Retrovirus News and Research

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Nasal viruses may drive allergic rhinitis, and ribavirin shows early promise as a targeted spray treatment

Nasal commensal viruses may worsen allergic rhinitis by activating type I IFN-linked neutrophils and NET formation. Ribavirin reduced nasal viral abundance and improved symptoms in mice and in a small phase 2 trial.

28 Jun 2026

Wastewater analysis offers novel approach to track HIV burden

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) detection in wastewater offers a novel approach to monitor the virus in communities.

15 Jun 2026

Maternal screening could help prevent deadly forms of leukemia

A deadly form of leukemia may be stopped before it ever develops by introducing targeted maternal screening in the United States, according to new research.

30 Apr 2026

Unveiling the dual role of HIV integrase in viral replication

The rate of HIV infection continues to climb globally. Around 40 million people live with HIV-1, the most common HIV strain.

24 Oct 2025

Hidden protein particle in COVID virus may lead to longer-lasting vaccines

A protein particle hidden within the SARS-CoV-2 virus could lead to longer-lasting, more protective vaccines for COVID-19.

4 Sep 2025

Ancient viral DNA found to regulate human gene expression

A new international study suggests that ancient viral DNA embedded in our genome, which were long dismissed as genetic "junk", may actually play powerful roles in regulating gene expression.

18 Jul 2025

Genetically engineered skin grafts help heal chronic wounds in patients with epidermolysis bullosa

Skin grafts genetically engineered from a patient's own cells can heal persistent wounds in people with an extremely painful dermatologic disease, a Stanford Medicine-led clinical trial has shown.

23 Jun 2025

UVA researchers discover key to HIV latency and reactivation

University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists have uncovered a key reason why HIV remains so difficult to cure: Their research shows that small changes in the virus affect how quickly or slowly it replicates, and how easily or stubbornly it can reawaken from hiding.

29 May 2025

Study uncovers how a mobile genetic element hijacks human cells

Viruses are known to use the genetic machinery of the human cells they invade to make copies of themselves. As part of the process, viruses leave behind remnants throughout the genetic material (genomes) of humans.

2 May 2025

MIT engineers develop efficient method to convert skin cells into neurons

Converting one type of cell to another - for example, a skin cell to a neuron - can be done through a process that requires the skin cell to be induced into a "pluripotent" stem cell, then differentiated into a neuron.

13 Mar 2025

Transposable elements found to be dysregulated in Alzheimer's brains, revealing potential targets for therapy

Study reveals widespread dysregulation of transposable elements (TEs) in aging human brains with Alzheimer's disease, using advanced techniques like CRISPR interference to identify TE-related risk genes.

9 Oct 2024

Breakthrough research unveils retroelement-based aging biomarkers

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the epigenetics company TruDiagnostic have uncovered DNA markers associated with retroelements, remnants of ancient viral genetic material, in our genes that act as highly accurate epigenetic clocks predicting chronological age.

19 Aug 2024

Researchers discover new target for treating diseases linked to T-cell leukemia virus type 1

A team of researchers from Penn State College of Medicine found a new target for treating diseases associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1).

22 Jul 2024

CU Boulder research uncovers role of endogenous retroviruses in cancer

Peek inside the human genome and, among the 20,000 or so genes that serve as building blocks of life, you'll also find flecks of DNA left behind by viruses that infected primate ancestors tens of millions of years ago.

18 Jul 2024

Cellular immunotherapy offers hope for solid tumors

Early findings from a small clinical trial provide evidence that a new cellular immunotherapy approach may be effective in treating metastatic solid tumors. In the trial, researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) genetically engineered normal white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, from each patient to produce receptors that recognize and attack their specific cancer cells.

12 Jul 2024

Unveiling the key role of RNA modification in HIV-1 survival and replication

A chemical modification in the HIV-1 RNA genome whose function has been a matter of scientific debate is now confirmed to be key to the virus's ability to survive and thrive after infecting host cells, a new study has found.

12 Apr 2024

Turning back the clock on aging immune systems: New treatment rejuvenates elderly defenses

Study demonstrated that selectively reducing myeloid-biased hematopoietic stem cells (my-HSCs) in aged mice rejuvenated the immune system, enhanced lymphopoiesis, reduced inflammation, and improved responses to viral infection, highlighting a potential strategy for countering age-related immune decline.

31 Mar 2024