Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Harnessing power of CRISPR to control behavior of DNA-responsive materials

The CRISPR-Cas system has become the go-to tool for researchers who study genes in an ever-growing list of organisms, and is being used to develop new gene therapies that potentially can correct a defect at a single nucleotide position of the vast reaches of the genome.

23 Aug 2019

Nigeria on the brink of being polio free

There have been no reported cases of polio in Nigeria for the last three years and the nation may soon be declared free of the crippling viral disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria has come a long way since 2012 when it had almost half of the global number of polio cases.

21 Aug 2019

New study provides a better understanding of Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer. Also called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, it is much less common than most other types of skin cancer. But, it’s one of the most dangerous types since it’s more likely to spread to the other parts of the body.

21 Aug 2019

Measles back in UK three years after elimination

The United Kingdom was declared to be free of measles infection three years back in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO). In a recent development, due to the increasing number of cases of measles among unvaccinated children, the WHO has declared that UK can no longer be called measles-free.

20 Aug 2019

Largest genomic analysis could help improve treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma patients

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin tumor that is diagnosed in approximately 2,000 people each year in the United States.

20 Aug 2019

Religion may play role in HPV vaccination rate for female college students

It's been more than a decade since a vaccine was introduced to prevent contraction of human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S.

19 Aug 2019

Increase in employment rates shows strong link to spread of flu, study finds

When it comes to the flu, the most effective way to keep it from spreading is to stay home, even if it means taking a few days off work.

19 Aug 2019

Humic substances extracted from coal can help fight viruses

Scientists from Russia demonstrated a novel approach leveraging the combination of high-resolution mass spectrometry and chemoinformatics to identify biologically active molecular components of humic substances extracted from coal, and discovered substances with antiviral activity against the tick-borne encephalitis virus.

19 Aug 2019

Molecular mechanism of enterovirus infection uncovered

Researchers from the Nanoscience Center at the University of Jyväskylä in collaboration with those at the University of Helsinki have found that body proteins called albumin and certain ions within the attacked host cells can affect the genetic workings of enteroviruses and enhance their infection.

19 Aug 2019

Research reveals physiological events leading to successful enterovirus infection

Enteroviruses are one of the most common human pathogens leading to high number of acute and chronic infections worldwide.

19 Aug 2019

Influenza A virus host range restricted by dysregulated expression of M gene segment

The host range of the influenza A virus is restricted by dysregulated expression of the M viral gene segment, according to a study published August 15 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Anice Lowen and John Steel of Emory University School of Medicine, and colleagues.

From PLOS ONE 16 Aug 2019

Boosting a single brain molecule can change 'dispositional anxiety' in nonhuman primates

Boosting a single molecule in the brain can change "dispositional anxiety," the tendency to perceive many situations as threatening, in nonhuman primates, researchers from the University of California, Davis, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found.

16 Aug 2019

Researchers gain new insights into the mechanism of vaccine-induced T cell immunity

A team led by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research has gained new insights into the mechanism of vaccine-induced T cell immunity utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolic profiling techniques.

16 Aug 2019

Herpes treatment greatly improved by adding charcoal

A novel charcoal-based drug-delivery system to treat herpes infections topically shows greatly improved efficacy over conventional treatment. Here, the medication called acyclovir, commonly used for herpes infection, was combined with activated carbon particles.

15 Aug 2019

Mortality risk from yellow fever can be identified sooner

Approximately ten out of every 100 people who are bitten by mosquitos infected by the yellow fever virus develop symptoms of the disease. Although most infected people do not develop the disease, it is lethal to approximately 40% of those who do.

14 Aug 2019

Chlamydia vaccine shows promise after a successful clinical trial

A vaccine against the sexually transmitted infection (STI) chlamydia is now a substantial step closer to reality after successfully passing its Phase 1 clinical trial.

14 Aug 2019

Researchers identify molecular switch that impacts immune responses to viral infections

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have identified a molecular switch that impacts immune responses to viral infections, and whether or not protective antibodies are produced.

14 Aug 2019

Deadly protein combination reveals new drug targets for viral infections

New research from Cornell University details how two highly lethal viruses have greater pathogenic potential when their proteins are combined.

14 Aug 2019

Scientists step closer to an Ebola cure

The Ebola virus has killed thousands of people in Western Africa between 2014 and 2016. Recently, another outbreak in Congo emerged, killing roughly a thousand people. Now, scientists are a step closer to an Ebola cure, thanks to two new drugs that appear to be highly effective in treating people with the virus.

13 Aug 2019

Human apolipoprotein E promotes hepatitis B virus infection

Human apolipoprotein E (apoE) promotes hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and production, according to a study published DATE in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Luhua Qiao and Guangxiang (George) Luo of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.

From PLOS ONE 13 Aug 2019