Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Can SARS-CoV-2 infect poultry?

New research in the Virology Journal suggests that chickens could become intermediate hosts for newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants, posing a potential threat to public health. The study identifies AXL and ACE2 receptors in chickens as likely binding sites for the virus, highlighting the need for further research and preventive measures.

5 Sep 2023

RSV can be life-threatening for some people: Study

Every year, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) cause countless respiratory infections worldwide. For infants, young children and people with preexisting conditions, the virus can be life-threatening.

4 Sep 2023

New insights into how lung cells detect influenza virus

Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have discovered some new and surprising ways that viral RNA and influenza virus are detected by human lung cells, which has potential implications for treating people affected by such viruses.

31 Aug 2023

Study finds potential HIV cure using existing cancer drug

An existing blood cancer drug has shown promise in killing 'silent' HIV cells and delaying reinfections – a significant pre-clinical discovery that could lead to a future cure for the disease.

30 Aug 2023

Genetics and environment influence immune responses to SARS-CoV-2

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical spectrum observed among people infected with SARS-CoV-2 ranged from asymptomatic carriage to death.

24 Aug 2023

New technique cuts polio detection time in half

New research supported by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has shown that the time to detect polio can be halved using a technique called Direct molecular Detection and Nanopore Sequencing (DDNS), supporting the global effort to eradicate polio and help save lives.

21 Aug 2023

Common cold coronaviruses may offer pre-existing immunity to COVID-19

Exposure to common cold-causing coronaviruses may contribute to pre-existing immunity to COVID-19, according to a new study involving a Rutgers research scientist.

18 Aug 2023

DDNS technique could reduce the time to detect polio, study shows

A new study, 'Sensitive poliovirus detection using nested PCR and nanopore sequencing: a prospective validation study', published today (17 August 2023) in Nature Microbiology, proves that using DDNS to detect polio outbreaks can save public health authorities crucial time and money.

18 Aug 2023

Immune cells present in people months before influenza infection, finds study

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists, in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Limited, found that immune cells present in people months before influenza (flu) infection could more accurately predict if an individual would develop symptoms than current methods which primarily rely on antibody levels.

18 Aug 2023

Personalized exercise testing may be more effective for fat loss

The best heart rate for burning fat differs for each individual and often does not align with the "fat burning zone" on commercial exercise machines, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai researchers report.

11 Aug 2023

Researchers uncover genetic machinery responsible for EBV-induced B cell growth transformation

B cells or B lymphocytes are an important part of the body's immune system. When healthy B cells are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), they undergo growth transformation, a process that immortalizes B cells, leading to their uncontrolled proliferation.

7 Aug 2023

Three doses of mRNA vaccine provide good protection for vulnerable people

Even vulnerable people, who are at risk of severe Covid-19, achieved good antibody levels after three doses of mRNA vaccine.

1 Aug 2023

$11.5 million award renewal from NIH supports study of how stress influences cardiovascular health

Psychosocial stress profoundly affects people's lives globally, not least because it can be a critical risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

31 Jul 2023

Mutational accessibility: A key driver of viral evolution

The influenza (flu) virus is constantly undergoing a process of evolution and adaptation through acquiring new mutations.

29 Jul 2023

Mammary fat tissue plays a more active role in breast biology than previously thought

An Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai study sheds light on the intricate interplay between mammary adipose (fat) tissue and breast health, and offers exciting possibilities for understanding breast development, lactation, cancer, and obesity and related metabolic disorders.

26 Jul 2023

Study reveals substantial gap in PrEP access in more than one-third of New England colleges and universities

Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), accounted for 80% of new HIV infections among youth ages 13–24 in 2018 and represents a priority population for HIV prevention.

24 Jul 2023

New INTREPID Alliance aims to speed up development of antivirals for future pandemics

Seven innovative pharmaceutical companies have established the INTREPID Alliance with the goal of accelerating progress in discovery and development of new antiviral treatments for future pandemics.

24 Jul 2023

Study establishes new link between genomic instability and bacterial protein in the urogenital tract

A team of researchers from the University of Maryland School of Maryland's (UMSOM) Institute of Human Virology (IHV), a Center of Excellence of the Global Virus Network (GVN), published new findings that emphasize the crucial role of the urinary and genital tract microbiota in adverse pregnancy outcomes and genomic instability that originate in the womb during fetal development.

17 Jul 2023

AI model accurately predicts which drugs may cause birth defects

Data scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and colleagues have created an artificial intelligence model that may more accurately predict which existing medicines, not currently classified as harmful, may in fact lead to congenital disabilities.

17 Jul 2023

Omicron subvariant BA.5 can cause more severe disease

Omicron-derived virus variants are currently responsible for most SARS-CoV-2 infections worldwide. Compared to earlier virus variants, Omicron rarely causes severe disease.

17 Jul 2023