Researchers developed an Internet information system, virusMED, to provide a comprehensive picture of viruses' most important regions. The database contains over 800 strains from 75 different families, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, Ebola, and HIV-1, enabling scientists to respond quickly and effectively against the next pathogen.
Researchers found that a family of proteins enhances the immune response to HIV, Ebola and Zika by boosting signals sent within immune cells. This discovery has implications for potential broad antiviral therapy.
A two-dose Ebola vaccine regimen has been found to be safe, well-tolerated, and produce a strong immune response in people over 1 year old. The study also supports the use of this regimen for Ebola virus disease prevention in children and adults.
A study published in The EMBO Journal identified several host proteins that interact with the Ebola virus protein VP30, inhibiting viral transcription and replication. These findings suggest a novel target for preventing Ebola virus infection, providing potential new therapeutic strategies.
A new study published in Science Translational Medicine reports on the protection offered by Ebola vaccines. The research found that different vaccine platforms conferred varying levels of protection, with RBD-specific antibodies and Fc-mediated immune functions playing key roles.
A Mount Sinai study reveals the complex mechanisms of Ebola virus evasion, highlighting the critical role of VP24 protein in disrupting the nuclear envelope. This disruption compromises cell function, DNA leakage, and antiviral immunity, ultimately contributing to disease severity.
Researchers at Monash University have discovered how Ebola virus evades the immune system by targeting the STAT3 protein. The virus uses a protein called VP24 to disable STAT3's messenger function, which is critical for regulating host immune and inflammatory responses.
Researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute are receiving NIH funding to investigate the precise mechanisms of Ebola virus infection, including its ability to hijack immune cells called macrophages. The study aims to understand how the virus spreads in the body and potentially develops targeted treatments.
Researchers at Scripps Research have unveiled an innovative Ebola virus vaccine design that stimulates a better protective immune response. The new approach involves tethering copies of the Ebola virus outer spike protein to a spherical carrier particle, resulting in a more stable and realistic-looking virus particle.
Researchers at UTMB will investigate Ebola infections in human cell culture and nonhuman primates, with the goal of developing new insights into prevention and treatment. The $11.3M grant will also support the development of sophisticated models using 'big data' to predict infection outcomes.
Researchers develop a new sensor that can detect Ebola in a single drop of blood and provide results in just an hour. The technology also shows promise for detecting COVID-19 and other viruses.
Scientists at Scripps Research have discovered how some antibodies can broadly neutralize ebolaviruses by targeting a key site on the virus called the glycan cap. This breakthrough may lead to the development of an antibody-based treatment that can save lives against a range of ebolavirus species.
A new study reveals how Ebola virus's VP40 protein uses human mRNA to transform into different shapes, adapting to various functions. This discovery sheds light on the fundamentals of genome-encoded information and highlights VP40 as a key vulnerability for effective therapies.
A new study finds that pre-pandemic children have higher frequencies of convergent B cell clones for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, while adult blood shows few such clones. The research suggests that early childhood B cell clonal expansions may stimulate cross-reactive memory, leading to better responses to novel pathogens.
A new diagnostic test, called the D4-assay, has been developed to detect Ebola virus infection earlier than the current industry standard PCR test. The test is highly sensitive and can detect the virus a full day earlier than PCR, making it a promising tool in addressing ongoing outbreaks.
A new study published in Nature Communications shows that combining monoclonal antibodies and remdesivir is effective in treating advanced Marburg virus disease. The combination therapy demonstrated an 80% protection rate against the lethal virus, offering promise for treatment of advanced infections.
Researchers found that tilorone, quinacrine, and pyronaridine effectively prevent SARS-CoV-2 replication in human-derived cell lines. The compounds showed mixed results against other viruses, highlighting the need for testing across multiple cell lines.
A recent study published in PLOS Pathogens identified a key pathway that Ebola uses to gain entry into human cells. The researchers found that a specific FDA-approved drug can prevent the virus from using this pathway, potentially leading to new treatment options for Ebola patients.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have discovered a second site on the filovirus glycoprotein that small drug molecules can bind to prevent infection. This finding holds promise for developing effective treatments for Ebola and Marburg viruses, which cause hemorrhagic fever with mortality rates ranging from 25% to 90%.
A study found that over half of Ebola survivors experienced a rapid increase in antibody levels around 200 days after recovery, followed by decline, indicating potential long-term virus persistence.
A team of researchers used Stampede2 and Bridges simulations to analyze the stability of the Ebola virus's nucleocapsid, a protein shell that protects its genetic material. The study found that RNA helps stabilize the nucleocapsid through electrostatic interactions with its nucleoproteins, providing potential targets for new therapeutics.
A new technology uses light to manipulate various liquids, reducing the risk of infection and contamination in medical testing. The device has great potential in fields like DNA analysis, proteomics, and clinical diagnosis, with applications in COVID-19 research.
New drug compounds have been discovered that disrupt the functioning of a protein complex inside human cells, which is critical for coronavirus replication and survival. The compounds target viruses such as influenza, Ebola, and coronaviruses, showing broad-spectrum antiviral activity.
Researchers found Ebola virus antibodies in 10% of patients seeking care in the year before the 2018 outbreak, highlighting potential for more frequent exposure. Women were significantly more likely to be exposed, consistent with other studies.
A computational study of Ebola's nucleocapsid reveals how ssRNA encapsulation stabilizes the virus, maintaining its structural integrity. The model includes all atoms and ions essential for the helical assembly, providing insights into the virus's ability to infect and replicate.
The study reveals structural features of the Ebola nucleocapsid, a promising therapeutic target for destabilizing the virus and knocking it out with antivirals. The researchers used supercomputers to simulate the inner workings of Ebola, observing the way molecules move to carry out their functions.
A new study is analyzing how SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly in Asia before slowing down, with insights potentially informing secondary outbreak predictions and intervention strategies. By studying travel restrictions and quarantines, researchers are identifying factors that facilitated transmission and slowed it down.
Researchers found that bat and fruit bat species capable of carrying the Ebola virus thrive in West and East Africa, including Central Africa. The study suggests keeping a closer eye on diseases in their modeled ranges to inform the public about potential Ebola infections.
Researchers identified a new cellular protection pathway that targets a common vulnerability in several pandemic viruses, including Ebola and SARS-CoV-2. The study found that the MHC class II transactivator CIITA induces resistance by activating CD74, which disrupts viral entry into cells.
Researchers identified a new pathway that protects cells from Ebola virus and coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2, by blocking viral entry into the cell. The MHC class II transactivator (CIITA) gene induces resistance to Ebola virus through the activation of CD74 p41, which disrupts viral protein processing and prevents infection.
A new study reveals that bats can host the Ebola virus without contracting the deadly disease, thanks to their unique cell structure. The research found that bat cells induce changes in the virus that make it less capable of harm, allowing it to coexist with its natural reservoir.
Texas A&M University researchers are producing COVID-19 spike proteins to detect antibodies that can block the virus from binding to cells. The goal is to find effective treatments and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
Dr. Christopher Basler's five-year grant aims to understand how Ebola and Marburg viruses evade immune responses, leading to new treatment approaches. The study will focus on filovirus-host interactions related to gene expression and translation.
Researchers from FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science developed a model to predict COVID-19 spread using innovative big data analytics techniques. The project leverages prior experience in modeling Ebola spread to create computational models that can quickly identify contacts of infected individuals.
A recent article in Nature Reviews Microbiology calls for more research into bats' molecular biology and ecology to predict and prevent the next pandemic. Bats carry a vast number of viruses, with evidence linking different species to human outbreaks of SARS, MERS, Ebola, and other diseases.
Researchers developed tiny, decoy 'sponges' that attract and neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus, preventing it from replicating in lung cells. The nanotechnology could be adapted to combat other viruses like influenza or Ebola.
A study by University of Kent's Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology found significant differences in disease risk perception and information channels about Ebola virus disease in rural and urban areas of Guinea. Rural residents mainly received information through awareness-raising missions, while urban respondents used newspa...
Researchers studied the roles of Sierra Leonean journalists during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, finding they adapted to become educators and public mobilizers. Targeted training helped them identify safe reporting practices, improving their communication of public health messages.
Researchers at Flinders University and US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease have developed a highly protective Ebola vaccine that appears to be effective against lethal infections in mice. The vaccine, combined with an Advax™ adjuvant, shows promise for preventing future Ebola outbreaks in Africa.
Researchers surveyed US citizens before and after the 2014 Ebola outbreak, finding relative complacency regarding pandemic threats. Their study suggests policymakers should not rely on public perception when it comes to disease threats.
Using convalescent plasma from recovered patients can provide instant, short-term fortification against COVID-19. This approach has shown effectiveness in previous pandemics and outbreaks of viral infections such as Ebola and SARS-CoV.
UVA Health's telehealth tools improved patient care and healthcare provider safety during the Ebola outbreak. The Isolation Communication Management System (iSOCOMS) allowed doctors to provide personal, high-quality care while conserving vital PPE.
Researchers designed a new microfluidic device that uses magnetic nano-beads to isolate minute bacterial particles. The device improves the detection of drug-resistant strains and difficult-to-detect micro-particles such as Ebola and coronaviruses.
Scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center report development of a potential universal vaccine for Ebola viruses. The new vaccine uses glycoproteins from two Ebola virus species and has shown promise in neutralizing all four pathogenic species, generating cross-reactive responses against multiple viruses.
Scientists are closely monitoring remdesivir trials for COVID-19 treatment, despite caution from infectious disease experts about difficult-to-interpret results. The antiviral drug blocks RNA polymerase used by SARS-CoV-2 to replicate, showing promise in lab experiments and animal studies.
A new algorithm aims to protect operating room team members from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and conserve personal protective equipment. The guideline assumes patients could be infected unless proven otherwise by a negative RT-PCR test.
A review article published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy highlights the potential of remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19. The antiviral has shown effectiveness against a range of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, with prophylactic treatment preventing clinical disease and viral replication.
Researchers found the average serial interval for COVID-19 in China to be approximately four days, indicating a short window for public health responders to identify and isolate cases. This study provides evidence of asymptomatic transmission, which may require more aggressive control measures to curb the spread of the disease.
A new approach using harmless viruses to deliver antibody genes has led to sustained production of HIV antibodies for over a year in a NIH clinical trial. The technology shows promise for preventing and treating various infectious diseases with further development.
Adding travel history to patient evaluation could help identify risk for potential exposure to COVID-19. The authors argue that this simple measure can trigger more detailed history, appropriate testing, and rapid implementation of protective measures.
Researchers found remdesivir works by mimicking natural building blocks for RNA synthesis, preventing viral replication. The study provides important insight into the mechanism of action of the drug and its potential effectiveness against COVID-19.
A study found that volunteer-based outreach programs, such as door-to-door canvassing in Liberia, can effectively spread valuable information and change public practices during epidemics. The program improved health outcomes, increased public trust in government institutions, and led to more people following control measures.
Researchers discover how Ebola virus interacts with human lipids and how disrupting this interaction can inhibit infection in cell culture. Two FDA-approved drugs show promise in blocking virus replication and spread.
A new study from NIH scientists found that remdesivir successfully prevented MERS-CoV disease in rhesus macaques and improved their condition when given after infection. The results support additional clinical trials of remdesivir for MERS-CoV and COVID-19.
Researchers have found that a component of the Ebola virus can selectively target and kill glioblastoma brain tumors, providing a potential new approach to treating this deadly form of cancer. The Ebola glycoprotein MLD helps protect normal cells from infection while allowing cancer cells to be targeted by the immune system.
A team at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health has developed a new method that accurately predicts human disease outcomes based on gene expression in individuals infected with Ebola. The model uses machine learning and was tested on a data set collected from Ebola patients in western Africa, confirming its accuracy.
A new test developed by a German Center for Infection Research team allows for quick characterization of the genetic material of ebolaviruses, enabling specific diagnostic tests and efficient outbreak control measures. This breakthrough could help reduce the number of lives lost to Ebola outbreaks.
US Army scientists develop an experimental antibody cocktail that protects animals from Sudan virus, a closely related to Ebola. The treatment boosts the body's immune system to fight infection and provides protection in rhesus macaques.
A new antiviral compound based on a protein found in bananas has been shown to safely protect against multiple strains of the influenza virus in mice, with over 80% survival rate. The compound also shows promise against Ebola, HIV and other deadly viruses, including a synergistic effect with Tamiflu.
The Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccination (PREVAC) has received additional funding to evaluate three Ebola vaccine regimens for long-term safety and durability. The PREVAC-UP project will assess these factors over 5 years after vaccination, as well as the impact of co-infections like malaria and helminths on immune responses.