Articles tagged with Viral Infections
Researchers discovered a spike in Zika cases among travelers returning from Cuba in 2017, which was not reported locally. The study found that mosquito control measures may have initially mitigated transmission but need to be maintained.
Scientists at MLU have developed a new method for vaccinating plants against viruses, enabling rapid identification and production of precisely tailored substances. The new method follows the modular principle, allowing for flexible combat against new pests and improving the efficiency of siRNA molecules.
A recent study by the University of Warwick suggests that national livestock movement bans may be economically damaging in controlling Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and bluetongue virus (BTV). The researchers propose that a more localized movement ban could achieve similar disease control outcomes with lower economic costs.
Researchers found that antibodies generated against the Zika virus itself may contribute to birth defects in some pregnancies. The study suggests that a safe vaccine would need to induce protective antibodies while avoiding those that increase the risk of microcephaly.
New research suggests that the risk of developing microcephaly due to Zika virus infection depends on the types of antibodies produced by pregnant mothers. Antibodies from mothers of babies with microcephaly are more effective at neutralizing the virus, but also show enhanced ability to boost viral entry into human cells.
A new study has gained insights into the mechanism of vaccine-induced T cell immunity, shedding light on the regulation, gene expression, and metabolic pathways of T cells. The discovery of a marker, TfR1, suggests that T cell immunity depends on specific metabolites.
A new study finds that enterovirus antibodies were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of most patients with acute flaccid myelitis, suggesting a possible link between the two conditions. The research provides further evidence that enterovirus infection may be a factor in AFM.
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have identified a molecular switch that impacts immune responses to viral infections, enabling T cells to distinguish between different viruses and controlling protective antibody production. This discovery could lead to more effective vaccines against previously hard-to-prevent viruses.
A team at Colorado State University discovered that Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, a primary vector for West Nile virus, can transmit Rift Valley fever virus to livestock and humans in Colorado. The researchers found that these mosquitoes feed on both humans and livestock, making them a significant threat for potential outbreak.
A new diagnostic approach detects high-risk HPV infection and precancerous markers, improving the ability to diagnose cervical cancer in HPV-positive women. The test has a sensitivity of 97.3% and negative predictive value of 93.8%, making it a promising tool for cervical cancer triage.
ApoE promotes hepatitis B virus infection and production, but targeting it with inhibitors may serve as an antiviral strategy for chronic HBV infection. Research found that apoE is enriched on the virus envelope and its expression impairs HBV production.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology identified the molecular properties of antibodies that neutralize Lassa virus. By understanding these properties, they can create a map for rational vaccine design, aiming to develop effective treatments or vaccines against this deadly disease.
A study explores blood-brain barrier leakage in CNS infections, implicating interferon gamma as a major contributor. Interferon gamma disrupts the barrier by initiating a signaling cascade that changes endothelial cell behavior.
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.
Researchers have identified an unusual hepatitis B virus in shrews, which lacks a key protein essential for chronic infection. This discovery offers new insights into the disease's pathogenesis and may lead to the development of effective treatments.
Scientists have developed an experimental treatment using antisense oligonucleotides that slows the progression of scrapie, a degenerative central nervous disease caused by prions, in laboratory mice. Mice treated with the treatment lived 81% longer than untreated mice, with median survival times of up to 250 days.
Scientists discovered that club lung cells can repair damaged DNA and survive influenza infection, but this resilience may also contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. The findings suggest a double-edged sword in the battle between cells and viruses.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have identified genes that safeguard against Zika viral infection and resuscitate infected cells. The study found that the IFI6 gene provides high levels of protection against the virus, potentially leading to the development of a novel antiviral therapy.
Researchers found that CDC-developed Autocidal Gravid Ovitrap (AGO) traps successfully protected people from chikungunya virus infection in Puerto Rican communities. The study showed a significant reduction in CHIKV seropositivity among participants in intervention areas with AGO traps compared to those without traps.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Indiana University have found that rotavirus induces hundreds of discrete and highly dynamic calcium spikes during peak infection. These spikes can be attenuated by genetically knocking down the virus's NSP4 protein, which disturbs calcium balance within cells.
The USPSTF has reaffirmed its 2009 recommendation to screen for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in pregnant women, identifying infants at risk of acquiring the infection from their mothers. Screening during pregnancy can prevent chronic HBV infection in children who become infected with HBV.
A Rutgers-led study confirms the crucial role of viruses in controlling diatom populations, which produce 20% of Earth's oxygen and store carbon dioxide. Low silicon levels accelerate viral infection, releasing nutrients for recycling by other algae.
Recent advances suggest that plant viruses are not just disease-causing entities, but can also play a significant role in the functioning of diverse ecosystems. Viruses have been found to be present in humans, with around 100,000 pieces of viral DNA elements making up 8% of our genome.
Researchers found that gut microbiota plays a crucial role in fighting off viral infections in the nervous system. A study using mice showed that bacteria-free animals were unable to eliminate viruses and developed paralysis, while those with normal gut bacteria were better protected.
A multicenter study found that antibiotic stewardship interventions can significantly reduce overuse of antibiotics for viral acute respiratory infections. By implementing a bundle of evidence-based strategies, institutions can cut antibiotic overuse by one-third, even among high-performing systems.
The study reveals that the equilibrium between nose microbes and host has an impact on pneumococcal acquisition density, particularly with viral co-infection. Different microbiota constellations are associated with varying levels of inflammation, viral replication, and pneumococcal carriage receptiveness.
Researchers found that gut microbes stimulate antiviral signals in non-immune lung cells to protect against the flu virus during early stages of infection. Enhanced baseline type I interferon signaling reduced flu virus replication and weight loss in mice.
Researchers have detected ranavirus infection in wild bullfrog tadpoles in Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest, linked to declining amphibian populations worldwide. The virus may have spread from frog farms, highlighting the dual threat of invasive species and pathogens.
A potential link between transient cerebral viral infections in early childhood and the development of auto-immune disease has been discovered. The study found that brain-resident memory T cells accumulate at the site of infection, allowing self-reactive cells to access the brain and cause auto-immune brain lesions.
Researchers found that RNA viruses from managed honeybees were transmitted to wild bumblebees through shared floral resources. The study suggests that managing apiaries may exacerbate the decline of vulnerable bumblebee species.
Researchers have discovered the structure of a ring-shaped doorkeeper in the TRPML2 ion channel, which controls its interaction with calcium ions. The pH value determines whether calcium ions can open or block the channel, regulating their transport across cellular membranes.
Researchers recommend moving away from animal models to in vitro and in silico studies using human-mimetic tools for studying deadly mosquito-borne flaviviruses. The emerging technologies will help predict human pathogenesis and drug efficacy, and improve clinical solutions.
A UC Davis study found that educating physicians and patients about safe antibiotic use can reduce overuse by one-third. The study compared two approaches, including educational materials and on-site physician champions, and found significant reductions in inappropriate antibiotic treatment.
A study of Canadian healthcare workers found that 95% attend work while sick, mostly due to mild symptoms or lack of paid sick leave policies. The findings highlight the need for education and policy changes to reduce transmission risk.
A genetic mutation in the IL18BP gene has been identified as a cause of fatal response to hepatitis A infection. Targeting this pathway may prevent liver failure and death from viral infection.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission from mothers to babies can be largely prevented with universal HCV screening in pregnancy. Almost half of women infected with HCV are unaware of their infection, highlighting the need for increased awareness and early detection.
Researchers have developed a human cerebral organoid system, or 'mini-brain,' to study sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and its subtypes. The model enables evaluation of potential therapeutics and provides insights into human prion disease progression.
Researchers have identified an experimental antiviral drug that cures mice infected with Bourbon virus, a deadly tick-borne illness. The drug, favipiravir, inhibits a key protein the virus needs to multiply and has been shown to be effective in treating infected mice in multiple experiments.
Broad-spectrum genomic testing can identify genetic markers that respond to targeted therapies for specific cancer-causing mutations. This technology has connected patients with life-saving clinical trials and medications.
Researchers found that early-season hurricanes result in a 70% increase in disease cases due to stagnant water and disrupted health infrastructure. Mosquito populations boom after heavy rainfall events, putting people at risk of infection.
A unique adjuvant has been identified that can prevent vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease in RSV. The study found that combining this adjuvant with RSV vaccination primes the body for protective immune responses and prevents inflammatory RSV disease after infection.
A study by the University of Exeter found that Varroa destructor mites indirectly increase infection rates among wild bumblebees by spreading deformed wing virus (DWV) through honeybee colonies. This highlights the need for beekeepers to treat their affected colonies.
A new metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) test has been shown to identify infections better than standard clinical methods. The test identified 32 infections in 31 patients, including cases missed by conventional testing, and confirmed diagnoses in 19 cases.
Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München have developed a novel T-cell therapy that can eliminate hepatitis B viruses from the liver, paving the way for a potential cure. The therapy involves genetically modifying patient-specific T cells to recognize and attack infected liver cells, with promising results in a mouse model.
A new study predicts that more than 6 billion people will be at risk of contracting the dengue virus by 2080. The greatest shifts in dengue risk are projected to occur on the African continent, particularly in the Sahel and southern Africa.
Research comparing American, Pacific, and Southeast Asian Zika virus strains found that the American subtype has the highest ability to grow in vitro and in vivo. The strain also caused more testis damage in infected mice, highlighting potential concerns about its pathogenicity.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) suppresses the immune response by triggering SOCS regulators, dulling the normal immune response to viral infection. This allows HCV to survive, replicate and infect other cells, making it undiagnosed for months after initial infection.
Researchers found that people with higher levels of HA stem antibodies are less likely to become infected with influenza virus. The study suggests that the level of HA stem antibodies can be used as an indicator of protection against influenza virus infection.
A study published in Nature Medicine finds that targeting the stalk of the flu virus provides protection against infection. Researchers analyzed naturally occurring influenza cases and found that individuals with higher levels of stalk antibodies had a reduced risk of getting sick, correlating with a 42% reduction in influenza infection.
Researchers discovered that a subset of natural killer cells with high Ly49H receptor levels expanded and remained detectable after the peak immune response, indicating a simple form of immunological memory. This finding could have significant implications for human NKs and their role in CMV infection.
A team at Washington University School of Medicine has created a detailed picture of the chikungunya virus latched onto a protein found on cells in joints. This image promises to accelerate efforts to design drugs and vaccines to prevent or treat arthritis caused by chikungunya or related viruses.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that early access to needle-exchange programs can significantly reduce the risk of hepatitis C infection among people who inject drugs. The program helped prevent the spread of the disease by providing treatment and harm-reducing interventions.
Boosting type 1 interferon production has been shown to clear viral infections and increase immunity against cancer in an animal model. Glycolysis-derived lactate plays a critical role in limiting RLR signaling, which enables the activation of type 1 IFN production.
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.
Research in mice found that breastfeeding can transfer immunity beyond the period of breastfeeding, driven by immune cells rather than antibodies. This protection was transferred from mothers exposed to worm infections before pregnancy and provided lifelong benefits to their infants.
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.
Researchers used cryogenic electron microscopy to visualize the virus's protein shell and its condensed genome, which forms a liquid crystal state. The study sheds light on how viruses replicate and may contribute to tackling viral diseases.
A new study suggests that the Spanish influenza may have emerged in 1915-1916, rather than 1918, and that a vaccine could have been effective in treating it. The study found that the virus likely originated from aquatic geese and ducks, and that it underwent significant mutations before becoming pandemic.
A team of McGill University Health Centre scientists identified a new role for the lipid mediator Leukotriene B4 in regulating the immune response to influenza infection. They found that LTB4 can reduce inflammation and enhance host survival, promising clinical implications for flu treatment.
Researchers from Germany have found that a previous dengue infection can protect against Zika-associated damage. This discovery has important implications for pregnant women, particularly those living in regions with high Zika virus prevalence.