Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Reviving reservoirs: new findings shake up HIV treatment understanding

Researchers provide insight into the interaction between T lymphocytes and persisting reservoirs of HIV, with repercussions for harnessing effective, long-lasting responses to HIV eradication.

14 Sep 2023

Results from a nested randomized controlled trial for BCG vaccination against recurrent herpes labialis

Researchers examined the effect of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination on attenuating herpes labialis (cold sore) recurrences.

14 Sep 2023

Long COVID risk found to be significantly lower following Omicron infection

The risk of developing long COVID is significantly lower following an infection with the Omicron variant than after an infection with earlier coronavirus variants.

13 Sep 2023

Oral SARS-CoV-2 vaccine shows promise in monkeys

A new paper in Biology Methods and Protocols, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that researchers studying SARS-CoV-2 may have developed new methods to administer vaccines orally, which would be both easier to administer and more effective at combatting illnesses.

13 Sep 2023

COVID-19 doubles risk of early type 1 diabetes signs in high-risk children

New research in JAMA finds a temporal association between SARS-CoV-2 infections and the onset of islet autoimmunity, a precursor to type 1 diabetes, in genetically predisposed infants. The study underscores COVID-19 as a potential risk factor for the development of this form of diabetes in young children.

13 Sep 2023

New Omicron subvariant BA.2.86: A master of immune escape but not taking over yet

Researchers have isolated a new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant, BA.2.86, revealing its ability to escape neutralizing antibodies five-fold greater than its ancestor strain. Despite its enhanced immune evasion capabilities, BA.2.86 has not shown a significant difference in spread compared to other current variants.

13 Sep 2023

Dormant HIV reservoirs can spontaneously produce RNA and proteins, study finds

HIV anti-retroviral therapy is considered a treatment and not a cure because patients usually carry a reservoir of HIV-infected cells that can re-emerge if treatment stops.

13 Sep 2023

Interferon-gamma essential for lung-resident memory B cell development after influenza infection

During a bout of influenza, B cells interact with other immune cells and then take different paths to defend the body.

13 Sep 2023

UC Riverside study uncovers COVID's Achilles heel

New UC Riverside research has revealed COVID's Achilles heel -; its dependence on key human proteins for its replication -; which can be used to prevent the virus from making people sick.

13 Sep 2023

Why the CDC has recommended new covid boosters for all

Everyone over the age of 6 months should get the latest covid-19 booster, a federal expert panel recommended Tuesday after hearing an estimate that universal vaccination could prevent 100,000 more hospitalizations each year than if only the elderly were vaccinated.

13 Sep 2023

Comparing HIV PrEP medications: Study explores hypertension risk in adults on TAF vs. TDF

The risk of hypertension and statin initiation in adults starting Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-exposure prophylaxis.

13 Sep 2023

Immunity following vaccination provides better protection against COVID-19

A team from the UNIGE and the HUG analyzed the contacts of 50,000 COVID-19 positive cases. Immunity following vaccination provides better protection for those around you.

12 Sep 2023

Sepsis occurs more frequently than previously estimated, but mortality rates have declined

Sepsis, or blood poisoning, occurs more frequently than previously estimated by professionals. At the same, mortality rates have declined sharply. The two are connected.

12 Sep 2023

“Inverse vaccine” shows promise to reverse autoimmune diseases without shutting down rest of the immune system

A new type of vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) has shown in the lab setting that it can completely reverse autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and Crohn's disease -; all without shutting down the rest of the immune system.

12 Sep 2023

CDC recommendations for pneumococcal vaccine in adults

Updated recommendations from the CDC on the use of pneumococcal vaccines in adults in the United States.

12 Sep 2023

New machine-learning algorithms can help optimize the next-generation of therapeutic antibodies

Antibody treatments may be able to activate the immune system to fight diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and colorectal cancer, but they are less effective when they bind with themselves and other molecules that aren’t markers of disease.

11 Sep 2023

Climate change linked to spread of pathogens in humans and animals

A new Europe-wide study investigated the prevalence of protozoans, bacteria and viruses potentially pathogenic to humans and domestic animals in birds and bats in varying climatic conditions.

11 Sep 2023

Oxford University study administers first-ever vaccine against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

A University of Oxford study has administered a new vaccine against tick-borne virus Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) to volunteers for the first time.

11 Sep 2023

CDC faces dilemma over recommending new covid booster for all

A small percentage of Americans got the most recent covid-19 booster shot, and even fewer probably realize the federal government is preparing to recommend yet another shot as early as Tuesday.

11 Sep 2023

CDC advises healthcare providers on new tools to combat RSV

The CDC predicts increased activity of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for the upcoming winter season, urging clinicians to implement new prevention tools like nirsevimab and FDA-approved vaccines for vulnerable populations. The advisory comes as RSV activity shows a changing pattern, affecting infants, children, and adults, and causing thousands of hospitalizations annually.

10 Sep 2023