Retrovirus News and Research

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Pig kidney xenotransplantation continues to function well after 32 days

Surgeons at NYU Langone Health have transplanted a genetically engineered pig kidney that continues to function well after 32 days in a man declared dead by neurologic criteria and maintained with a beating heart on ventilator support.

16 Aug 2023

Retrotransposons hijack cell's dna repair machinery to form circular DNA

Like its viral cousins, a somewhat parasitic DNA sequence called a retrotransposon has been found borrowing the cell's own machinery to achieve its goals.

12 Jul 2023

Ancient retrovirus may be responsible for aggressive brain cancers

The median length of survival after diagnosis of glioblastoma is 14 months, but some of these brain tumors are more aggressive and resistant to treatment than others, and a new study from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine suggests reactivation of an ancient retrovirus may be at least partly to blame.

3 Jul 2023

Experts find remnants of ancient RNA viruses embedded inside reef-building corals

An international team of marine biologists has discovered the remnants of ancient RNA viruses embedded in the DNA of symbiotic organisms living inside reef-building corals.

2 Jun 2023

New method may help identify the essential ingredients for making an effective HIV vaccine

Since it was identified in 1984 as the cause of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected more than 80 million people and been responsible for some 40 million deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

30 May 2023

New discoveries made regarding autism onset in mouse models

Although autism is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, the multiple factors behind its onset are still not fully understood.

10 Mar 2023

Study investigates anti-VEGF treatment for inflammatory eye disease in HTLV-1–infected ocular cells

A retrovirus known as human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is known to cause a number of diseases, including inflammatory diseases of the eye. Recently, researchers in Japan have investigated an antibody treatment for inflammatory eye disease in ocular cells infected with HTLV-1.

21 Feb 2023

Research reveals differences in the gut microbiomes of people with ME/CFS

The study was led by scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, as part of the Center for Solutions for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, an inter-disciplinary, inter-institutional research group dedicated to understanding the biology of the disease in order to develop effective means to diagnose, treat and prevent it.

8 Feb 2023

Researchers review the association between endogenous retrovirus reactivation and aging

Researchers explored the role of endogenous retrovirus (ERV) reactivation in the aging process.

24 Jan 2023

Whole genome sequencing helps construct the first blood virological profile of Chinese population

Whole genome sequencing technology can discover various known or unspecified viral sequences contained in human blood, which can provide an important database for viral infection prevention, vaccine development, viral genomic and epidemiological research.

7 Dec 2022

What are the current challenges and future directions of mRNA nanomedicine?

Researchers presented challenges related to the clinical translation of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology, recent innovations and future directions to improve the clinical efficacy of mRNA nanomedicine.

15 Nov 2022

Ancient viral DNA in human genomes protects cells against present-day viruses

Viral DNA in human genomes, embedded there from ancient infections, serve as antivirals that protect human cells against certain present-day viruses, according to new research.

27 Oct 2022

Remnants of ancient viruses in the human genome are active in normal tissues

Remnants of ancient viruses in the human genome are active in healthy tissues as well as diseased ones, limiting their utility as disease biomarkers, according to a study by Aidan Burn at Tufts University in Boston, USA and colleagues, publishing October 18th in the open access journal PLOS Biology.

18 Oct 2022

Widespread variations in retroviral establishment and distribution among Darwin's finches

Vertebrate genomes are repositories for retrovirus code that was deposited into germ line as inherited endogenous retroviruses during evolution.

14 Oct 2022

Researchers develop an HERV-enveloped recombinant baculoviral DNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers developed a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-enveloped recombinant baculoviral DNA vaccine to target the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, and tested its cross-protection efficacy using mice models.

13 Oct 2022

Pluripotent bat stem cells as a model to study novel viruses

Researchers generate induced pluripotent stem cells from bats using to establish bats as a novel in vivo model study species.

29 Sep 2022

Gut commensal bacteria promote the development of virus-induced cancer by suppressing the immune system

Gut bacteria have a profound impact on health by aiding digestion, providing nutrients and metabolites, and working with the immune system to fend off pathogens.

13 Sep 2022

Polymer-embedded copper-based nanoparticles prevent surface contamination by viruses

In a new study, researchers developed nanocomposite coatings to prevent surface contamination by a human coronavirus (HCoV).

4 Aug 2022

Specific area of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein found to be a promising target for pan-coronavirus vaccine

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shown that a specific area of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is a promising target for a pan-coronavirus vaccine that could offer some protection against new virus variants, common colds, and help prepare for future pandemics.

27 Jul 2022

The successful transplantation of genetically engineered pig hearts into recently deceased humans

Researchers successfully transplanted two genetically engineered heart pigs into recently deceased humans in June and July 2022.

14 Jul 2022