Researchers have found that a Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine may also protect people from the most serious complication associated with West Nile virus infection. The study tested two vaccines in hamsters and found that they provided better protection than other options, including a yellow fever vaccine.
A study published in The Lancet found that HIV-positive women can shed the virus in their genital tracts even when their blood levels are low, posing a risk of transmission to others. The researchers analyzed samples from 311 HIV-positive women and found that about a third had HIV-1 shedding in their genital region.
Yale scientists have successfully immunized mice against West Nile virus, providing a promising lead for developing a vaccine for humans. The vaccine was developed using a protein found in the virus and showed complete protection against the disease.
A new AIDS vaccine developed by Yale researchers has shown promising results in protecting monkeys from the disease. The vaccine, which uses a common livestock virus vector, was highly effective in animal models and protected vaccinated monkeys for up to 14 months.
Researchers found that a minor change in the arrangement of molecules can turn a relatively benign flu virus into a deadly one. The study used mice to show that even a small amount of the virulent form of the virus was enough to cause fatal infections, highlighting the potential for animal-to-human transmission.
A small genetic change in the PB2 gene makes influenza viruses more potent, warns of potential dangers of new strains. Research helps develop strategies for detecting future outbreaks and prepares for pandemics.
Researchers identified a hybrid gene in the 1918 flu virus that was produced from parts of two other influenza viruses through a process called recombination. This discovery suggests that the outbreak was triggered by the recombination, which increased the virus's virulence.
Researchers found that minor mutations can significantly impair the immune system's ability to recognize and attack the virus. This means that vaccines targeting these regions may be less effective due to evolving strains of the virus.
New research suggests that macrophages are an underappreciated reservoir of virus in HIV infection. Macrophages continue to produce large amounts of an HIV-like virus even after CD4+ T cells are depleted, providing new insight on how the virus survives. This discovery may lead to new strategies for eliminating the virus from the body.
A team of researchers at NIH has developed a novel vaccine that prevents Ebola virus infection in monkeys, offering a promising new approach to protecting humans. The vaccine induces strong anti-Ebola immune responses and protects against lethal doses of the virus.
Scientists have identified a portion of the HIV genome that remains unaffected by mutations, providing a potential therapeutic target for preventing viral spread. By blocking this site, researchers believe they can inhibit viral replication and develop a new treatment approach.
Researchers found that a Tat-specific killer T cell response can effectively contain simian immunodeficiency virus during early infection, leading to a massive immune response. The study suggests a new approach to designing HIV vaccines by stimulating immune responses against virus proteins produced within hours of infection.
Researchers have discovered a potentially promising approach to attack the AIDS virus, opening new vaccine directions. The study found that infected individuals make immune responses that the virus cannot tolerate, and that these responses could be mimicked in an HIV vaccine.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School are harnessing the longevity of a herpes simplex virus to develop an HIV vaccine. Their live attenuated vaccine has shown promising results in non-human primates, inducing immunity that lasted for months.
Two unique cases of West Nile virus infection reported in Neurology, showing deceptive symptoms initially misdiagnosed as Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Both patients eventually fully recovered, but highlight the need for greater awareness and testing for the mosquito-borne virus.
A plant-based vaccine has successfully triggered human immunity to the Norwalk virus, causing widespread food-borne illness in the US. Researchers at Cornell University and the University of Maryland have developed a transgenic potato vaccine that shows promising results in clinical trials.
Researchers at Brown University and the Marine Biological Laboratory have observed herpes simplex virus traveling from nerve endings to nerve cell bodies within living nerve cells. The discovery of a single transport mechanism could lead to better treatment options for potentially lethal viral infections.
The Kaposi's sarcoma virus employs a novel strategy to evade the immune system by removing sentries on cell surfaces and shipping them for destruction. Researchers identified two viral genes that reduce MHC-1 proteins at the cell surface, allowing the virus to spread more widely.
Researchers have found that CD8 cells can stop human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in its tracks even when added to infected CD4 cells. This finding suggests a new approach to controlling the spread of HIV and could lead to potential therapeutic strategies.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center discovered a secondary retroviral receptor, dubbed FELIX, crucial for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection. This discovery may provide a window into the pathway of retroviruses like HIV and potentially lead to therapies that disable the virus.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have created a vaccine using a weakened rabies virus to carry an HIV envelope protein into cells, prompting the immune system to produce anti-HIV antibodies. The successful test in mice lends promise to eventually developing a human vaccine against HIV.
Researchers have identified a crucial molecule, DC-SIGN, that enables the AIDS virus to hijack dendritic cells, transporting it to immune system tissues where it infects T-lymphocytes. This breakthrough offers new avenues for developing treatments and potentially vaccines to prevent HIV infection.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered the molecular mechanism by which adenovirus binds to human cells, paving the way for the development of drugs that block infection. This breakthrough could lead to more effective vaccines and targeted therapies for viral infections.
Researchers at Purdue University will study the three-dimensional structure of several types of viruses, including yellow fever and hepatitis C viruses, using a combination of X-ray crystallography and molecular biology techniques. The goal is to develop drugs that prevent infection by similar viral pathogens.
Researchers have developed a model to study viral evasion and co-option of cellular defense strategies, revealing that persistent infection is achieved by suppressing cell suicide. Physiological changes occur, including slower growth and reduced virus infectivity over time.
Researchers at University of Chicago discover that a single amino acid change in viral protein ICP0 prevents herpes virus from entering nervous system. The finding reveals a potential new target for herpes vaccines or future therapies.
Researchers successfully modified adenovirus, a common cold virus, to carry corrective genes to defective cells. The modified virus persisted for over two months in mice, overcoming a major barrier to widespread use of adenovirus as a genetic delivery vehicle.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found latent HIV in the semen of seven infected men taking HAART, which may be transmissible. The study suggests that even if detectable virus is not present in blood, individuals should practice safe sex to prevent transmission.
Australian scientists have discovered key facts about the Hendra disease, a mysterious virus that infects horses, cats, guinea pigs, and fruit bats. Research shows the virus can be transmitted through contaminated food and cat urine, and is often deadly, even if not highly contagious.
Researchers suggest that genetic remnants of an ancient virus incorporated into human DNA may assist the AIDS virus in evading anti-drug treatments. Studies found that a specific enzyme from this endogenous virus gene can complement HIV-1 protease activity, making it resistant to current drugs.
A study by UNC researchers confirms the presence of mutated, drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virus in the semen of men taking antiviral medications. The study found that if men do not have adequate suppression of their virus, they are likely to shed drug-resistant strains of HIV in their genital secretions.
Researchers at UW-Madison discovered a molecular mechanism that allows influenza viruses to cause sweeping damage throughout the body. The finding provides an additional marker for scientists to be aware of in their surveys of emerging viruses and may have broader implications in the virology field.
Scientists have found that parts of the protein shell of the common cold virus flap open in a motion called "breathing", which can be stifled by compounds that stop viruses from infecting cells. This discovery could lead to rapid screening methods for antiviral drugs.
Researchers at Jefferson Medical College have found a way to inhibit the hepatitis B virus by blocking its envelope creation, resulting in a dramatic drop in viral levels. The discovery may provide new leads for treating chronic HBV and HCV infections in humans.
Researchers found that cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) can recognize and target different HIV strains, suggesting a potential universal vaccine. CTLs play a key role in the immune response against HIV, with high levels seen in long-term nonprogressors and individuals who remain uninfected despite multiple exposures.
Researchers Cecilia Soderberg-Naucler and Jay Nelson identified the host site where human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) resides and developed an activation mechanism in specific white blood cells. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatments for HCMV-related complications, including birth defects and transplant deaths.
Researchers have discovered a naturally occurring chemokine antagonist, vMIP-II, which can block both CCR5 and CXCR4 receptors used by HIV to infect human cells. This breakthrough may lead to novel approaches for HIV therapy, including prevention of initial infection and slowing disease progression.
Research shows that the tannins produced by oak trees inhibit gypsy moth caterpillar growth and viral infection, with enzymes like PPO playing a key role in this process. This discovery could lead to new methods for controlling gypsy moth populations.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School have shown that vaccination can reduce or prevent fatal immune responses to a virus in mice, even though the virus continues to live in the animals. This finding has important implications for treating chronic and latent viral infections such as AIDS, herpes, and tuberculosis.
Scientists have identified a human protein that allows herpes simplex virus to penetrate into lymphocytes, a key step in understanding recurrent herpetic disease. This breakthrough discovery may lead to the development of new classes of antiviral drugs.