Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Researchers take important step toward genetic therapy for hereditary conditions

Researchers who work with tiny drug carriers known as lipid nanoparticles have developed a new type of material capable of reaching the lungs and the eyes, an important step toward genetic therapy for hereditary conditions like cystic fibrosis and inherited vision loss.

5 Mar 2024

COVID booster in lactating mothers can provide antibodies for infants

Lactating mothers who get the COVID-19 booster pass along the antibodies to their children via their breast milk – and potentially protect babies too young to receive the vaccine, a study from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the UF College of Medicine found.

4 Mar 2024

COVID-19 linked to long-lasting cognitive deficits, study finds

Study in England suggests that COVID-19 may lead to long-term cognitive deficits, with more severe impacts observed in individuals infected early in the pandemic or with prolonged symptoms.

4 Mar 2024

New class of antiviral drugs could shield against future viral outbreaks

A University of Alberta research team has uncovered a new class of drugs with the potential to prevent or treat infections in a future viral outbreak.

4 Mar 2024

Zika vaccine shows promise for protecting fetuses when administered during pregnancy

A vaccine against Zika virus is safe and effective when administered both before and during pregnancy, according to new research published in npj Vaccines.

4 Mar 2024

Research validates concurrent use of HIV medications and gender-affirming hormone therapy

New research definitively shows that HIV antiretrovirals can be taken together with gender-affirming hormone therapy without changing how well either drug works.

4 Mar 2024

Iron dysregulation identified as potential trigger for long COVID

Problems with iron levels in the blood and the body's ability to regulate this important nutrient as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection could be a key trigger for long COVID, new research has discovered.

4 Mar 2024

Researchers discover how "leaky" mitochondria can drive harmful inflammation

Researchers have discovered how "leaky" mitochondria – the powerhouses of our cells – can drive harmful inflammation responsible for diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

4 Mar 2024

Only 9% of older Americans vaccinated against RSV, study finds

A new study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health found that only 9 percent of older Americans had been vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prior to this fall and winter, despite the threat of increased rates of hospitalization and deaths nationwide from the virus.

1 Mar 2024

Scientists discover a key mechanism used by human herpesvirus 8 to induce cancer

Cleveland Clinic researchers have discovered a key mechanism used by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), to induce cancer.

1 Mar 2024

Newly identified antibodies target a hard-to-spot region of the influenza virus

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have identified antibodies targeting a hard-to-spot region of the influenza virus, shedding light on the relatively unexplored "dark side" of the neuraminidase (NA) protein head.

1 Mar 2024

Latest COVID-19 booster halves risk of moderate or severe disease in adults

The most recent COVID-19 booster shot reduces adults' risk of moderate or severe COVID by more than half, according to a new nationwide data study from September 2023 through January 2024, a period of JN.1 variant dominance.

1 Mar 2024

U.S. flu vaccines expected to shift from quadrivalent to trivalent, researcher says

U.S. flu vaccines are likely to move from quadrivalent to trivalent due to a change in circulating influenza viruses, says a University of Michigan researcher.

29 Feb 2024

Corticosteroids may restore sense of smell in COVID-19 patients

COVID-19 is known to cause loss of smell in certain patients. While this symptom is generally temporary, approximately 10% of patients may suffer from it for 6 months or more.

29 Feb 2024

H5N1 variant spreads between species, endangering wildlife

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has adapted to spread between birds and marine mammals, posing an immediate threat to wildlife conservation, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Argentina.

29 Feb 2024

Unlocking coronavirus structure through M protein research

For centuries, coronaviruses have triggered health crises and economic challenges, with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that spreads COVID-19, being a recent example.

28 Feb 2024

An Arm and a Leg: Wait, is Insulin cheaper now?

Pharmaceutical companies that manufacture insulin made headlines last year when they voluntarily agreed to provide discount cards that lower the monthly cost of insulin for many people to $35.

28 Feb 2024

Scientists uncover a new doorway for SARS-CoV-2 into human cells

Research identifies the human transferrin receptor as an alternative pathway for SARS-CoV-2 infection, offering potential new targets for COVID-19 therapies.

27 Feb 2024

Study shows the benefits of locally administered intranasal live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Rocketvax AG, together with the German Research Foundation (DFG), has financially supported a study carried out as part of a joint project of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, National Research Program "Covid-19," NRP 78) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) "Recoding the SARS-CoV-2 Genome - A Multidisciplinary Approach to Generate Live-Attenuated Coronavirus Vaccines."

27 Feb 2024