A University of Nebraska-Lincoln team has developed a promising new approach for HIV vaccine development using an attenuated and genetically modified virus. The approach involves manipulating the virus' codons to rely on an unnatural amino acid, preventing the virus from replicating in the human body.
A new Ebola vaccine has been successfully tested on captive chimpanzees, producing a robust immune response and showing safety. The researchers argue that this could be a turning point in saving endangered ape species from extinction, but the need for captive chimps testing raises ethical concerns about animal welfare.
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa underscores the importance of real-time data sharing among scientists to improve public health responses. Implementing a regional diagnostic approach can enhance laboratory capabilities, reduce waiting times for test results, and help determine whether established test methods will work or fail.
Researchers at Penn Vet have identified several compounds that can reduce a virus' ability to spread infection, making it easier for the immune system to control. The compounds target specific interactions between viral proteins and host cells, potentially reducing mortality rates for diseases like Ebola and HIV.
Researchers reconstruct origins of 1918 H1N1 influenza A virus, finding it arose from bird flu virus acquired by human H1 virus before 1918. Childhood exposure to previous flu strains may predict susceptibility to future strains and inform vaccination strategies.
Researchers from Inserm and the Institut Pasteur have identified a new variant of the Ebola virus in Guinea. The virus is highly contagious and has a high mortality rate, with symptoms including fever, severe diarrhea, and vomiting. The discovery highlights the need for increased measures to prevent transmission from wild fauna to humans.
A recent review by EcoHealth Alliance calls for enhanced global surveillance to prevent future outbreaks of Ebola and other filoviruses. The organization's research suggests that focusing on wildlife, particularly bats, rodents, and non-human primates, is crucial in predicting and preventing local outbreaks.
International research group recognizes UTMB professors Frederick A. Murphy and Thomas G. Ksiazek for their groundbreaking work on filoviruses, including Ebola and Marburg viruses. The award acknowledges their decades-long efforts to develop vaccines and treatments for these deadly diseases.
The NIH has awarded a five-year grant of up to $28 million to establish a center for excellence in finding an antibody cocktail to fight the deadly Ebola virus. Researchers from 15 institutions, led by Erica Ollmann Saphire at Scripps Research Institute, will collaborate on definitive experiments.
Researchers at Einstein will focus on discovering new immunotherapeutic candidates against Ebola and Marburg viruses, while another group will assess how well each antibody works. The project aims to advance treatments for hemorrhagic fever viruses, which cause severe diseases with high mortality rates.
Quail and chickens are likely sources of infection for the H7N9 influenza virus, according to a study published in the Journal of Virology. The research found that quail efficiently transmitted the virus, while other poultry species were resistant or did not become infected.
Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital have discovered how the Marburg virus interacts with host protein Keap1, allowing it to live longer and replicate better. This knowledge may lead to the development of targeted therapies to arrest the lethal virus.
Scientists have discovered that herpes virus proteins use their flexible arms to pass on viral building blocks to hijacked cell proteins, providing insight into the virus's ability to hijack cells. The study's findings may lead to new treatments for Kaposi's sarcoma, a type of cancer caused by the herpes virus.
A Chinese woman died from a new bird flu virus H10N8 after visiting a live poultry market, with the virus showing genetic characteristics allowing it to replicate efficiently in humans. The H10N8 strain has been previously isolated but never reported in humans before.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a unique immune avoidance mechanism used by a deadly mosquito-borne virus to suppress human immunity. The discovery could lead to the development of vaccines and treatments for eastern equine encephalitis virus, which has a 30-70% fatality rate.
Researchers identified a novel avian-origin H6N1 virus that closely resembles chicken H6N1 viruses circulating in Taiwan since 1972. The virus has a mutation that could increase its preference for human SAα-2,6 receptors, making it more infectious to humans.
Researchers identify Chinese strain as origin of emerging US swine virus with high mortality rates, emphasizing the need for strict biosecurity and sanitation procedures on farms. The study found that the US strains share 99.5% of their genetic code with their Chinese counterpart, indicating a possible evolutionary origin from bats.
Researchers at Whitehead Institute discovered that the flu virus infects host cells by killing off immune system's best-equipped cells that can neutralize the virus. This allows the virus to replicate efficiently before the immune system mounts a second wave of defense.
A large genetic analysis of MERS-CoV genomes suggests the virus has transmitted from animals to humans on multiple occasions. The study found that the virus evolved quickly and spread between locations, making it unlikely that a single transmission occurred. Further animal studies are needed to establish the source of the virus.
A new study provides a clearer picture of how much time elapses between known infection, viral shedding, immune response, and onset of flu symptoms. Researchers found that a minimum dose of 10^7 TCID50 virus is needed to induce mild-to-moderate illness in 60% of volunteers.
A novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza A virus has been found to attach moderately or abundantly to the epithelium of both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. This pattern suggests that the emerging H7N9 virus may transmit efficiently in humans and cause severe pneumonia.
Scientists successfully treated the Ebola virus in infected animals following onset of disease symptoms, demonstrating promise for developing therapies against the virus. The experimental treatment, known as MB-003, protected 43% of infected non-human primates.
The study showed that the Ebola VP40 protein exists as a dimer and rearranges its structure to assemble filaments for the virus shell or bind RNA, controlling various steps of the life cycle with multiple functions.
Scientists have discovered a new strategy that cripples the dengue virus's ability to escape the host immune system. By introducing a genetic mutation to deactivate the MTase enzyme, researchers created a weakened virus that generates a strong protective immune response while preventing the virus from spreading in mosquitoes.
Researchers at Mount Sinai identified a critical protein called VP35 that deactivates the innate immune system, allowing Ebola viruses to spread. Overexpressing a cellular protein called PACT inhibited viral replication, providing a potential target for new treatments.
A study analyzed West Nile virus epidemics in Dallas County, Texas, finding that they begin early after warm winters and are predicted by the mosquito vector index. The analysis also revealed higher incidence rates of neuroinvasive disease in recent years compared to previous decades.
Researchers aim to identify genetic elements that enable animal hepatitis E strains to infect humans, with potential implications for fighting cross-species virus infections. The study will also investigate host immune factors that defend against the virus.
A new study reveals the H7N9 avian influenza virus can infect and replicate in human cells, suggesting it has pandemic potential. The virus also transmits efficiently in ferrets and other mammalian species, raising concerns about a potential global outbreak.
A team of researchers plans to model how humans respond to viral pathogens like influenza, Ebola and West Nile, aiming to provide a detailed molecular understanding for drug development. The study will focus on the host response during infection, using high-throughput screening and advanced data processing methods.
Researchers infected ferrets and pigs with the human-derived H7N9 virus, showing that both species can be infected and transmit the virus. While transmission was more efficient in ferrets, the study highlights potential public health implications of the avian virus.
A study reveals how viral protein 40 allows Ebola to leave host cells and spread infection, paving the way for new drug candidates. Mutating VP40's C-terminal domain reduces its effectiveness in binding to plasma membranes.
Scientists at UTMB discovered that Ebola short-circuits the immune system using proteins that shut down cellular signaling related to interferon, preventing dendritic cell maturation and generating an ineffective adaptive immune response. The researchers found that specific regions of two different proteins are crucial for this mechanism.
Researchers have discovered that rising temperature induces key changes in the dengue virus when it enters its human host, leading to a new approach for designing vaccines against the aggressive mosquito-borne pathogen. The study found that the virus's bumpy form is more efficient at infecting mammalian cells.
Researchers at Texas Biomed discovered that ten FDA-approved drugs showed activity against multiple bacteria and 24 against multiple viruses. Chloroquine, used to treat malaria, was found to be particularly effective against both anthrax and Ebola viruses.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Institute discovered a polymer hidden within the Ebola virus that can be targeted by llama antibodies, enabling the creation of highly sensitive test kits using a single antibody. This breakthrough may revolutionize emerging viral diagnostics and offer a promising tool for detecting other deadly pathogens.
A new vaccine has proven highly effective against the H5N1 avian influenza virus, when tested in mice and ferrets. The vaccine uses an attenuated version of the H9 virus with an added H5 gene, slowing viral replication and reducing the risk of successful reassortment.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified a new chemical class of compounds that can block genetically diverse viruses from replicating. These indoline alkaloid-type compounds effectively inhibited a number of viruses, including Ebola, by limiting RNA production in cell culture.
Researchers monitored WNV in California Culex mosquitoes and found that the virus is passed vertically from females to eggs, but with significantly lower rates when transmission occurs from larvae to adults. This loss of infection during larval development remains unclear.
Researchers discover that defective viruses, once thought useless, increase the spread of disease by 'hitchhiking' with functional viruses. The presence of a defective DENV-1 virus may have led to large increases in dengue fever cases in Myanmar in 2001 and 2002.
A modified Newcastle disease virus has been developed to target prostate cancer cells without harming normal cells, offering a new treatment option for hormone-refractory patients. This oncolytic virus uses a retargeted design to minimize off-target losses and reduce the amount of virus needed for treatment.
A Kansas State University doctoral student has received a USDA grant to research the relationship between the tomato spotted wilt virus and its vector, the western flower thrip. The goal is to develop a genetic tool to silence the thrip's protective genes, potentially stopping the disease's transmission.
Researchers at Mount Sinai have discovered that the flu virus can essentially tell time, with a clock that dictates when it multiplies, infects cells, and spreads. This finding provides a novel design platform for the flu vaccine and could lead to new antiviral drugs that target the virus's internal clock.
A recent study by EcoHealth Alliance found Ebola virus antibodies in approximately 4% of the bats screened in Bangladesh, indicating that Rousettus fruit bats may be a natural reservoir for Ebola virus. The study extends the known range of Ebola to mainland Asia.
A new study found that malaria and typhoid fever are the biggest health threats for travelers to tropics, affecting 4% of returned travelers. The study analyzed over 82,000 ill travelers and found no cases of Ebola or other feared diseases.
Researchers at NIH and OHSU found that an experimental Ebola vaccine elicits antibodies that protect nonhuman primates from Ebola virus infection. The study's results showed that antibodies induced by the vaccine appeared to be critical to protecting the animals, while immune cells had a minimal role.
Researchers have observed the detailed changes in a virus's structure as it infects an E. coli bacterium, providing new insights into the viral infection process. The study reveals that the virus extends its ultra-thin fibers to find an optimal site for infection and ejects its genetic material through the host cell membrane.
Researchers discovered a mechanism by which Ebola virus alters and evades the immune response of its infected host. The secreted protein can selectively drive induction of antibody responses to itself while competing for antibodies to the viral surface protein, enabling repeated or sustained infection.
The Ebola, Marburg, and Lassa viruses have been around for thousands of years, not emerging as life-threatening diseases. Designating them as emerging diagnoses would aid in diagnosis and prevention by understanding their ecological niches and geographical distribution.
A new Ebola virus study demonstrates a proof-of-concept for using monoclonal antibodies to prevent lethal disease in rhesus macaques. The plant-based production method offers potential for an economical and effective medical countermeasure.
A new viral outbreak in Africa has been linked to the Bas-Congo virus, a previously unknown microbe that causes deadly acute hemorrhagic fever. Genetic analysis reveals the virus is distinct from other rhabdoviruses, including those causing rabies.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have determined the structure of a critical protein from the Marburg virus, which blocks the human immune system. The breakthrough provides a major step forward in understanding how the deadly virus works and may be useful in developing potential treatments for those infected.
The reconstructed 1918 influenza virus has provided key insights into how to prevent and control future pandemics. By studying the virus's structure and evolution, researchers have identified potential targets for universal influenza vaccines that can protect against multiple viruses.
A recent study suggests that CD4+ T helper cells play a crucial role in controlling hepatitis A virus infection by suppressing virus growth without causing liver damage. This finding may explain why some patients relapse after clearing the infection.
Einstein researchers will investigate NPC1's role in infection within different species, including bats and rodents. The study aims to pinpoint possible targets for antiviral drugs designed to combat Ebola.
A recent study recommends focusing on collecting animal samples from carcasses during Ebola outbreaks, with a 50% success rate compared to less than 6% when sampling live animals. This approach is crucial for early detection and learning more about the virus.
A new type of viral genome has been discovered, challenging current understanding of virus evolution. The circular DNA genome, found in a unique RNA-DNA hybrid virus, suggests that entirely new virus types may emerge through recombination of functional and structural modules.
Scientists have pinpointed the region on dengue virus that humans target with their immune system, challenging current vaccine research. The discovery reveals human antibodies bind to a complex structure on assembled dengue viruses, not small fragments as previously thought.
A recent study found that dengue virus infection triggers changes in the activity of genes and functions of mosquito salivary glands, which may lead to greater virus transmission. The researchers also identified three salivary gland genes that modulate dengue virus infection and two olfactory genes that help control mosquito behavior.
US Army researchers have successfully tested antibody-based therapies in monkeys infected with Ebola and Marburg viruses, demonstrating full protection even when treatment was delayed until two days post-infection. This breakthrough provides proof-of-concept for developing filovirus therapies for human use.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a plant-derived vaccine for Ebola that provided strong immunological protection in a mouse model. The vaccine uses a DNA blueprint to convert tobacco plants into living pharmaceutical factories, producing a vaccine molecule that can be easily purified and administered.