Virology News

Since its 1976 emergence in Africa, the Ebola virus has proven an especially lethal contagion, killing roughly 50% of the people who contract it. The 2019 FDA approval of a vaccine, combined with the subsequent development of two antibody-based drugs, marked unprecedented progress against one...

COVID-19 vaccines elicit strong T-cell responses, but clonal-resolution analyses of these responses have not previously been performed. To address this gap, a team of researchers investigated the T- cell receptor sequence and tracked it using trammer analysis, uncovering key insights into the...

Too often, the lack of clinical trials means that pregnant women suffer because available medications are prescribed off-label for them or not at all. A new study offers proof of concept for the important parameters to develop pregnancy-safe gene therapies.

Two new studies from UCSF found that SARS-CoV-2 antigens can persist in the body long after the acute phase of COVID-19, up to 14 months in blood and over two years in tissue samples. The presence of viral fragments in tissues, even without reinfection, may contribute to conditions like Long COVID. Hospitalized individuals and those with more severe symptoms were more likely to have detectable antigens. Further research is needed to understand the implications of these findings, including potential risks like heart attack and stroke. The studies highlight the need for continued investigation into the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the body. Source link

A computational model of the more than 26 million atoms in a DNA-packed viral capsid expands our understanding of virus structure and DNA dynamics, insights that could provide new research avenues and drug targets, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers report in the journal Nature.

New research in PLOS ONE uncovers an important discovery in the study of marine mammal health by being the first study to detect Otariid gammaherpesvirus 1 (OtGHV1) in free-ranging South American pinnipeds, as well as a novel herpesvirus Otariid gammaherpesvirus 8 (OtGHV8) in South American sea...

Three lipid-enveloped viruses (bovine viral diarrhea virus [BVDV], vaccinia virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) were evaluated in side-by-side liquid inactivation efficacy studies of low pH (3.0 to 3.1) treatment and of the non-formulated microbicidal actives...

Discover how COVID-19's M-protein influences triple-negative breast cancer, enhancing aggressiveness through the tumor microenvironment.

Discover the inspiring journey of Maria Casoni, a medical assistant who volunteered in Italy during COVID-19, earning presidential honors.

Boston College researchers used a mild charge of electricity to precisely modify proteins, a new tool that can be used to develop novel biotherapeutics and protein-based research tools, the team reported recently in the journal Nature Chemistry.

Biotechnology company Genus is seeking FDA approval to distribute a new generation of CRISPR-edited pigs completely resistant to a deadly virus.

A recent study suggests that administering early anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids could aid in restoring the sense of smell lost due to Covid-19 infection.

Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have an increased risk for incident autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disea...

Water determines life: humans are three-quarters water. An international research team led by the University of Amsterdam (UvA) has now discovered how water also determines the structure of the material that holds us together: collagen.

Exploring the moon has become increasingly more of a focal point lately, especially with a series of landers recently launched with various degrees of success. One of the difficulties those landers and any future human missions face is understanding the terrain they are landing on and potentially...

Researchers have discovered a mechanism steering the evolution of multicellular life. They identify how altered protein folding drives multicellular evolution.

The Kepler mission enabled the discovery of thousands of exoplanets, revealing a deep truth about our place in the cosmos: There are more planets than stars in the Milky Way galaxy. The road to this fundamental change in our understanding of the universe, however, required almost 20 years of...

A type of nanoparticle called a metal organic framework (MOF) could be used to deliver vaccines and act as an adjuvant. Researchers find these particles provoke a strong immune response by activating the innate immune system through cell proteins called toll-like receptors.

Tumor-reactive T cell receptors are rapidly identified from lymphocyte scRNA-seq data.

Development of B cell memory is a conundrum that scientists are still exploring. Studies have been conducted in vitro and using advanced animal models to elucidate the mechanism underlying the generation of memory B cells (MBCs), the precise roles of MBCs against pathogens, and their protective...

While previous studies had identified a link between COVID-19 infection and greater risk of autoimmune disease, a new study is perhaps the largest and most robust to date to show an association.

Australian authorities are on high alert amid the spread of lumpy skin disease in cattle and buffalo across South-East Asia. While Australia remains free of the disease, the virus is likely to breach our borders at some stage.

Bacteria can be tricked into sending death signals to stop the growth of their slimy, protective homes that lead to deadly infections, a new study demonstrates.

What are the molecular processes in a unicellular marine algae species that can cause harmful algal blooms? A research team led by microbiologist Prof. Dr. Ralf Rabus from the University of Oldenburg (Germany) has conducted the first detailed analyses of the unusual cell biology of Prorocentrum...

The major arboviruses mainly belong to the Bunyaviridae, Togaviridae, and Flaviviridae families, among which the chikungunya virus and dengue virus have emerged as global public health problems. The main objective of this study was to develop specific, sensitive, and cost-effective molecular...