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.

Study evaluates the prevalence of autoantibodies targeting type I interferons in critically-ill COVID-19 patients

Researchers assessed the prevalence of antibodies that neutralize the type I interferon antiviral activity and reactivate herpesviruses such as herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and/or cytomegalovirus infections in patients with critical COVID-19.

24 Mar 2022

Diabetes and the mTOR pathway in COVID-19 patients

A new study discusses the possible etiopathogenetic mechanisms associated with diabetes that could enhance the severity of COVID-19.

6 Mar 2022

Study proposes SARS-CoV-2-encoded peptide presented by HLA-E may suppress inhibition of natural killer cells

A recent study reported the abrogation of inhibition of the NK cells by a SARS-CoV-2-encoded protein presented by HLA-E.

23 Feb 2022

Development of multivalent next-generation vaccine strategy against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants

A recent study demonstrated that intranasal (i.n.) delivery of COVID-19 vaccine in murine models elicits greater immune responses against the wildtype SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

14 Feb 2022

Study describes the first three days of SARS-CoV-2 infection in an ALI model of proximal airway epithelium

Researchers evaluated the initial three days of SARS-CoV-2 infection via scRNAseq dataset in humanized in vitro model.

3 Feb 2022

Targeting SARS-CoV-2 M protein may help ease severity of COVID-19

A new study, published on the medRxiv preprint server, focused on the production of human CD4+ T cell lines (TCLs), reactive to either S or M protein, and analyzed if the S and M structural proteins had intrinsic differences in driving antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses.

27 Jan 2022

Development of synthetic molecules that can bridge T cells with SARS-CoV-2 infected cells

Scientists have recently used synthetic biology to design primary human CD8 T cells to express Spike protein-specific chimeric antigen receptors (ACE2 CAR or anti-Spike CAR).

25 Jan 2022

Study opens the door to a new approach to attacking herpesviruses

A new study published this week in mBio, an open access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, has opened the door to a new approach to attacking herpesviruses.

25 Jan 2022

Providing recombinant antibody services and more within Europe

In this interview, News-Medical talks to Dr. Zhang Linlin, Technical Specialist at Sino Biological Europe, about their recombinant antibody services and more that they can provide within Europe. Image credit: Corona Borealis Studio/Shutterstock.com

From Sino Biological Inc. 11 Jan 2022

Moderna announces initiation of Phase 1 study of its mRNA-1189 EBV vaccine candidate

Moderna, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA therapeutics and vaccines, today announced the first participant has been dosed in the Phase 1 study of mRNA-1189, the Company's Epstein-Barr Virus vaccine candidate.

7 Jan 2022

Transplant recipients benefit from a COVID-19 vaccine booster

A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv* server describes the reduction in humoral immunity in SOTR following vaccination, as well as the improvement with an additional dose of the vaccine.

4 Jan 2022

Cochlear implantation provides benefits for deaf children with autism spectrum disorder

Restoring hearing through cochlear implantation for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can help them understand spoken language and enhance social interactions, according to a study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

23 Dec 2021

ACTG announces the launch of clinical trial to evaluate new CMV vaccine in adults

The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), the largest global HIV research network, today announced the launch of A5355, a clinical trial studying a new cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine in adults with both HIV and CMV.

16 Dec 2021

In-depth analysis of SARS-CoV-2 specific T cells in unexposed individuals

A new study aimed to analyze SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cells in unexposed individuals.

2 Dec 2021

An antiviral regimen based on biomimetic polymers for COVID-19

In a new study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, scientists proposed the aforementioned mechanism of action (MOA) and have validated it using electron photomicrographs of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), which were incubated with a nanoviricide.

30 Nov 2021

Cytomegalovirus herpesvirus can accelerate the decline of the immune system, study finds

A research team at the University of Córdoba is studying the alterations that occur in the immune system's T lymphocytes with respect to age and in relation to the cytomegalovirus herpesvirus.

29 Nov 2021

New evidence that SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect the inner ear

Many Covid-19 patients have reported symptoms affecting the ears, including hearing loss and tinnitus. Dizziness and balance problems can also occur, suggesting that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may be able to infect the inner ear.

29 Oct 2021

Study shows immune profile heterogeneity amongst healthy adults

Researchers opted to use single-cell RNA-seq to observe single cells in detail as they encounter a specific antigen.

22 Oct 2021

Novel Einstein-developed strategy successfully suppresses HIV infections in mice

Armed with a novel strategy they developed for bolstering the body's immune response, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have successfully suppressed HIV infections in mice-;offering a path to a functional cure for HIV and other chronic viral infections.

21 Oct 2021

Research on twins indicates strong genetic influences in COVID-19

A new study discusses the strong possibility of multifactorial causation for SARS-CoV-2 infection using data from twin studies.

6 Oct 2021