Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

NIH-led study advances HIV vaccine research

HIV is coated in sugars that usually hide the virus from the immune system. Newly published research reveals how one broadly neutralizing HIV antibody actually uses part of the sugary cloak to help bind to the virus. The antibody binding site, called the V1/V2 region, represents a suitable HIV vaccine target, according to the scientists who conducted the study. In addition, their research reveals the detailed structure of the V1/V2 region, the last part of the virus surface to be visualized at the atomic level.

24 Nov 2011

University of Rochester receives U.S. patent for HPV vaccine research

The University of Rochester has been awarded a U.S. patent for research essential to both human papillomavirus vaccines on the market.

23 Nov 2011

George W. Bush to travel to Africa to raise awareness about cervical, breast cancer

Former President George W. Bush will travel next month with former first lady Laura Bush and officials with the George W. Bush Institute to Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia "where they'll visit clinics and meet with governmental and health care leaders ... to raise awareness about cervical and breast cancer, an effort he calls a 'natural extension' of" the PEPFAR program launched during his presidency, the Associated Press reports.

23 Nov 2011

University of Liverpool introduces HEP i-chart for HCV patients

The University of Liverpool has launched an iphone app, HEP i-chart, that provides Hepatitis C (HCV) patients with quick and easy access to the latest information about drug interactions.

23 Nov 2011

IPS examines HIV in the Caribbean, highlights challenges in addressing at-risk populations

Inter Press Service examines HIV in the Caribbean, where "the HIV burden varies considerably among and within countries" in the region. "'I think the prevention programs in many countries are not reaching the right people,' Michel de Groulards, regional program adviser of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team, told IPS," the news service writes, adding, "One factor, de Groulards believed, may be that after 25 years of providing treatment, some countries have reached a plateau.

23 Nov 2011

FSU professors available to provide perspective on fight against HIV/AIDS

As the world prepares to mark World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, two Florida State University professors are available to provide perspective on the fight against HIV/AIDS.

22 Nov 2011

Fight against HIV/AIDS continues with successes and failures: UNAIDS report

An annual report released Monday by UNAIDS, the United Nations agency fighting AIDS has revealed that the world’s AIDS epidemic has hit a plateau, with 2.7 million people becoming newly infected each year for the last five years.

22 Nov 2011

Scientists identify new immune system defect in aged mice

As people age, their immune system becomes less robust. This makes them more susceptible to serious and frequently life-threatening infections with viruses that affect the respiratory tract such as influenza A virus.

22 Nov 2011

Roche establishes strategic alliance with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Roche announced today the establishment of a strategic alliance with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for the center to operate as a Roche Molecular Center of Excellence (MCOE) for the next five years.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 21 Nov 2011

Gilead enters agreement for Pharmasset acquisition

Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Pharmasset, Inc. announced today that the companies have signed a definitive agreement under which Gilead will acquire Pharmasset for $137 per share in cash.

21 Nov 2011

Scientists isolate and analyze antibody that neutralizes Sudan virus

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute and the US Army's Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases have isolated and analyzed an antibody that neutralizes Sudan virus, a major species of ebolavirus and one of the most dangerous human pathogens.

20 Nov 2011

PEPFAR Scientific Advisory Board report offers six recommended research priorities

This post in the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog examines a report by the PEPFAR Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) that offers six recommended treatment and prevention research priorities to U.S. Global AIDS Ambassador Eric Goosby and the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) to guide future PEPFAR programs.

19 Nov 2011

GAVI Alliance to fund roll-out of vaccines against cervical cancer, rubella in developing countries

The GAVI Alliance "has agreed to fund the roll-out of vaccines against cervical cancer in developing countries, offering protection against a disease that kills one woman every two minutes," Reuters reports.

19 Nov 2011

Research roundup: The effect of heart drug costs; Doctors' financial incentives when ordering stress tests

The researchers examined whether drug costs for heart attack patients affects health. Half of a group of more than 5,000 patients were given prescription coverage that eliminated co-payments and expanded drug choices. The others had "usual prescription coverage."

18 Nov 2011

HVTN debunks top 10 myths about HIV vaccine research

Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day, and in commemoration of the occasion, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, headquartered at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, debunks the top 10 myths about HIV vaccine research.

18 Nov 2011

MU scientist examines how enzymes influence immune system's ability to fight infection

The influenza virus remains a worldwide threat to humans, causing an average of 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States alone. As health care professionals prepare for another flu season, a University of Missouri scientist is studying how two enzymes could be used to stop the virus in its tracks.

18 Nov 2011

Annual report on sexually transmitted infections reveals rising trends

New figures reveal that cases of some common sexually spread diseases continue to increase in the United States. These numbers come in the annual report on sexually transmitted disease released by health officials this Thursday.

17 Nov 2011

Flu strains migrate back and forth between different regions of the world

Influenza researchers have found that flu strains migrate back and forth between different regions of the world, evolving along the way. This is contrary to the common belief that flu strains from the tropics are the source of global seasonal epidemics.

17 Nov 2011

IPS interviews head of Cuban research team working to develop dengue vaccine

Inter Press Service interviews Maria Guadalupe Guzman, head of the Pedro Kouri Institute (IPK) Department of Virology and director of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for the Study of Dengue and its Vector, who is leading of a team of Cuban researchers working to develop a vaccine against dengue.

17 Nov 2011

Breakthrough in loading gold nanorods into cells could lead to new cancer treatment

Rice University chemists have found a way to load more than 2 million tiny gold particles called nanorods into a single cancer cell. The breakthrough could speed development of cancer treatments that would use nanorods like tiny heating elements to cook tumors from the inside.

17 Nov 2011

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

NIH-led study advances HIV vaccine research

University of Rochester receives U.S. patent for HPV vaccine research

George W. Bush to travel to Africa to raise awareness about cervical, breast cancer

University of Liverpool introduces HEP i-chart for HCV patients

IPS examines HIV in the Caribbean, highlights challenges in addressing at-risk populations

FSU professors available to provide perspective on fight against HIV/AIDS

Fight against HIV/AIDS continues with successes and failures: UNAIDS report

Scientists identify new immune system defect in aged mice

Roche establishes strategic alliance with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Gilead enters agreement for Pharmasset acquisition

Scientists isolate and analyze antibody that neutralizes Sudan virus

PEPFAR Scientific Advisory Board report offers six recommended research priorities

GAVI Alliance to fund roll-out of vaccines against cervical cancer, rubella in developing countries

Research roundup: The effect of heart drug costs; Doctors' financial incentives when ordering stress tests

HVTN debunks top 10 myths about HIV vaccine research

MU scientist examines how enzymes influence immune system's ability to fight infection

Annual report on sexually transmitted infections reveals rising trends

Flu strains migrate back and forth between different regions of the world

IPS interviews head of Cuban research team working to develop dengue vaccine

Breakthrough in loading gold nanorods into cells could lead to new cancer treatment

Microplate-based assays in virology research eBook eBook

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging