A new study reveals plants, fungi, bacteria, protists, and even some viruses deploy venom-like mechanisms, similar to that of venomous snakes, scorpions and spiders, according to researchers at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.

Researchers have identified a promising new way to detect alien life on faraway planets.

The latest CIPHER research on H5N1 viral lineages could have major implications for vaccine development.

A collaborative research effort between the A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR IDL) and the A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing (A*STAR IHPC) has provided new insights into the likelihood of mpox spreading by airborne respiratory particles, comparing it to SARS-CoV-2 and smallpox.

This study provides the structural and biochemical characterization of the RSV NS1/MED25 ACID complex, revealing how RSV exploits fuzzy interfaces between coactivators and transcription factors, including ATF3, to modulate host gene transcription.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to significant advancements in treatment and vaccination, contributing to a decline in overall COVID-19-related mortality. However, it remains unclear whether the mortality rate for critical cases treated on intensive care units has also decreased.

Say hello to one of the Milky Way's neighbors! This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features a scene from one of the closest galaxies to the Milky Way, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The SMC is a dwarf galaxy located about 200,000 light-years away. Most of the galaxy resides in the constellation Tucana, but a small section crosses over into the neighboring constellation Hydrus.

New research highlighting the respiratory health of children during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has unveiled concerning trends: high rates of co-detected respiratory…...

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of understanding the interplay between the cardiovascular and immune systems during viral infections. SARS-CoV-2 enters human cells via the ACE-2 enzyme, initiating a cascade of immune responses.

The route of vaccine administration is associated with various immune outcomes, and the relationship between the route of administration and broad protection against heterologous pathogens remains unclear.

A simple model projected which strains were likely to be highly transmissible, with implications for public health.

Antibodies are key proteins in the immune system that can reversibly and non-covalently bind specifically to their corresponding antigens, forming antigen-antibody complexes. They play a crucial role in recognizing foreign or self-antigens during the adaptive immune response.

Deep below Earth's surface, rock and mineral formations lay hidden with a secret brilliance. Under a black light, the chemicals fossilized within shine in brilliant hues of pink, blue and green. Scientists are using these fluorescent features to understand how the caves formed and how life is supported in extreme environments, which may reveal how life could persist in faraway places, like Jupiter's icy moon Europa.

Genetic engineering in non-human primates has long been limited by the need for virus-based gene delivery methods. Recently, researchers in Japan successfully used a nonviral system to introduce a transgene—that is, a gene that has been artificially inserted into an organism—into cynomolgus monkeys, which is a species of primate closely related to humans. The paper is published in the journal Nature Communications.

A breakthrough in safely delivering therapeutic DNA to cells could transform treatment for millions suffering from common chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

The world's amphibians are in trouble. Because of their sensitivity to climate change, habitat loss, and pollution, they may be the canary in the coal mine for the nascent anthropogenic mass extinction. Approximately 200 amphibian species have become extinct since the 1970s, and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimates that 34% of the 7,296 known remaining species are likewise at risk.

In 1994, Miguel Alcubierre was able to construct a valid solution to the equations of general relativity that enable a warp drive. But now we need to tackle the rest of relativity: How do we arrange matter and energy to make that particular configuration of spacetime possible?

A single vaccine could protect animal models from coronaviruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu. It works by creating antibodies that remove the virus’ protective sugar coat and target a rarely mutating region of the spike protein.

Five years ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a global pandemic. The novel coronavirus, dubbed SARS-CoV-2, began as a "cluster of severe pneumonia cases of unknown cause" reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It had spread to 118,000 cases reported in 114 countries by March 11.

President Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order to halt funding of risky viral gain-of-function research—lab experimentation designed to genetically manipulate biological agents to make them more transmissible and pathogenic.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a significant global health threat, especially to infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. This review comprehensively explores the progress in RSV vaccine development, the immune evaluation methods, and immunological surrogate.

A fascinating exploration of microbes that can travel through the air reveals how the pandemic marked a turning point for a crucial research field.

The following is a summary of “Impact of disease severity, age, sex, comorbidity, and vaccination on secondary attack rates of SARS-CoV-2: a global systematic review and meta-analysis,” published in the February 2025 issue of BMC Infectious Diseases by Sumsuzzman et al.

Researchers have revealed new details about the CRISPR-Cas5-HNH/Cascade complex, a variant of the type I-E CRISPR-Cas system, providing insights into its DNA recognition and cleavage mechanisms.