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.
Researchers identified close to 200 recurrent genetic mutations in the virus, suggesting it may be adapting and evolving to its human hosts. The study found a large proportion of global genetic diversity is concentrated in hardest-hit countries, indicating extensive global transmission from early on.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a methodology to trace SARS-CoV-2 virus through sewage and wastewater systems. This could provide better estimates of how widespread the virus is and help track existing and future outbreaks.
Researchers used organoid models to study SARS-CoV-2 infection in human intestinal cells. The results show that the intestines are a target organ for the virus, contributing to gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
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 have identified goblet and ciliated cells in the nose as likely initial infection points for COVID-19 coronavirus. The study found that these cells express key entry proteins used by the virus to infect cells, making them highly accessible to the virus.
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 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.
Monash University researchers have identified an anti-parasitic drug, Ivermectin, as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The study found that a single dose of the drug can stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus from growing in cell culture within 48 hours.
A recent study by Jennifer Welsh found that various sea creatures, such as sponges, crabs, and cockles, can remove a significant portion of virus particles from seawater. These findings suggest that non-host organisms play an important role in regulating virus populations in marine environments.
Researchers discovered that potato plants are most susceptible to infection during the first three weeks of the growing season, leading to reduced tuber yield and quality. This age-related resistance mechanism suggests that management programs should focus on early stages of potato development to protect crops.
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.
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.
Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München developed a novel therapeutic approach to cure chronic hepatitis B infection. By knocking down the expression of the virus' proteins, they enabled successful vaccination with TherVacB, a novel therapeutic vaccine. The therapy aims to cure existing chronic diseases by activating immune cells.
The 2019-nCoV virus has nearly identical genetic sequences among patients, indicating a recent emergence and rapid detection. The virus shares similarities with bat-derived coronaviruses and may use the ACE2 receptor to enter human cells.
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.
UC San Diego researchers identified αvβ5 integrin as the key contributor to Zika virus' ability to infect brain cells. Blocking this integrin with antibodies or small molecule inhibitors effectively prevents Zika virus from infecting both normal brain stem cells and cancer stem cells.
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 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 at Michigan Technological University have developed a single-particle method using atomic force microscopy to determine virus isoelectric points, improving the accuracy of characterization and paving the way for more efficient vaccine production and gene therapy manufacturing.
A recent focus issue explores the cell biology of virus-host and virus-vector interactions to improve crop management. Research reveals insights into plasmodesmatal connections, cell-cell signaling, and biotechnological approaches for host resistance.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to disrupt both latent and active herpes virus in human cells. The findings offer a model system for using gene editing in a localized way to disrupt active replication, but the challenge of delivering gene-editing therapy to neurons remains unsolved.
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.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet developed a new method to separate between two types of herpes virus 6A and 6B, found that MS-patients carry the virus 6A to a greater extent than healthy individuals, and that HHV-6A may be contributing factor to multiple sclerosis development
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.
Researchers at Boston Medical Center identified specific virus characteristics that can help predict the efficacy of HIV-1 treatments using antibody-based treatments. These findings will enable physicians to make better-informed decisions on treatment plans for patients with HIV-1, ultimately treating the virus to slow it down earlier.
A new study reveals high levels of genetic diversity in US Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), a leading cause of honey bee colony losses. The diverse lineages of this virus equally harm bees and complicate the development of antiviral treatments, which could be used to create a vaccine.
Scientists analyzed the virus' course of action and discovered how it captures host ribosomes using a structured RNA sequence called IRES. This finding advances research into feeding bees RNA molecules that interfere with the virus's RNA, potentially offering a solution to Colony Collapse Disorder.
A novel virus, lacking structural proteins, was discovered in pigs' feces and found to partner with a 'helper virus' for host cell entry. This unique finding suggests an entirely new system of viral evolution, sparking further research into its mechanisms.
A European research team has developed a method to track the HI virus's spread between living cells using superresolution STED fluorescence microscopy. The study reveals that the HIV pathogen creates a specific lipid environment for replication, providing a potential target for antiviral drugs.
Researchers have scrutinized West Nile virus and its transmission cycle, demonstrating the need for a one health approach. The body of knowledge built since 1999 is empowering efforts to minimize West Nile virus impact and prevent other mosquito-borne diseases.
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.
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 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.
Researchers found that CD8+ T cells retain protective functions despite sustained inhibitory receptor expression during Epstein-Barr virus infection. Blocking the PD-1 pathway leads to specific defects in controlling the virus and increases tumor formation.
Researchers found that remdesivir completely protected four African green monkeys from a lethal dose of Nipah virus. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, provides promising results for the treatment of Nipah virus infection.
A 14-year investigation in Bangladesh found that older male patients and those with respiratory issues are at higher risk of transmitting the Nipah virus. The study analyzed 248 cases and identified key factors associated with transmission, recommending public health measures to prevent outbreaks.
Researchers have identified a new strain of canine distemper virus in wild animals in New Hampshire and Vermont, which is highly contagious to domesticated dogs. The virus has been found in eight infected mammals, including gray foxes, raccoons, and skunks, and is significantly distinct from vaccine strains.
Scientists discovered a giant virus, Medusavirus, that turns amoebas into stone-like cysts and harbors ancient proteins crucial to eukaryotic life. This finding suggests a possible relationship between the virus and the emergence of complex life.
Researchers discovered that certain bacteria use viruses to identify and kill rival bacteria for resources. The discovery has implications for synthetic biology and medicine, where understanding bacterial competition could lead to breakthroughs in treating infectious diseases.
Researchers from the University of Kent have found that a newly discovered Ebolavirus, known as Bombali, is unlikely to cause severe disease in humans. The study compared amino acid sequences of virus proteins and identified positions that determine whether a virus causes disease in humans.
Researchers developed a novel recombinant vaccine called NIPRAB that shows strong immunization against Nipah virus in animal models. The live vaccine is safe in mice, eliciting a strong antibodies response and reacting to similar viruses like Hendra and Rabies.
Scientists at the Institut Pasteur have identified a cellular protein that can degrade hepatitis B virus DNA, potentially leading to a 'Trojan horse' approach to target infected liver cells. This discovery offers new hope for developing curative treatments for chronic HBV infection.
A new study has found that cystic fibrosis patients who have a common virus may experience faster disease progression. Cytomegalovirus infection was the most important factor linked to disease progression, with patients having the virus referred for lung transplants at a much younger age and dying ten years earlier on average.
A newly discovered Medusavirus giant virus provides new insights into host-virus co-evolution, with features including DNA coding for five histones and unique capsid surface proteins. The discovery suggests a lateral gene transfer model between host and virus.
Scientists have discovered two Zika mutations that help the virus replicate in mosquito hosts but hinder its ability to replicate in mammals. This breakthrough technique allows researchers to fast-track vaccine development, potentially leading to effective treatments for birth defects caused by the virus.
A Yale team isolated antibodies from mice bitten by mosquitoes and found a protein, AgBR1, that exacerbates Zika infection. Blocking this protein with an antiserum reduced Zika virus levels and provided partial protection in infected mice.
Researchers found that mothers infected with Zika also had dengue antibodies led to worse fetal brain damage. An immune complex forms when dengue antibodies attach to the Zika virus, recognized by a receptor on placental cells, allowing the virus to travel across the placenta.
Researchers analyzed blood samples collected between March 2016 and June 2017, identifying 40 samples positive for Chikungunya virus. The study suggests the virus may have circulated as early as 2012 and was likely imported from Central Africa.
Studies show that specific rabbit genes contribute to acquired resistance to the myxoma virus, while co-evolutionary forces drive parallel adaptation between viruses and hosts. The research demonstrates how genetic variations can lead to changes in virus pathogenicity.
Researchers at Mount Sinai found that dengue virus infection can enhance the severity of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, leading to increased placental damage, fetal growth restriction, and fetal resorption. This mechanism may explain the high rate of microcephaly and birth defects observed in recent Zika outbreaks.
A study from McGill University reveals that a virus infecting the Leishmania parasite exploits cell-to-cell communication to spread and evade detection. This discovery could lead to effective vaccines against leishmaniasis, a disease causing severe disfiguration in tropical areas.
Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have discovered that flaviviruses reproduce in specific locations within tick salivary gland cultures. This finding could explain why virus transmission occurs so quickly, and may help identify transmission pathways that can be blocked with a countermeasure.
Researchers engineered a virus that selectively targets and kills cancer cells, surpassing another viral treatment currently in use. The modified adenovirus, dl355, replicates more efficiently in cancer cells than normal cells, resulting in higher cancer cell kill rates.
A new study found that prior dengue virus infection in children may be protective against symptomatic Zika virus infection. The research, published in PLOS Medicine, involved over 3,000 children aged 2-14 years and showed that those with a history of dengue infection had a lower risk of being symptomatic when infected with Zika.
Researchers found that prior and recent dengue virus infection was associated with protection from symptomatic Zika virus infection in a pediatric cohort. However, previous exposure did not affect the rate of total Zika virus infection. The study suggests that prior dengue virus immunity might cross-protect against symptomatic Zika.