A group of researchers from the University of Helsinki discovered viral DNA in bone samples from World War II casualties, providing a unique archive of past infections. This finding opens up new possibilities for studying ancient pandemics and improving disease prevention.
The BK polyomavirus often causes complications after kidney transplantation due to immunosuppressive drugs like Tacrolimus. Researchers have found that Tacrolimus directly activates virus replication, while Sirolimus inhibits it, providing a rationale for clinical trials.
Researchers have made encouraging results using gene therapy to treat cystic fibrosis by inserting a healthy copy of the CFTR gene into affected cells. The approach restored chloride and fluid transport in both mouse models and human-derived cell cultures, suggesting a potential cure for the genetic disorder.
Researchers at INRS have discovered a coronavirus protein mutation that slows the spread of the virus in the central nervous system and reduces its neurovirulence. The study sheds light on how persistent coronavirus infections take hold and may help prevent associated neurological diseases.
A large-scale study reveals the hepatitis A virus is likely of animal origin, with viruses from small mammals showing similarities to the human virus. The discovery offers new perspectives for risk assessments and may hint at a distant ancestry in primordial insect viruses.
Researchers at Hiroshima University developed a new animal model of hepatitis B using humanized mice and found that CTLA4Ig suppressed damage to liver cells infected with the virus. This model is useful for studying immunological reactions and viral clearance in hepatitis B virus infection.
Researchers have found that a deadly fish virus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv), is still circulating in Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. Despite efforts to slow its spread, the virus can survive in infected fish, potentially leading to future outbreaks.
A new study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has provided direct evidence that an algae-infecting virus can invade and replicate within some mammalian cells. The virus, known as Acanthocystis turfacea chlorella virus 1 (ATCV-1), successfully infiltrated macrophage cells in mice, causing changes characteristic of a viral infection.
Blood T cells are resistant to HIV's primary death pathway, but not lymphoid tissue T cells. The researchers suggest that studying lymphoid tissue T cells could lead to a better understanding of the virus and potentially new treatments.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine studied tiny DNA minicircles containing only 336 base pairs to understand biologically active DNA. They found that the coiling caused many different shapes, including sharp bends and figure-8s, and showed how these structures facilitate DNA interactions with proteins and anticancer drugs.
Researchers at Ohio State University suggest new ways to treat cancer by inhibiting overactive cancer-promoting genes and enhancing sluggish tumor-suppressor genes. The findings, published in Nature Communications and Nature Genetics, provide insights into the role of glucocorticoid receptors and epigenetic marks in cancer development.
James Munro of Tufts University School of Medicine has received the NIH Director's New Innovator Award to develop a new way to use single molecule imaging of Ebola glycoproteins. This research aims to inform the design of structure-based vaccines to fight the spread of Ebola.
Researchers analyzed breast tissue from 239 women, comparing samples with and without breast cancer for the presence of bovine leukemia virus. They found a significant association between BLV infection and an increased risk of breast cancer, with odds ratio higher than obesity, alcohol consumption, and post-menopausal hormone use.
Researchers have found that two bile acids, ursodeoxycholic acid and tauroursodeoxycholic acid, can slow the progression of prion disease when given early in the disease process. These compounds bind to proteins causing disease and prevent them from spreading.
A Penn study identified immunostimulatory defective viral genomes as a key player in eliciting an immune response against RSV. In human and mouse models, the presence of DVGs was correlated with improved immune function and reduced disease severity.
Researchers found that HIV's cell-to-cell transmission is the primary mechanism for massive CD4 T cell death, leading to the progression from HIV to AIDS. Disrupting this transmission effectively stopped cell death.
A team of researchers from Pitt, Drexel, and NIH found that the Ebola virus can survive in detectable concentrations in wastewater for at least a week or longer. The study suggests that procedures for disposing of contaminated liquid waste might underestimate the virus' ability to persist.
Researchers created a vomiting device to study the aerosolization of virus particles similar to human norovirus. They found that only 0.02% of the total virus in the vomit was aerosolized, but this can still amount to thousands of infectious particles.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have discovered a single gene, SEC14L2, that allows the easy replication of hepatitis C virus in human liver cancer cell lines. This breakthrough enables scientists to study naturally occurring forms of the virus and develop new effective treatments.
Researchers found that Ebola and Marburg viruses use G protein-coupled receptors to enter cells, which can be blocked by existing drugs targeting these receptors. The study identified 20 GPCR antagonists effective against the two viruses, paving the way for potential therapeutics.
A new study led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center shows that a novel HIV-1 vaccine regimen provides complete protection against simian immunodeficiency virus in half of vaccinated non-human primates. The vaccine regimen involves a viral vector boosted with a purified envelope protein, demonstrating improved protection over previo...
Researchers found that hantaviruses are highly dependent on cholesterol in cell membranes to gain access into cells. Disrupting the S1P pathway reduced their ability to infect cells, suggesting potential therapeutic targets. However, further studies are needed to fully understand the viruses' dependence on cholesterol.
Researchers at the University of Missouri captured detailed images of the capsid protein in its natural state, revealing ordered water molecules that help stabilize the complex scaffold. This discovery aims to inform the development of new and more effective antiviral drugs.
A multimillion-dollar research partnership at the University of Alberta is developing small molecules that can reactivate a patient's immune system to fight cancer. The team plans to have a 'lead structure' drug ready by the end of the second year, with the potential for human trials by 2020.
A multidisciplinary research team has developed a tool to predict the pandemic risk of avian influenza viruses, including H5N1-type viruses. The tool uses a combination of computational techniques and experimental molecular virology methods to identify candidate pandemic influenza viruses.
A team of researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München has developed a candidate vaccine against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and demonstrated its efficacy in a mouse model. The vaccine, named MVA-MERS-S, uses a modified virus to induce protective immunity against the coronavirus.
Scientists have established a model for latent HIV infection of brain cells and identified various compounds that can affect latency. The study aims to develop new therapeutic approaches to silence the virus in brain cells, which could improve clinical care for HIV-1 patients.
Researchers at UMN identified two key mutations in MERS virus enabling its transmission from bats to humans. These mutations allowed the virus to infect human cells, highlighting a crucial evolutionary strategy used by the virus.
A recent study has found that estrogen receptors are almost entirely absent in cervical cancer tumors, but still present in the tumor microenvironment. This finding highlights a critical communication between the microenvironment and tumor cells, allowing the tumor to thrive despite its inability to respond to estrogen.
Scientists at the University of Bonn discovered two new groups of viruses, Jonchet and Ferak, which are believed to have originated from insect viruses. The researchers found that these viruses are phylogenetically independent and do not multiply above 32 degrees Celsius, making human infection unlikely.
Scientists discovered the molecular lock of Ebola virus's cellular entry, which could lead to the development of antiviral drugs blocking its interaction with Niemann-Pick C1. The study found mice lacking NPC1 gene were completely resistant to infection, suggesting a potential treatment for Ebola.
A UTMB study shows that augmenting a gas naturally in our bodies, hydrogen sulfide, can reduce the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The researchers found that providing a drug that triggers a steady release of this gas blocks RSV viral replication and inflammation.
David Baltimore is being recognized for his groundbreaking discoveries in immunology, virology, and cancer research. He will present a lecture on microRNAs, leukemia, and hematopoietic stem cells homeostasis at the AACR Annual Meeting 2015.
Researchers investigate how BAF protein defends against viral DNA attacks, discovering the virus's ability to turn off this key defensive mechanism. This understanding may lead to targeted therapies for viruses that inject DNA into cells.
Lorne Tyrrell, a renowned virologist, has been awarded the 2015 Killam Prize for Health Sciences for his groundbreaking work on viral hepatitis. His research has led to the development of an effective treatment for hepatitis B and is being continued in efforts to create a vaccine for hepatitis C.
Researchers discovered a previously invisible biological process that may be implicated in the rapid growth of some cancers. The new study reveals that a well-known cancer protein called mTOR can hand off its work to another protein, CDK1, when cells are dividing.
Despite significant genetic mutations, Ebola's functional level has remained the same over the past four decades. This suggests that vaccines and treatments developed during current outbreaks may be effective against future outbreaks.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a new mastrevirus, SgMaV-1, infecting switchgrass in North America. The virus is closely related to known pathogens in Australia and may be transmitted by leafhoppers, posing risks to staple food crops like corn and wheat.
Researchers found that camel antibodies protected uninfected mice from MERS and helped infected mice expunge the disease. The study suggests these antibodies might be therapeutic for MERS patients and protect uninfected household members and healthcare workers.
Researchers at Rockefeller University found that the Hepatitis C virus binds to miRNA-122, altering gene activity in infected liver cells. This interaction may contribute to liver damage and cancer progression.
Researchers have developed an antibody called FcDART that provides 100% protection against the H5N1 influenza virus in ferrets and mice. This breakthrough could lead to the development of vaccines to match each flu virus and protect vulnerable populations.
Researchers discovered a new cellular factor critical to Ebola virus infection and identified Tetrandrine as a potent small molecule inhibiting the virus's entry into human white blood cells. The compound showed efficacy in preventing Ebola virus disease in mice without obvious side effects.
Researchers at KU Leuven's Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology have identified a recombinant form of HIV that targets the anchor point CXCR4 early after infection, shortening the healthy phase and triggering rapid progression to AIDS. The study found abnormally high doses of the virus and defensive molecule RANTES in i...
Researchers discovered that the immune system can turn off cellular enzymes needed by the Influenza A virus, which could lead to new treatments for flu. The study found that PAI-1 protein plays a key role in this process, and its inhibitors may be used to combat viral infections.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that androgen receptor activates different genes when bound to antiandrogens, suggesting new targets for prostate cancer treatment. Antiandrogen response elements were discovered, which activate oncogenes relevant to tumor progression.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have successfully tested a new treatment on mice that cures the disease even after the virus has spread to the brain. The new vaccine rescues mice much longer after infection than what was traditionally thought possible, with 50% of treated mice saved even after physical symptoms appear.
Researchers found that vaccines eliciting only CD4 T cell responses led to an overwhelming inflammatory reaction in mice, while those with both CD4 and CD8 responses were protected. This study cautions against developing vaccines that solely target one arm of the immune system.
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a new class of antibodies that can neutralize a wide range of influenza A viruses, paving the way for a universal flu vaccine. The vaccine would only need to be given once and could protect against all strains of flu, even when the virus mutates.
Byproducts from gum disease bacteria can reactivate dormant HIV in T-cells, leading to higher virus replication. This discovery highlights the significance of treating periodontal disease early for individuals with HIV infections.
A novel orthomyxovirus, Wellfleet Bay virus (WFBV), has been linked to cyclic mass mortality events in eider ducks on Cape Cod. The study found that WFBV is likely tick-borne and contributes to the deaths, but other factors such as parasitic worms and stress may also play a role.
A four-year project studied the genome sequence of 48 bird species, shedding light on how they evolved and adapted. The research revealed new candidate gene associations with vocal learning, skeletal development, and plumage for mating display.
Six faculty members at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have been named 2014 AAAS Fellows, recognized for their contributions to various fields including virology, cell biology, and cancer research. The awardees include Aviv Bergman, Margaret Kielian, Richard Kitsis, U. Thomas Meier, Robert Singer, and Jan Vijg.
Researchers at KU Leuven discovered that HIV's integration site determines disease progression. The team found that manipulating the integration site can lead to faster disease progression in some cases, but also opens up possibilities for developing new therapies by targeting safer regions of host DNA.
Researchers screened over 2,000 plant samples for biological activity, revealing compounds with potential applications for crop improvement and protection. The study presents the results of large-scale screening for insecticidal and fungicidal activity in 1,200 plant samples.
A University of Adelaide-led project has developed a new test that can identify vaccinated birds with live H5N1 virus, preventing the spread of emerging strains. This breakthrough could help track and control the highly contagious avian influenza virus.
A study by Kansas State University researchers suggests that bat influenza viruses are unlikely to pose a pandemic threat to humans. The team characterized the viruses using synthetic technology and next-generation sequencing, finding they have a low risk of transmission.
Scientists discovered that a common protease enzyme furin activates MERS-CoV to fuse with cell membranes and enter host cells. Blocking this process could lead to treatment by preventing the virus from infecting cells. The study found two cleavage sites on the spike protein, allowing for more spread in animals or humans.
A recent study found that viruses normally infecting Asian elephants, not those from African elephants, cause severe cases of a mysterious illness. The research also identifies 12 new herpesviruses and sheds light on the evolution of these viruses.
Researchers found that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) enables cancer cells to evade the immune system by suppressing genes that inhibit the immune response. Inhibiting NF-kB may make tumor cells more vulnerable to elimination by the immune system.
The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will conduct proof-of-concept studies in monkeys and launch Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials to test broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. The goal is to suppress or eradicate HIV in humans, providing an alternative to antiretroviral therapies.