Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Gene editing silences mutant microRNA, restores hearing in adult mice

Researchers have used gene editing to restore hearing in adult mice with a type of inherited hearing loss. They showed that shutting down a damaged copy of a gene called a microRNA (miRNA) enabled the animals to regain hearing. The approach by a research team supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reported in Science Translational Medicine, may eventually lead to potential treatments for inherited hearing loss in people.

13 Jul 2024

Groundbreaking mRNA vaccine administered to captive elephant to fight EEHV

Colossal, the de-extinction company, announces that the mRNA vaccine it helped to provide research support and acceleration funding for has been administered to the first elephant in captivity.

13 Jul 2024

Priority pathogens selected for wastewater surveillance during Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

The study by researchers from the French national public health institute aimed to identify priority pathogens that could be suitable for wastewater surveillance (WWS) during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place from 26 July to 11 August and 28 August to 8 September, respectively.

12 Jul 2024

Over-the-counter nasal sprays cut respiratory infections by 20%, study finds

Widely available over-the counter nasal sprays could keep upper respiratory tract infections - like colds, chest infections, flu, sore throat, and sinus infections - at bay, and prevent full-blown symptoms from developing, one of the largest trials to date to test their effectiveness finds.

12 Jul 2024

Study identifies RFC4 as key player in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Lichuan Wu et al., at Medical College of Guangxi University, China, presented a comprehensive study on the role of replication factor C subunit 4 (RFC4) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a type of epithelial cancer commonly associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection.

12 Jul 2024

Study: 40% of cancer cases in the U.S. attributable to modifiable risk factors

A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) finds four in 10 cancer cases and about one-half of all cancer deaths in adults 30 years old and older in the United States (or 713,340 cancer cases and 262,120 cancer deaths in 2019) could be attributed to modifiable risk factors, including cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, and infections.

11 Jul 2024

Optimizing influenza vaccine strategies with nanoparticle immunization

To offer cross-protection against diverse influenza virus variants, nanoparticle vaccines can produce pivotal cellular and mucosal immune responses that enhance vaccine efficacy and broaden protection, according to a study by researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.

11 Jul 2024

Finland is offering farmworkers bird flu shots. Some experts say the US should, too.

As bird flu spreads among dairy cattle in the U.S., veterinarians and researchers have taken note of Finland's move to vaccinate farmworkers at risk of infection. They wonder why their government doesn't do the same.

11 Jul 2024

Liver's defense mechanism hinders immunity in chronic hepatitis B, study reveals

In chronic hepatitis B, the liver contains immune cells that could destroy hepatitis B virus infected cells but are inactive. A team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has discovered that cells blood vessels in the liver start a "sleep timer" that switches off immune cells. Targeting this mechanism could be a starting point for immunotherapies.

11 Jul 2024

New gene editing technique offers hope for millions

A team led by Mass Eye and Ear researchers has demonstrated for the first time a successful restoration of hearing through a novel, in vivo genome editing approach in an adult mouse model with a form of inherited deafness caused by mutations in microRNA.

11 Jul 2024

COVID-19 lockdown reduced childhood wheezing and bronchiolitis cases

Bronchiolitis cases dropped significantly during the COVID-19 lockdown, leading to fewer wheezing episodes and reduced respiratory medication use in children.

10 Jul 2024

OraQuick HCV self-test receives WHO prequalification

The World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified the first hepatitis C virus (HCV) self-test which can provide a critical support in expanding access to testing and diagnosis, accelerating global efforts to eliminate hepatitis C.

10 Jul 2024

Click-like chemistry enables rapid development of LNPs for enhanced mRNA delivery

Imagine a scenario where a skilled hacker must upload critical software to update a central server and thwart a potentially lethal virus from wreaking havoc across a vast computer network.

10 Jul 2024

60 years in the making: Nanoparticles revolutionize nucleotide delivery

Researchers trace the 60-year evolution of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for nucleic acid delivery, highlighting their potential to revolutionize gene therapy with safer and more effective treatments.

10 Jul 2024

Bovine H5N1 flu virus in cow milk poses significant health risks, study shows

Study characterizes the pathogenicity and transmission dynamics of the H5N1 influenza virus in bovine milk, highlighting significant public health risks and potential mammalian transmission.

10 Jul 2024

Reframing U.S. public health post-COVID-19

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. public health system must focus on critical questions of accountability, politicization and updating data systems if it is to do its job well and maintain the trust of the American people, according to a new report from the Colorado School of Public Health.

9 Jul 2024

Cow's milk may spread H5N1 flu, but airborne transmission is limited

While H5N1 avian influenza virus taken from infected cow's milk makes mice and ferrets sick when dripped into their noses, airborne transmission of the virus between ferrets -; a common model for human transmission -; appears to be limited.

9 Jul 2024

How does SARS-CoV-2 cause lymphopenia when T cells barely express ACE-2 receptors?

Researchers reveal both direct and indirect mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-induced lymphopenia, highlighting the role of CD147 and alternative viral entry routes into T cells.

8 Jul 2024

Real-world data confirms safety of RSV vaccination in late pregnancy

Vaccinating mothers against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during late pregnancy to protect their newborns is not associated with an increased risk of preterm birth or other poor outcomes, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators.

8 Jul 2024