Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Rogue immune cell found to cause poor antibody responses in chronic viral infections

Australian researchers have discovered a previously unknown rogue immune cell that can cause poor antibody responses in chronic viral infections.

9 Apr 2024

Nirmatrelvir fails to shorten COVID-19 symptoms in latest trial

A study in The New England Journal of Medicine evaluates the combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir against COVID-19, finding it does not significantly reduce symptom duration in vaccinated or unvaccinated adult outpatients.

8 Apr 2024

Pioneering vaccine strategy promises to outmaneuver antimicrobial resistance

Study introduces Reverse Vaccine Development as a strategic approach to identify correlates of protection early in vaccine development against antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, aiming to mitigate risks such as significant phase-III clinical trial failures.

7 Apr 2024

Gold nanoparticle adorned polymers boost infectious disease testing

By harnessing the power of composite polymer particles adorned with gold nanoparticles, a group of researchers have delivered a more accurate means of testing for infectious diseases.

5 Apr 2024

Mass General Hospital develops clinical decision support tool for mpox diagnosis

Diagnosing infectious conditions can be challenging. Diagnosis is especially challenging for uncommon and emerging infectious diseases for which there's limited clinical experience.

5 Apr 2024

Adeno-associated virus: The gene therapy revolution faces manufacturing and safety hurdles

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based genetic applications to treat human diseases.

5 Apr 2024

New study finds interferon-γ release assays more effective than skin tests in predicting tuberculosis

The performance of tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) in predicting tuberculosis (TB).

5 Apr 2024

Novel SARS-CoV-2 mutations found in floodwaters near homeless communities

Study highlights the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and novel spike gene mutations in flood control channels affected by homeless populations, demonstrating the value of environmental surveillance in understanding public health dynamics.

4 Apr 2024

Interferon-beta deficiency alters brain response in neuroHIV mouse model

NeuroHIV refers to the effects of HIV infection on the brain or central nervous system and, to some extent, the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.

4 Apr 2024

Trinity scientists develop breakthrough blood test for MS linked to Epstein Barr Virus

The test that was developed using an existing diagnostic procedure as its basis and has the potential to be applied in clinical trials that target the Epstein Barr Virus.

4 Apr 2024

WHO launches AI-powered empathetic digital health promoter

Ahead of World Health Day, focused on 'My Health, My Right', the World Health Organization (WHO) announces the launch of S.A.R.A.H., a digital health promoter prototype with enhanced empathetic response powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI).

4 Apr 2024

Telemedicine doubles HCV treatment success for opioid use disorder patients

People with opioid use disorder who have hepatitis C virus (HCV) were twice as likely to be successfully treated and cured from HCV if they received facilitated telemedicine treatment at their opioid treatment program (OTPs) than if they were referred off-site to another provider.

3 Apr 2024

New study reveals increased risk of allergic diseases after COVID-19 infection

The association of COVID-19 with long term allergic conditions.

3 Apr 2024

More patients are losing their doctors — and trust in the primary care system

First, her favorite doctor in Providence, Rhode Island, retired. Then her other doctor at a health center a few miles away left the practice.

2 Apr 2024

Climate change boosts infectious disease spread, hits the vulnerable hardest

Climate change is intensifying the spread of vector, water, and food-borne infections, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations due to enhanced pathogen transmission in altered environmental conditions.

1 Apr 2024

Scientists develop trivalent vaccine offering broad protection against coronaviruses

Scientists have been searching for the optimal coronavirus vaccine since the Covid-19 pandemic started.

1 Apr 2024

Research suggests booster doses may be necessary for monkeypox immunity

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) shows that even in men who receives two doses of mpox vaccine intradermally, their level of antibodies to the virus falls to low or zero within the first few months if they have not received a previous smallpox vaccine.

1 Apr 2024

Study reveals waning antibody response to monkeypox vaccine over time

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) shows that the antibodies produced by Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara - Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccination against mpox wane significantly within a year of receiving the vaccination – but in people with pre-existing immunity due to childhood smallpox vaccination in childhood, antibody levels remain high in almost all cases.

1 Apr 2024

Case study: Monkeypox breakthrough infection in fully vaccinated individual

New research to be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) details the case of a man who had received two doses of the monkey pox vaccine in Autumn, 2022 yet experienced a 'breakthrough' mpox infection in January 2024.

1 Apr 2024

Four years after shelter-in-place, covid-19 misinformation persists

From spring break parties to Mardi Gras, many people remember the last major “normal” thing they did before the novel coronavirus pandemic dawned, forcing governments worldwide to issue stay-at-home advisories and shutdowns.

1 Apr 2024