Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Nirsevimab shows 90% success in shielding infants from RSV hospitalizations

Study demonstrated a 90% effectiveness of nirsevimab in preventing RSV-associated hospitalizations in infants, with a significant finding being the timely vaccination's role in offering protection.

10 Mar 2024

mRNA vaccines train T cells in waves, study shows

mRNA vaccines developed against the spike glycoprotein of severe acute respiratory syndrome type 2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), displayed remarkable efficiency in combating coronavirus 19 (COVID-19).

9 Mar 2024

Researchers develop precise drugs to target HIV's Nef protein

A team of University of Michigan researchers has successfully modified a naturally occurring chemical compound in the lab, resulting in advanced lead compounds with anti-HIV activity.

9 Mar 2024

Zika virus live-attenuated vaccine strains show promise in brain cancer treatment

Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) have developed a new approach using the Zika virus to destroy brain cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth, while sparing healthy cells.

8 Mar 2024

U-M research offers a new path forward in the development of anti-HIV drugs

A team of University of Michigan researchers has successfully modified a naturally occurring chemical compound in the lab, resulting in advanced lead compounds with anti-HIV activity.

8 Mar 2024

Man takes 217 COVID vaccines with no ill effects, shows immune boost

A case report of a 62-year-old man receiving 217 SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations over 29 months reveals no adverse effects, increased T-cells, and spike-specific antibodies, providing unique insights into the effects of hyper-vaccination on immune responses.

7 Mar 2024

Understanding long COVID: A call for better diagnosis and treatment

A recent review in Nature Reviews Microbiology summarizes the complex mechanisms, significant impacts, and the urgent need for enhanced diagnostics and treatments for long COVID, affecting over 65 million people globally with diverse, debilitating symptoms and systemic health issues.

7 Mar 2024

Breakthrough in CRISPR delivery promises safer gene editing

Recent research in PNAS highlights advancements in non-viral, cell-specific delivery methods for CRISPR-Cas systems, emphasizing their potential to enhance research and gene therapy applications by minimizing risks associated with off-target effects and improving targeted delivery.

7 Mar 2024

Proteins regulating plasminogen-plasmin levels can help predict COVID-19 severity

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems has been significant. The sudden surge in infected cases overwhelmed hospitals and disrupted routine healthcare services, thus further worsening public health.

7 Mar 2024

COVID-19 booster enhances virus neutralizing antibodies in breast milk, new study reveals

The potential of COVID-19 booster vaccine products (antibodies) passed from mother to offspring through breastmilk.

7 Mar 2024

New insights into how viruses disrupt heart function and lead to sudden cardiac deaths

In a potentially game-changing development, scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have revealed a new understanding of sometimes fatal viral infections that affect the heart.

6 Mar 2024

Key brain cells linked to repetitive behaviors in psychiatric diseases

Crym-expressing astrocytes in the striatum have been identified as key regulators of behaviors often seen in neuropsychiatric diseases, opening up new avenues for targeted therapies.

6 Mar 2024

Metal organic frameworks enhance immune response in experimental vaccine

Many vaccines, including vaccines for hepatitis B and whooping cough, consist of fragments of viral or bacterial proteins.

6 Mar 2024

New insights into the evolution of genomic imprinting

Some of our genes can be expressed or silenced depending on whether we inherited them from our mother or our father.

6 Mar 2024

Scientists develop robust iPSC-derived rejuvenated T lymphocytes for cervical cancer treatment

Cervical cancer is among the most common malignancies affecting women worldwide. In 2020 alone, approximately 600,000 women were diagnosed with this disease, and over 314,000 died from it.

5 Mar 2024

Vaginal ring and oral PrEP found to be safe for HIV prevention among pregnant cisgender women

The monthly dapivirine vaginal ring and daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine were each found to be safe for HIV prevention among cisgender women who started using one of them in their second trimester of pregnancy, according to findings presented today at the 2024 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Denver.

5 Mar 2024

Study shows semaglutide as a safe and effective therapy for MASLD in people with HIV

A weekly injection of semaglutide was safe and reduced the amount of fat in the liver by 31% in people with HIV and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), according to a presentation today at the 2024 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Denver.

5 Mar 2024

Researchers examine the immune response of a hypervaccinated individual

Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen have examined a man who has received more than 200 vaccinations against Covid-19. They learned of his case via newspaper reports.

5 Mar 2024

Researchers take important step toward genetic therapy for hereditary conditions

Researchers who work with tiny drug carriers known as lipid nanoparticles have developed a new type of material capable of reaching the lungs and the eyes, an important step toward genetic therapy for hereditary conditions like cystic fibrosis and inherited vision loss.

5 Mar 2024

COVID booster in lactating mothers can provide antibodies for infants

Lactating mothers who get the COVID-19 booster pass along the antibodies to their children via their breast milk – and potentially protect babies too young to receive the vaccine, a study from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the UF College of Medicine found.

4 Mar 2024