Researchers have developed a new RSV vaccine candidate that has shown promising early results in young children, eliciting more antibodies than previous candidates. The vaccine uses a genetically engineered version of the virus with a deleted M2-2 protein to induce a stronger immune response.
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.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how the flu virus works by studying its M2 proton channel. Using advanced MRI technology, researchers gained insight into the virus's replication process, which could lead to the development of new prescription drugs.
Researchers at Penn University discovered that inhibiting a calcium-signaling pathway can block the Ebola virus from exiting host cells and spreading, paving the way for potential broad-spectrum therapy. This approach has implications for treating multiple serious viral infections, including Marburg, Lassa, and Junin viruses.
Researchers at UTMB created a novel, Eilat virus-based diagnostic test that can diagnose chikungunya in under two hours and is more affordable than existing tests. The test uses the structural proteins of the Eilat virus to mimic the chikungunya virus without replicating in humans.
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.
Researchers at Hiroshima University discovered that Sendai virus C protein inhibits STAT1 activation after interferon stimulation, enabling the virus to evade the host immune response. This finding opens up new avenues for developing anti-viral drugs to overcome damage caused by interferons.
A new antiviral compound, GS-5734, has shown 100% survival rate and significant reduction in viral load in infected rhesus monkeys. The compound's ability to block the virus's replication process suggests its potential as a treatment for Ebola virus disease.
Researchers found that infected cells in breast tissues could transmit the influenza virus from mothers to breast-feeding infants and vice versa using a ferret model. The study also showed that mammary glands can harbor live influenza virus and produce it in milk.
Researchers have identified a virus-drug combination that shows improved effectiveness against brain tumor cells, specifically glioblastoma. The combination of the myxoma virus and certain existing drugs, such as axitinib, reduces tumor-initiating cell viability by 20% or more.
A team at University of California - Santa Cruz developed chip-based technology for reliable Ebola detection, combining microfluidic and optofluidic chips. The system achieved comparable sensitivity to PCR analysis with excellent specificity.
Researchers uncover interesting revelations about the vaccinia virus through DNA sequencing data and historical accounts. The study suggests that the Brazilian VACV-IOC strain may have originated from a French Beaugency strain, challenging previous assumptions.
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.
The discovery sheds light on how the virus evolved and spread across West Africa, revealing that most cases are caused by spillover infections from wild rodents to humans.
Harvard researchers have reconstructed an ancient virus effective at delivering gene therapies to liver, muscle, and retina. The discovery may lead to novel vectors for safer and more potent gene therapies.
A recent study found that HIV virus can persist and continue to grow in patients receiving uninterrupted treatment for up to 14 years. This persistence occurs due to the virus's ability to hide inside blood cells responsible for immune response, copy itself, and automatically incorporate its genetic information into DNA.
Researchers reconstructed an ancient virus to deliver gene therapies, targeting liver, muscle, and retina. The discovery could lead to safer and more potent treatments for various diseases.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reports that an experimental compound, AVI-7288, protected nonhuman primates against the deadly Marburg virus. The compound showed efficacy even when administered after exposure to the virus. Phase I clinical trial results also indicated safety and tolerability.
Researchers discovered that dengue virus adapts by interacting with host RNA and proteins, allowing it to bypass the immune response. This finding explains the 1994 Puerto Rico epidemic and may help predict future outbreaks.
Singapore researchers have identified specific molecular interactions in the dengue virus genome that allow it to manipulate human immune defenses and spread more efficiently. These genetic changes increase the virus's capacity for epidemic outbreaks, highlighting the need for targeted surveillance and response strategies.
Researchers discovered a human antibody specific to dengue virus serotype 2 that protects mice from the virus, regardless of administration timing. The antibody may act as both a preventative and therapeutic agent by locking viral envelope proteins on the surface, preventing them from entering host cells.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute identify new immune molecules that protect against deadly Marburg virus, a relative of Ebola virus. The study provides ingredients needed to develop treatments for future Marburg outbreaks.
A new study by TSRI researchers provides a higher-resolution view of the Ebola virus life cycle, revealing key vulnerabilities that can be targeted with antiviral therapeutics. The findings also shed light on how the virus assembles its genetic material, which is critical for understanding its structure-based design.
A global team has sequenced over 200 Ebola virus genomes to capture the fullest picture yet of how the virus is transmitted and changes over time. The study reveals that cross-border transmission played a smaller role in the outbreak than previously thought, and that the virus has begun to weed out mutations that do not benefit it.
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.
Researchers have discovered a rabbit virus that can deliver a one-two punch, killing some kinds of cancer cells while eliminating a common complication of bone marrow transplants. The myxoma virus can quell graft-versus-host disease and destroy cancer cells, offering new hope for patients with blood cancers.
A new study by NCAR and CDC researchers finds strong correlations between warmer temperatures and higher rates of West Nile virus disease in the US. Precipitation also influences disease outbreaks, but with varying regional impacts. The study aims to develop a system to forecast outbreaks weeks or months in advance.
A small artificially composed virus fragment, sAB+, has been found to be sufficient for inducing a partially protective immune response against the Chikungunya virus. This discovery presents a promising approach for developing a Chikungunya vaccine.
Recent study reveals that microbes like Sulfolobus islandicus can freeze in place when infected with a harmless virus, such as Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus 9 (SSV9), to protect themselves. The dormant microbes recover if the virus is removed within 24-48 hours, otherwise they die.
The USGS has detected a novel, mixed-origin HPAI H5N1 avian flu virus in a green-winged teal in Washington State, differing from the well-known Asian H5N1 HPAI virus. The population-level impact of this virus on free-living wild bird species is currently unknown.
Researchers have developed a new Ebola vaccine based on the 2014 virus strain, showing it to be safe and provoking an immune response. In a phase 1 clinical trial, participants receiving high doses of the vaccine had a 100% positive immune response rate.
Researchers created a CRISPR system that recognizes and cuts the HIV virus, effectively inactivating it. The technology has shown success in both treating active infections and removing dormant copies of the virus from cells.
Scientists at the Gladstone Institutes found that HIV remains active as infected cells transition to rest, controlled by the virus's Tat protein. This independent control allows the virus to survive even if host cells are inactive, making it harder to cure the infection.
Researchers from Gladstone Institutes challenge conventional theory on HIV latency, proposing it's an evolutionarily advantageous survival tactic. The study reveals the virus controls its own on/off switch through protein Tat, enabling it to evade eradication by antiretroviral therapies.
A collaborative team identified mechanisms involved in antibody response to the Marburg virus by studying a survivor's blood. The study reveals that the human immune system can effectively fight Marburg virus infections by producing antibodies.
A Scripps Research Institute team has discovered an antibody that can target both Marburg and Ebola viruses, paving the way for new treatment options. The antibody works by binding to a vulnerable site on the virus's surface, preventing it from entering human cells.
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.
A potent dengue-neutralizing antibody, 5J7, has been identified with a tiny amount needed to stop the infection of dengue serotype 3 virus (DENV-3). This breakthrough finding offers hope for developing effective dengue treatments.
Researchers found that targeting a single protein, VP24, was sufficient to protect monkeys from Ebola virus infection. The medication, AVI-7537, also reduced viral load and liver/kidney damage in infected animals.
Research by Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics has made a significant breakthrough in tackling the human parainfluenza virus, which causes respiratory infections such as croup and pneumonia. The team has demonstrated how the virus engages specific sugars to spread and cause infection.
The Liberia-NIH partnership is conducting a Phase 2/3 study to test the safety and efficacy of two experimental vaccines against Ebola virus infection. The trial will enroll approximately 27,000 healthy adults and those at high risk of infection, and will provide crucial information on potential countermeasures for future outbreaks.
Researchers investigated Ebola's deadly nature, discovering that genetic changes enable the virus to become more severe with each transmission. The study sheds light on the evolutionary goal of Ebola virus to become more lethal, informing future treatment strategies.
Researchers found that the common cold virus, rhinovirus, replicates more efficiently in cooler temperatures, such as inside the nose. The study suggests that lower body temperature impairs the innate immune response to the virus, making it easier for the virus to replicate.
A study found that changes in the H9N2 flu virus in chickens may have contributed to the creation of the H7N9 avian virus, which has caused outbreaks and deaths since 2013. The research suggests tracking genetic diversity of H9N2 on poultry farms could provide an early warning of emerging viruses with pandemic potential.
A new study by University of Notre Dame researchers found that the most abundant protein in the Ebola virus, VP40, mediates replication and interacts with human cell lipids. This discovery may lead to novel therapeutics for combating Ebola.
A new study found an effective treatment approach to inhibit latent herpes simplex viruses from reactivating and causing disease. The research used existing drugs, such as tranylcypromine, to block proteins involved in viral replication, reducing symptoms and shedding of the virus.
Researchers have created a new mouse model that allows them to study human glia in live animals, enabling the development of potential treatments for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The study found that the JC virus targets astrocytes, leading to inflammation and cell death, which can trigger PML.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified vulnerable sites on the surface of Ebola virus that are targeted by the antibodies in ZMapp, a drug cocktail administered to patients during the 2014 outbreak. The study provides insights into how ZMapp works and suggests strategies to improve it.
A genomic analysis of a newly discovered virus prevalent in symptomatic sea stars has linked Sea Star Associated Densovirus to the devastating wasting disease, potentially triggering an unprecedented ecological upheaval. The research lays the groundwork for understanding how the virus kills sea stars and what triggers outbreaks.
Researchers discovered flu virus exploits aggresome, a cellular waste bundle, to release genetic material. The process takes 20-30 minutes and is gradual, with the virus tricking the waste pickup and disposal system.
The Scripps Research Institute team is investigating the deadly Lassa fever virus with a $6.6 million NIH grant. The five-year study aims to understand how the immune system fights off the virus and develops new treatments for the disease. Researchers will analyze cells, chemicals, and genetics of patients to uncover key findings.
Researchers at Lund University have discovered that viruses can convert their solid DNA to a liquid form, making it easier to infect cells. This temperature-dependent phase transition could lead to the development of new medicines targeting virus DNA, potentially reducing infection capability and spreading.
Researchers have successfully tested a new vaccine regimen that provides rapid protection against Ebola virus in monkeys, with some animals remaining protected for up to 10 months after vaccination. The experimental ChAd3 Ebola vaccine demonstrated strong immune responses in both single-dose and prime-boost regimens.
Researchers found the avian H3N8 flu virus, which killed harbor seals, can spread through respiratory droplets and pose a threat to humans. Human immunity to the virus is lacking, raising concerns about possible person-to-person airborne spread.
Researchers have identified a potential therapeutic approach against Ebola virus infection by targeting cellular proteins critical for the virus's functions. Oubain, a drug previously used to treat heart disease, has been shown to reduce virus replication in infected cells.
A new virus-like particle vaccine has shown promising results in a human trial, generating antibodies that provide long-term protection against chikungunya. The vaccine, composed of non-infectious VLP particles, was well-tolerated and effective across different doses.
Researchers found that the HIV virus's outer envelope is mistaken for bacterial antigens by the immune system, leading to ineffective antibodies. The study suggests a new hypothesis for how HIV vaccine development could be improved by targeting the gut flora.
Researchers found that cells are constantly fighting herpes virus, even in dormant phase, leading to potential new treatments. The study used genetically modified cells and viruses to measure virus activity, revealing varying levels of infection across different cells.