Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Global warming nears 1.5°C threshold, escalating health risks worldwide

Record temperatures and pollution are escalating health risks worldwide. This report highlights the urgent need for integrated climate and health strategies.

5 Nov 2024

Elevated cytokines found in the blood of long COVID sufferers explain heart problems

University of Queensland-led research has found inflammatory markers in the blood of long COVID patients which could explain why many experience ongoing cardiovascular issues.

1 Nov 2024

Critical protein linked to spillover potential of animal viruses

Scientists investigating animal viruses with potential to infect humans have identified a critical protein that could enable spillover of a family of organisms called arteriviruses.

1 Nov 2024

Iron supplements may boost brain development in children with HIV

A University of Minnesota Medical School research team has found that giving iron supplements to children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa could be an important first step in optimizing brain development.

1 Nov 2024

New research reveals how Hepatitis E virus can lead to kidney disease

The hepatitis E virus affects the liver. But infected liver cells secrete a viral protein that reacts with antibodies in the blood and may form complexes that can damage the filter structure of the kidneys, as researchers from the University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich have proven for the first time.

1 Nov 2024

Can a $10 billion climate bond address California’s water contamination problem?

When Cynthia Ruiz turns on her kitchen faucet, she hears a slight squeak before cloudy fluid bursts out of the spout. The water in her Central Valley town of East Orosi is clean enough most of the time to wash dishes, flush toilets, and take showers, but it's not safe to swallow. Drinking water is trucked in twice a month.

31 Oct 2024

WHO expands Emergency Use Listing for mpox diagnostics

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance quality-assured testing options, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed two additional mpox in vitro diagnostics under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure.

30 Oct 2024

New toolkit aims to help U.S. hospitals spot deadly viral hemorrhagic fevers faster and safer

Researchers develop a laboratory toolkit to assist frontline healthcare facilities or the care of patients with suspected viral hemorrhagic fevers.

30 Oct 2024

Research identifies respiratory transmission potential of H5N1 virus

A highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, isolated from the eye of a farm worker who became infected through contact with dairy cows, was lethal in mice and ferrets infected in a high-containment laboratory environment, according to a new study in Nature.

28 Oct 2024

Study highlights importance of RSV vaccination for high-risk populations

Since their introduction last year, researchers have been monitoring the real-world impact of the new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines.

28 Oct 2024

Novel gene therapy PS-002 targets podocytes in IgA nephropathy

IgA nephropathy is an autoimmune kidney disease, and complement, a component of the innate immune system, plays a role in the condition's pathogenesis.

27 Oct 2024

Tenofovir amibufenamide does not alter lipid levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B

The effect of tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) on blood lipid profiles in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether TMF affects blood lipids during 48 weeks in patients with CHB.

26 Oct 2024

Diagnostic toolkit aims to improve response to Marburg virus cases

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) such as Marburg virus disease have been in the news recently, with more than 60 cases of Marburg confirmed in Rwanda.

26 Oct 2024

Study: High prevalence of depression found among people living with HIV in Nigeria

Depression can lead to poor outcomes during antiretroviral therapy, and current evidence suggests high rates of depression among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), especially in low-and middle-income countries.

25 Oct 2024

Evaluating the effectiveness of GAAD for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is crucial for improving survival in patients with chronic hepatitis.

25 Oct 2024

Exclusive: Emails reveal how health departments struggle to track human cases of bird flu

Bird flu cases have more than doubled in the country within a few weeks, but researchers can't determine why the spike is happening because surveillance for human infections has been patchy for seven months.

25 Oct 2024

Masks and smart seating cut COVID-19 risks on flights, review finds

Air travel review reveals sporadic SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with mask use and seating proximity key to infection risk.

24 Oct 2024

High-sensitivity wastewater surveillance correlates with COVID-19 infections

Wastewater surveillance has gained attention as an effective method for monitoring regional infection trends. In July 2024, the National Action Plan for Novel Influenza, etc. included the regular implementation of wastewater surveillance during normal times, with results to be published periodically in Japan.

24 Oct 2024

Repeated mRNA vaccinations enhance mucosal antibody production

During the COVID pandemic, many of us have received multiple mRNA vaccines. New work by researchers at the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent University, and University Hospital Ghent, among others, has found that such repeated vaccinations lead to the presence of mucosal antibodies, for example, inside the nose. Their work appears in Science Translational Medicine.

23 Oct 2024

New antibody platform targets evolving viruses

Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in collaboration with colleagues in the field, have developed an innovative antibody platform aimed at tackling one of the greatest challenges in treating rapidly evolving viruses like SARS-CoV-2: their ability to mutate and evade existing vaccines and therapies.

23 Oct 2024