Viral Disease News and Research

RSS

Resveratrol worsens MS-like neuropathology and inflammation, study finds

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol compound produced by the skin of red grapes and peanuts, and found in red wine, has been touted as a beneficial supplement due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

1 Oct 2013

MD Anderson-developed aerosol triggers innate immunity to squelch infections

Research on an aerosol that jump-starts a rapid immune response to stifle viral respiratory infections before they can provoke asthma attacks has earned major funding from the National Institutes of Health.

1 Oct 2013

Study shows how maternal viral infection may increase risk of having child with autism

Activating a mother's immune system during her pregnancy disrupts the development of neural cells in the brain of her offspring and damages the cells' ability to transmit signals and communicate with one another, researchers with the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience and Department of Neurology have found.

27 Sep 2013

Scientists study genetic factors involved in complex diseases

Although heavily studied, the specific genetic causes of "complex diseases," a category of disorders which includes autism, diabetes and heart disease, are largely unknown due to byzantine genetic and environmental interactions.

27 Sep 2013

First global analysis of Kawasaki disease published by PLOS ONE

After more than four decades of research, strong evidence now shows that Kawasaki disease has a distinct seasonal occurrence shared by regions across the Northern hemisphere.

24 Sep 2013

New blood test accurately differentiates viral and bacterial infections

A blood test developed by researchers at Duke Medicine showed more than 90-percent accuracy in distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections when tested in people with respiratory illnesses.

19 Sep 2013

Johns Hopkins establishes center to study ELSI of applying genomics to infectious disease treatment

The National Human Genome Research Institute has selected the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics to establish a "Center of Excellence" to study the ethical, legal and social implications of genomic research.

19 Sep 2013

Coeliac disease on rise in Scots children

More children than ever before are living with a debilitating digestive disease, research has shown.

18 Sep 2013

LifeSensors receives U.S. patent for development of novel DUB substrates

LifeSensors, Inc., a biotech company developing cutting-edge technologies for studying the ubiquitin pathway, has been awarded a U.S. patent for the development of novel, fluorescent di- and poly-ubiquitin deubiquitinase substrates (US 8,518,660).

16 Sep 2013

Research findings bring scientists one step closer to preventing HIV infections

In a long-awaited finding, a team of Chinese and US scientists has determined the high-resolution atomic structure of a cell-surface receptor that most strains of HIV use to get into human immune cells. The researchers also showed where maraviroc, an HIV drug, attaches to cells and blocks HIV’s entry.

13 Sep 2013

Researchers develop innovative system to test how virus interacts with cells in body

Researchers at The Mount Sinai Medical Center have developed an innovative system to test how a virus interacts with cells in the body — to see, for example, what happens in lung cells when a deadly respiratory virus attacks them.

12 Sep 2013

New technology to diagnose influenza quickly

A new technology is showing promise as the basis for a much-needed home test to diagnose influenza quickly, before the window for taking antiviral drugs slams shut and sick people spread the virus to others, scientists reported here today. In a presentation at the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), they described how it also could determine the specific strain of flu virus and help select the most effective drug for treatment.

10 Sep 2013

Powerful mechanism helps viruses evade body's immune response

Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have discovered a powerful mechanism by which viruses such as influenza, West Nile and Dengue evade the body's immune response and infect humans with these potentially deadly diseases. The findings may provide scientists with an attractive target for novel antiviral therapies.

19 Aug 2013

Investigators link acute viral infections to development of COPD

Investigators at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have described another link in the chain of events that connect acute viral infections to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

16 Aug 2013

Animal model of HIV sexual transmission

Infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a debilitating disorder in which progressive weakening of the immune system makes affected individuals more susceptible to potentially life-threatening infections and chronic diseases. Despite advances in the treatment and management of AIDS, there is no cure, and HIV infection remains a major global health problem.

16 Aug 2013

Research shows how mammalian and bacterial kingdoms interact

The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae harmlessly colonizes the mucous linings of throats and noses in most people, only becoming virulent when they leave those comfortable surroundings and enter the middle ears, lungs or bloodstream. Now, in research published in July in mBio, University at Buffalo researchers reveal how that happens.

8 Aug 2013

Different types of happiness have surprisingly different effects on human genome

A good state of mind - that is, your happiness - affects your genes, scientists say. In the first study of its kind, researchers from UCLA's Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and the University of North Carolina examined how positive psychology impacts human gene expression.

30 Jul 2013