A recent study published in Journal of Pediatrics found that COVID-19 patients, especially children under 16 years old, can have both the virus and antibodies in their system simultaneously. The study suggests that these children still pose a risk of transmitting the virus even if they have developed antibodies.
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.
The COVID-19 virus acts as a microRNA sponge, depleting specific miRNAs that regulate cell metabolism and stress responses. This depletion promotes infected cell survival, allowing the virus to replicate and evade the host's immune system.
A new experimental COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to prevent pneumonia and elicit high levels of protective antibodies in mice infected with the virus. The vaccine uses a mild virus genetically modified to carry a key gene from the COVID-19 virus, generating a strong immune response.
Researchers at Michigan Tech and University of Edinburgh highlight the importance of understanding virus surface stability and interaction in various environmental conditions. They propose new techniques for studying surface chemistry, which could help design effective vaccines and treatments for SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemics.
A multidisciplinary team from UTMB discovered a Zika virus mutation that may have contributed to the 2015/2016 epidemic and microcephaly cases. The study found that this mutation enhances mother-to-baby transmission, neurological disease, and lethality in newborn mice.
Researchers identified a strong bias towards U residues in SARS-CoV-2 mutations, suggesting a defense mechanism to degrade the virus. Natural selection allows the virus to adapt, but mutational processes may be hindered by human proteins.
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.
A new study suggests the measles virus emerged in humans around 528 BCE, thousands of years earlier than previously thought. Researchers used lung samples and genome sequencing data to reconstruct the virus's evolutionary history, tracing its emergence from a cattle-infecting relative.
A new platform enables researchers to track changes in the SARS-CoV-2 virus' genetic structure, providing insights for vaccine design and combating the pandemic. The tool, developed by UHN AI scientist Dr. Bo Wang, analyzes nasal swab samples and compares them to global data, generating results in under 15 minutes.
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.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that cats can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 and shed the virus, potentially transmitting it to other cats. The virus was not lethal and all cats ultimately cleared the virus.
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.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology suggests that the re-emergence of bluetongue virus in France was caused by human activities, based on the virus' unusual genetic makeup. The research found a lack of mutations between outbreaks, indicating the virus may have been stored and then transmitted through artificial insemination.
Researchers from CSIRO unveiled a new approach to analyzing the genetic codes of SARS-CoV-2, helping understand how strains evolve and identify new clusters. The findings will aid in tracking the virus's progression and informing vaccine development.
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 at the University of Alberta have shown that remdesivir is highly effective in stopping the replication mechanism of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The drug works by tricking the virus into incorporating itself as a building block, effectively preventing it from replicating.
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.
Researchers develop vaccine candidate using RNA virus to produce S protein, triggering immune responses against coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2. The approach effectively blocks MERS virus infections in mice, suggesting potential for COVID-19 prevention.
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 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.
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.
Scientists detected Marburg virus in Egyptian rousette fruit bats in Sierra Leone, highlighting the risk of human exposure. The presence of Marburg virus means people living nearby could be at risk for becoming infected without reported cases of illness.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that a pig virus is easily transmitted to healthy chickens and turkeys, developing diarrhea in as little as two days. The virus's rapid spread has raised concerns about its potential impact on humans, who are susceptible but may not show symptoms.
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.
The researchers have created a robust cell culture model for the hepatitis E virus, producing approximately 100 times more infectious virus particles than previous models. This allows for extensive studies on the virus and its impact on human liver cells, enabling the identification of key genes involved in the infection.
Researchers have identified hundreds of new viral diseases in insects, including those with negative strand RNA genomes that cause Ebola and measles. The discovery expands the database of known viruses, enabling scientists to investigate cases of rare illnesses in humans more effectively.
Researchers have identified 150 possible inhibitors of the Nipah virus, a highly deadly disease with no licensed drugs against it. The study found that 13 proposed inhibitors showed high potential against all strains of the virus.
A new species of insect virus, Binjari virus, has been identified that can be engineered to house genes from disease-causing flaviviruses. This non-infectious virus represents a flexible tool for testing diagnostics and vaccines for various infectious diseases, including yellow fever, dengue, and West Nile encephalitis.
The PALM clinical trial found that investigational drugs mAb114 and REGN-EB3 offered lower mortality rates compared to ZMapp, with mortality rates of 35% and 34%, respectively. Early diagnosis and treatment also improved survival chances.
New research reveals that chromatin dynamics regulate the entire herpes virus genome's expression during infection. The discovery sheds light on the interplay between the virus and host cells, potentially leading to more effective treatments.
Scientists developed an investigational vaccine that protected cynomolgus macaques against Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and Lassa viruses, all causing severe disease and death. The quadrivalent VesiculoVax vaccine showed promising results in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
A new risk assessment model accurately predicted Ebola's spread into Uganda by considering constant contacts and temporary interactions. The model helped allocate resources and prevent further spread in the country.
Researchers found filovirus antibodies in 5.9% of human samples and up to 13.3% of bat species, including those with Ebola virus, Bundibugyo virus, Sudan virus, Marburg virus, and Mengla virus antibodies. The study highlights the need for surveillance at the human-animal interface.
Researchers discovered that Ebola virus targets and disables T cells, a crucial line of defense, rendering infected individuals less able to combat the infection. This understanding could lead to new insights into immunosuppression and disease development in general.
Conflict events repeatedly reversed a declining phase of the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to researchers. Vaccination effectiveness was severely impacted by preceding unrest and subsequent conflict events, dropping from 52% to 4.8%.
A new study found that a highly diluted version of the Ebola vaccine remains fully protective against disease in monkeys. The findings suggest that the vaccine could be made more available by reducing its dosage, potentially easing production burdens.
A new UCL-developed model tracks ecosystem changes and human societies to predict Ebola outbreaks, identifying countries at risk in Africa. The model's results show that climate change and slower socioeconomic development increase the likelihood of outbreaks.
Scientists have decoded the immune response to the Ebola vaccine, revealing a broad range of antibodies against the virus. The research, led by Prof. Klein, found that different sites on the envelope protein of the virus were recognized and many antibodies exhibited high neutralising activity.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science and Germany's University of Cologne have identified two antibodies produced by vaccinated individuals that provide long-term immunity against Ebola. These antibodies, which target specific sites on the viral glycoprotein, demonstrate effective protection against the virus.
Researchers at Texas Biomed continue testing Ebola therapies and vaccines in human clinical trials, motivated by promising preclinical data. The goal is to positively impact human lives with effective treatments, building on previous studies involving nonhuman primates.
A new study demonstrates that a mutant live attenuated Ebola virus vaccine protects non-human primates against infection, targeting the immune-evasion function of VP35. The researchers developed a virus with three mutations in the VP35 protein, which plays a critical role in evading host immune responses.
A study by Georgia State University researchers found that creating mutations in the VP35 protein of the Ebola virus can make it unable to cause disease. The mutated virus was able to induce strong immune responses in non-human primates, protecting them from infection with wildtype Ebola virus.
A study found that mortality rates among Ebola survivors after hospital discharge were five times higher than expected in the general population. Those who stayed longer in treatment units had a higher mortality rate due to prolonged acute forms of the disease.
Researchers developed a reporter system to permanently mark cells infected with chikungunya virus, revealing that marked cells containing most of the persistent RNA can survive for at least 112 days. Treatment with an antibody reduces the number of marked cells in muscle and skin.
A community-based wildlife mortality surveillance system has been implemented in Republic of Congo to detect Ebola outbreaks early. The program, developed by WCS and NIH, reaches over 6,600 people and covers an area of 50,000 km2.
A new study suggests that nitazoxanide, an FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug, could potentially treat Ebola by enhancing the immune system's ability to detect the virus. The drug inhibited Ebola replication and worked by broadly amplifying the interferon pathway and cellular viral sensors.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that prior infection with either Zika virus or dengue virus has no apparent effect on the clinical course of subsequent infection with the other virus. This is a significant finding for the development of vaccines against both viruses.
A study of 21 macaque monkeys found that primary and secondary infections with Zika virus did not amplify symptoms, contradicting previous tissue culture and mouse findings. The study suggests that combining a Zika vaccine with a dengue vaccine may be necessary to prevent enhancement of either virus.
Research finds that general fear orientation, trust in government, and perceived exposure likelihood significantly influence vaccination willingness. The study's findings suggest that social factors play a crucial role in shaping public health responses to infectious diseases.