Polymerase News and Research

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ADC189 shows promise as a single-dose treatment for influenza

Influenza continues to pose a significant global health burden, with seasonal outbreaks causing substantial morbidity and mortality.

24 Jun 2025

Simpler virus testing approach could reduce unnecessary PCR tests in high-risk settings

The COVID-19 pandemic yielded important advances in testing for respiratory viruses, but it also exposed important unmet needs in screening to prevent the spread of infections in high-risk settings.

24 Jun 2025

Herpes virus reshapes the human genome's architecture to aid its replication

Viruses are entirely dependent on their hosts to reproduce. They ransack living cells for parts and energy and hijack the host's cellular machinery to make new copies of themselves.

19 Jun 2025

Aspirin lowers diabetes risk during COVID-19, but not without side effects

A large real-world Italian cohort study found that daily low-dose aspirin use significantly lowered the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The protective effect appears linked to aspirin’s anti-inflammatory properties, though bleeding risks require caution.

19 Jun 2025

Inhibiting RNA Polymerase 1 suppresses tumor growth in hard-to-treat cancers

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences uncovered a new tumor-suppressive response that could lead to novel therapies targeting hard-to-treat cancers.

18 Jun 2025

Paper-based devices show high accuracy in detecting asymptomatic malaria

Devices made with cheap strips of paper have outperformed two other testing methods in detecting malaria infection in asymptomatic people in Ghana – a diagnostic advance that could accelerate efforts to eliminate the disease, researchers say.

16 Jun 2025

Blocking a single enzyme rewires limb regrowth in axolotls

Researchers uncovered how CYP26B1-mediated retinoic acid (RA) breakdown determines segment identity during axolotl limb regeneration. Disrupting RA degradation reprograms blastema cells, revealing the molecular controls of precise limb regrowth.

11 Jun 2025

New therapeutic approach targets PCSK9 to regulate blood cholesterol levels

When the amount of cholesterol in the blood is too high, hypercholesterolemia can develop, causing serious damage to the arteries and cardiovascular health.

11 Jun 2025

When old diseases find new ways in: Europe’s latest diphtheria outbreak explained

A large multicountry outbreak of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae occurred among migrants entering Europe in 2022, driven primarily by cutaneous infections and involving multiple genetic lineages. Despite the unprecedented surge, transmission to resident populations was limited, but rising antimicrobial resistance and delayed treatment highlight ongoing public health risks.

10 Jun 2025

Breastfeeding habits barely change milk’s microbiome, study reveals

A study shows that breastfeeding frequency and duration do not significantly alter the human milk microbiome, highlighting other influencing factors.

4 Jun 2025

Single measles strain triggers outbreak in Milan despite high vaccination rates

A unique measles B3 lineage drove a sustained local outbreak in Milan and surrounding areas in early 2025, marking a shift from previous D8 importations. This primarily affected unvaccinated adults, raising alarms about potential endemic measles resurgence in northern Italy despite high overall vaccination coverage.

27 May 2025

Oral 8-aminoguanine protects aging eyes and preserves vision in preclinical study

Oral 8-aminoguanine (8-AG) treatment preserved retinal structure and rod function in aged Fischer 344 rats, significantly reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings highlight the promise of 8-AG as a non-invasive intervention to slow age-related retinal degeneration.

27 May 2025

Experts explain how H5 avian influenza adapts to infect more animals

The Gs/Gd lineage of highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza viruses—including H5N1—has rapidly evolved, spreading globally and infecting a growing range of birds, mammals, and occasionally humans. This review highlights the expanding risks, the challenges of cross-species transmission, and urgent needs for surveillance, vaccination, and a unified One Health response.

25 May 2025

Natural compounds from Brazilian plants show promise against stomach cancer

A new review was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on May 8, 2025, titled "The chemopreventive effects of native Brazilian plants on stomach cancer: A review of the last 25 years."

22 May 2025

JAX study sheds light on infection vulnerability in patients with rare mitochondrial diseases

Patients with rare mitochondrial diseases already face a host of serious health issues, from muscle weakness to neurological problems and heart conditions.

21 May 2025

Maternal RSV vaccine and nirsevimab sharply cut infant hospitalizations, new data show

Widespread use of maternal RSV vaccination and nirsevimab during the 2024–2025 U.S. RSV season led to a significant reduction in RSV-associated hospitalizations among infants aged 0–7 months. The largest benefits were seen in the youngest and most vulnerable infants, particularly during peak winter months.

20 May 2025

What makes H5N1 a pandemic risk and how can we stop it?

A new PEARLS article in PLoS Pathogens reviews the rapid evolution and pandemic potential of emerging influenza A viruses, with a focus on H5N1. It highlights scientific advances and future strategies to outpace the virus, from next-generation vaccines to AI-driven antiviral discovery.

19 May 2025

HO-1 regulates liver fibrosis in NAFLD through the SIRT1 TGF-β Smad3 pathway

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) has an influential yet insufficiently investigated effect on Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a histone deacetylase activated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which may impact the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-ß)/Smad3 pathway in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related liver fibrosis.

2 May 2025

Serum hsa_circ_101555 as a promising biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the most prevalent malignancy in Egypt and globally. However, non-invasive diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers for early detection of HCC are still lacking. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are one of the promising biomarkers.

24 Apr 2025

New biosensor offers fast detection of H5N1 in farm air

As highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza continues to spread in the U.S., posing serious threats to dairy and poultry farms, both farmers and public health experts need better ways to monitor for infections, in real time, to mitigate and respond to outbreaks.

24 Apr 2025