jul 2024

Health authorities warn about bird flu risks in raw milk and undercooked foods

With bird flu virus detected in cow's milk, U.S. health authorities have warned the public against potential sources of exposure, including drinking raw or unpasteurized milk, and have reiterated a general warning that consuming uncooked or undercooked poultry or beef products can make you sick.

29 Jul 2024

SARS-CoV-2 detected in common wildlife species

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to Virginia Tech research published Monday (July 29, 2024) in Nature Communications.

29 Jul 2024

The CDC’s test for bird flu works, but it has issues

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a glitch in its bird flu test hasn't harmed the agency's outbreak response. But it has ignited scrutiny of its go-it-alone approach in testing for emerging pathogens.

26 Jul 2024

Alarming spread of H5N1 bird flu in US dairy cattle reveals cross-species transmission dangers

Researchers discovered that the H5N1 avian influenza virus has spilled over into dairy cattle in the US, posing significant cross-species transmission risks. Their multidisciplinary study reveals the virus's evolution and its zoonotic potential, emphasizing the need for heightened biosecurity measures.

25 Jul 2024

COVID pandemic accelerated brain aging, especially in males and deprived groups

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated brain aging, particularly in males and those from deprived backgrounds, with significant cognitive performance decline in infected individuals. This impact was observed regardless of COVID-19 infection status, highlighting the role of psychosocial stressors.

25 Jul 2024

Experimental cancer drug may help clear HIV from infected cells in the brain

An experimental drug originally developed to treat cancer may help clear HIV from infected cells in the brain, according to a new Tulane University study.

25 Jul 2024

Recombinant shingles vaccination found to lower dementia risk

The effects of recombinant shingles vaccines on dementia.

25 Jul 2024

Study identifies genes increasing risk of severe COVID-19

Whether or not a person becomes seriously ill with COVID-19 depends, among other things, on genetic factors. With this in mind, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn, in cooperation with other research teams from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, investigated a particularly large group of affected individuals.

25 Jul 2024

$Study shows wearable health sensors only prompt a fraction of at-home tests$

Study shows wearable health sensors only prompt a fraction of at-home tests

When seemingly healthy people receive an alert from a wearable sensor telling them they might have a respiratory virus-;based on small changes in their unique heartrate, sleep and activity patterns-;what do they do? According to a new study by Scripps Research scientists carried out at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, only a quarter of people follow up such an alert with an at-home viral test.

24 Jul 2024

Breakthrough gene therapy restores dystrophin protein in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have made a significant breakthrough in developing a new gene therapy approach that restores full-length dystrophin protein, which could lead to new treatments for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

24 Jul 2024

Proof-of-concept animal studies demonstrate a step forward in the fight against HIV

Researchers in George Mason University's Center for Infectious Disease Research (CIDR) and Tulane National Primate Research Center conducted a breakthrough proof-of-concept study in Nature's Gene Therapy that found an HIV-like virus particle that could cease the need for lifelong medications.

24 Jul 2024

New study helps better understand the pathology of fatty liver disease MASH

A new study brings researchers closer to better understanding the pathology of the fatty liver disease MASH, which stands for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

24 Jul 2024

Ohio State leads multi-million dollar research on long COVID solutions

A 2022 study suggesting that blocking a single molecule could protect against severe illness in COVID-19 has led to a $15 million federal grant supporting a comprehensive effort to learn more – with finding a solution to long COVID at the center of the new research.

23 Jul 2024