Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Advancement of potential gene therapy could offer new hope for children with Batten disease

A new study shows that delivery of gene therapy to correct the gene mutations that cause CLN2 disease, or Batten disease, directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has potential therapeutic effects.

28 Sep 2023

SARS-CoV-2 infects coronary vessels, inducing plaque inflammation

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can directly infect the arteries of the heart and cause the fatty plaque inside arteries to become highly inflamed, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

28 Sep 2023

Examining the cardiac pathology in fatal cases of yellow fever

The characteristics of yellow fever (YF)-related myocardial damage.

28 Sep 2023

Mutations on a key SARS-CoV-2 viral protein linked to extreme immune responses

Mutations on a key SARS-CoV-2 viral protein are linked to extreme immune responses and could offer a novel vaccine target.

27 Sep 2023

Rice researchers achieve noninvasive gene delivery to multiple brain regions

Rice University researchers tested the safety and feasibility of gene delivery to multiple brain regions using a noninvasive, ultrasound-based technique in rodents, and their findings suggest that the efficiency of gene delivery improves within each targeted site when more sites are opened.

27 Sep 2023

As covid infections rise, nursing homes are still waiting for vaccines

"Covid is not pretty in a nursing home," said Deb Wityk, a 70-year-old retired massage therapist who lives in one called Spurgeon Manor, in rural Iowa. She twice contracted the disease and is eager to get the newly approved vaccine because she has chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which weakens her immune system.

27 Sep 2023

Surrey researchers develop new rapid electronic diagnostic test for infectious diseases

A new molecular test for bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 has been developed by scientists at the University of Surrey, as they warn that the world needs to be prepared for the next pandemic.

27 Sep 2023

Zoonotic spillover safeguarding: computationally designed antigen targets range of coronaviruses

Researchers used an interdisciplinary approach incorporating phylogenetics, 3D protein modeling, and plasmid design to identify and computationally design an antigen representing the core of most currently known sarbecoviruses.

27 Sep 2023

Medication and mutations: molnupiravir's impact on SARS-CoV-2 genomes

Researchers discovered molnupiravir-associated mutational signatures in SARS-CoV-2 genomes.

27 Sep 2023

Long COVID's biological blueprint: new study offers promising insights

Researchers designed a cross-sectional study to investigate the biological underpinnings of “Long COVID”, the post-acute infection syndrome triggered by SARS-CoV-2.

27 Sep 2023

Could baseline gut microbiota predict the immune responses elicited by COVID-19 vaccines?

Researchers characterized the gut microbiota composition associated with the durability of COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity.

27 Sep 2023

UKHSA launches centralized source for infectious disease data

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has launched the first iteration of its new dashboard, which will serve as a centralized source for infectious disease and outbreak data this winter, making it publicly available in a timely and transparent way.

26 Sep 2023

Researchers discover how Zika virus persists in the placenta

Before SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic, there was the Zika virus epidemic, lasting from 2015 to 2016. The Zika virus can cause serious birth defects and abnormalities.

26 Sep 2023

Study finds link between deforestation, mosquito biodiversity, and virus prevalence

How are environmental changes, loss of biodiversity, and the spread of pathogens connected? The answer is a puzzle. Scientists from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in cooperation with the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) have now described one piece of that puzzle in the journal "eLife", showing that the destruction of tropical rainforests harms the diversity of mosquito species.

26 Sep 2023

New material more efficient at capturing coronavirus proteins with minimal impact on breathability

A research team at the University of Liverpool has developed a new material that captures coronavirus particles and could transform the efficiency of face masks and other filter equipment to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

26 Sep 2023

Understanding how exercise suppresses appetite could pave the way for new obesity drugs

The complex relationship between physical activity and energy balance – food intake versus energy expenditure – is still a challenge for science, especially in light of the rising worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity

26 Sep 2023

Monkeypox mimics smallpox vaccine's immune response, new study reveals

The study in Nature Communications reveals that MPOX infection triggers an anti-viral antibody response akin to that from smallpox vaccination. Utilizing a comprehensive array of ELISAs, scientists found a high level of specificity and sensitivity in detecting antibodies against both MPOX and smallpox, offering a new, accurate way to measure immune responses.

26 Sep 2023

Long COVID research plagued by flawed methods, say experts

Overly broad definitions, a lack of appropriate, or any, comparison groups, among other things, in studies looking at the incidence, prevalence, and control of the condition-;epidemiology-;have distorted the risks, say the researchers.

25 Sep 2023

Intranasal vaccine shows promise against COVID variants in hamsters

Intranasal mRNA-LNP vaccines show promise in Syrian golden hamsters, effectively reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral loads and lung pathology. The study suggests potential efficacy against new variants, setting the stage for future research in human applications.

25 Sep 2023

One gene variant could be a shield against severe COVID-19 lung damage

Researchers identify a specific genetic variant, rs2204985, linked to less severe lung involvement and a stronger immune response in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia. The study suggests that understanding this genetic marker could help identify high-risk individuals and enhance strategies for prevention and treatment.

25 Sep 2023