Cytomegalovirus News and Research

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpes virus group, which includes herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox), and Epstein-Barr virus (which causes infectious mononucleosis). Infection with CMV is a major cause of disease and death in immunocompromised patients, including organ transplant recipients, patients undergoing hemodialysis, patients with cancer, patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and HIV-infected patients. While drugs are available for treatment of these conditions, the primary drug choices carry significant side effects and warnings. Currently, there are no anti-CMV drugs indicated for treatment of primary CMV infection during pregnancy resulting in infections that can have catastrophic consequences to the newborn. Maternal-fetal transfer of CMV infection results in a fetal death rate of 12% and most survivors have permanent debilitating disorders, including mental retardation, vision loss, and sensorineural deafness.

A possible link between aggregation of SARS-CoV-2 proteins and protein misfolding diseases

A new study in the journal Nature Communications aimed to analyze the aggregation propensity in the proteins of both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV.

21 Feb 2023

Study identifies a previously unknown role of 'natural killer' immune cells

Melbourne researchers have improved our understanding of how the immune system is regulated to prevent disease, identifying a previously unknown role of 'natural killer' (NK) immune cells.

10 Feb 2023

Pregnancy outcomes after monoclonal antibodies infusion for COVID-19

Researchers evaluated the impact of monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 on maternal-fetal health.

8 Feb 2023

Researchers utilize discarded facial tissues to diagnose respiratory viral infections in children

Researchers developed an innovative method to diagnose respiratory viral infections (RVIs) in children using discarded facial tissues.

1 Feb 2023

The impact of common viral infections on blood-brain barrier function and insulin sensitivity

A new study discusses the impact of several human viruses on blood-brain barrier function and insulin sensitivity.

31 Jan 2023

Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus detection using ribonucleic acid sequencing among smokers

Researchers identified serological Hepatitis C virus (HCV) signatures and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) signatures through the secondary utilization of ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis data among previous and existing smokers with or without COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

30 Jan 2023

Researchers report on the largest cohort of patients tested using plasma mcfDNA sequencing for pathogen detection

Researchers identified a wide variety of pathogenic organisms using plasma mcfDNA sequencing.

16 Jan 2023

Discovery of a potential new target for new MPOX or broad pox vaccines

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers in the United Kingdom developed a pooled enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay using mpox (MPX) virus (MPXV) antigens and vaccinia virus (VACV) antigens. They also assessed humoral responses to and identification of antigens of MPXV IIa clade and IIb clade, in comparison to recipients of smallpox vaccines (ACAM2000 and IMVANEX).

12 Jan 2023

Investigational T-cell therapy shows antiviral efficacy and safety in cancer patients treated with stem cell transplant

Posoleucel, an investigational allogeneic off-the-shelf T-cell therapy that simultaneously targets six different viruses, demonstrated promising antiviral efficacy and safety in a phase II study of patients who had undergone stem cell transplantation to treat their cancer or other blood diseases.

11 Jan 2023

What is the association between acute lymphoblastic leukemia and congenital cytomegalovirus infection?

Researchers evaluated the relationship between congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

11 Jan 2023

Meta-analysis reviews the incidence of new-onset diabetes in COVID-19 survivors

Researchers estimated the incidence of new-onset diabetes in survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) employing random-effects meta-analyses using the generic inverse variance method.

30 Nov 2022

How SARS-CoV-2 immune responses vary by population due to environmental and genetic factors

Researchers investigate the genetic, immunological, and evolutionary factors that determine the vast variability observed in clinical manifestations of COVID-19.

28 Nov 2022

Could mRNA vaccines triumph over other viral infections in humans and domestic animals?

Researchers review potential areas for mRNA vaccine development against pathogenic viruses other than SARS-CoV-2.

28 Nov 2022

Rutgers scientists develop new approach to effectively shut down viral infections

Rutgers scientists have developed a new approach to stopping viral infections: a so-called live-attenuated, replication-defective DNA virus vaccine that uses a compound known as centanamycin to generate an altered virus for vaccine development.

20 Nov 2022

Study of natural killer lymphocytes transcriptionally reprogrammed by vaccinia virus

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers evaluated responses of natural killer (NK) lymphocytes to VACV (vaccinia virus) infections in vivo.

16 Nov 2022

Study suggests the rapid expansion of naïve T cells can provide a fast and effective immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections

Researchers investigated the early T cell responses during SARS-CoV-2 infections to understand the mechanisms of rapid clonal expansion that characterize the T cell responses to acute infections and vaccinations.

14 Nov 2022

Structure-directed mutagenesis produces thermostable SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimers with potential vaccine booster applications

Researchers investigated the change in the stability, antigenicity, and protein expression of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimer using structure-directed mutagenesis to alter a cavity in the core of the spike protein.