Articles tagged with Viral Infections
A novel avian influenza virus has infected and killed harbor seals in New England, with the majority being infants under 6 months old. The research, published in mBio, reveals that the virus descended from an avian strain circulating in North American waterfowl since 2002.
A new strain of influenza virus found in harbor seals has adaptations to living in mammals and may pose a threat to human health. The virus's ability to target a receptor found in the human respiratory tract raises concerns about its potential to cause severe disease.
Scientists identify key players in the infection warning system within living cells, enhancing the body's defenses against viruses. RIG-I-like receptors and 14-3-3 epsilon protein interactions play a crucial role in detecting viral RNA and triggering an immune response.
A UNC-led team studied 2228 Kenyan men and found no evidence of HPV type competition after vaccination. The study suggests that different HPV types act independently, making it unlikely for type-replacement to occur following large-scale vaccination programs.
Researchers found that silymarin supplements did not improve liver function or reduce symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant chronic hepatitis C. The study suggests that alternative treatments may be needed for this disease, which affects nearly 3% of the global population.
A pilot study found that adding vitamin B12 to standard hepatitis C virus treatment significantly boosts the body's ability to keep the virus at bay, especially in patients with genotype 1 HCV or high viral loads. The treatment strengthened the rate of sustained viral response by 34%.
A recent study suggests that CD4+ T helper cells play a crucial role in controlling hepatitis A virus infection by suppressing virus growth without causing liver damage. This finding may explain why some patients relapse after clearing the infection.
Researchers have identified two viruses that infect symbiotic microalgae essential for coral growth and health. The presence of these viruses could be a contributing factor to the decline of coral reefs worldwide. Corals face various environmental threats, including warming temperatures, competition, and pollution.
Research from the University of Melbourne found that two different vaccine viruses used simultaneously to control infectious laryngotracheitis in chickens combined to produce new infectious viruses, resulting in disease outbreaks. The new strains caused more severe disease and replicated at higher levels than the parent vaccine strains.
Einstein researchers will investigate NPC1's role in infection within different species, including bats and rodents. The study aims to pinpoint possible targets for antiviral drugs designed to combat Ebola.
Researchers found that prions can accumulate in the gut and infect the autonomic nervous system (ANS) before affecting the central nervous system (CNS). The study identified three possible routes for BSE prion ascension to the brain, shedding light on the pathogenesis of the disease.
EP67, a powerful synthetic protein, is able to activate the innate immune system within two hours of administration, preventing flu symptoms. The study found that EP67 functions similarly across different flu strains, offering a promising alternative to traditional vaccines.
West Nile virus infection causes breakdown of two vital proteins, claudin and JAM, leading to accelerated degradation of the blood-brain barrier. Researchers hope to design drugs that prevent brain infection by understanding this mechanism.
The new FMD vaccine is a molecular vaccine that does not use live FMD virus, allowing for differentiation between vaccinated and infected animals. This breakthrough could significantly reduce the economic impact of FMD outbreaks in the US, with potential cost savings estimated to exceed $50 billion.
A collaboration between US research centers highlights three disease characteristics that determine whether an outbreak becomes a serious epidemic: pre-symptom transmission, reproductive number, and disease stage length. Simulation models demonstrate that current response plans may underestimate consequences significantly.
Researchers developed mathematical models to investigate viral control factors, revealing that innate immune responses, such as natural killer cells and interferon, explain the initial rapid decline and subsequent second peak of viral levels. Ultimately, the adaptive immune response is necessary for eventual viral clearance.
A new study found that the number of viruses involved in a flu infection impacts the immune response, with high-dose infections generating stronger immunity and increased protection against reinfection. This discovery could lead to improved vaccine design and broader protection against emerging flu strains.
Researchers discovered a new gene in the influenza virus that helps control the body's response to infection, reducing the impact of the disease. The PA-X gene was found to be active in mice infected with flu, leading to recovery, while its malfunction led to an overactive immune system and worsened infections.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a method to measure the rate of DNA transfer from viruses to bacteria. They found that the amount of genetic material within the bacterial cells determines how quickly the bacteriophage's DNA is transferred, not the pressure in the virus itself.
University of Texas Medical Branch researchers developed a more effective Rift Valley fever vaccine by removing the NSs gene and introducing a dominant negative PKR, improving immune response in large animals and health workers. The new vaccine strain offers enhanced differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals.
Researchers at Aarhus University have discovered a new immune alarm signal that triggers the human immune system before a virus attack. This knowledge may lead to more efficient vaccines and better treatment of recurrent infections, potentially reducing the risk of diseases like AIDS, hepatitis, influenza, and cold sores.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that avian H5N1 influenza viruses could potentially acquire mutations necessary for airborne transmission in nature. The study suggests that with as few as five mutations, or four mutations plus reassortment, these viruses can become airborne transmissible between mammals and humans.
Researchers found that feeding mice house dust from dog-holding homes protected them against a common respiratory virus, RSV. The study suggests that microbes in the dust may modulate immune responses and protect against the virus.
A new study published in Immunity reveals that commensal bacteria play a vital role in fighting off viral infections. The research found that signals from these beneficial microbes are essential for optimal immune responses to experimental viral infections, and their absence can lead to impaired antiviral immunity.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas have identified three viruses that target the bacteria causing American Foulbrood Disease in honeybees. The discovery offers hope for a new treatment to replace current methods that involve burning infected hives and could help save millions of bees.
A new study suggests that chronic hepatitis B virus infection may be as high as 2.2 million cases in the US, with foreign-born individuals contributing significantly to this burden. The prevalence is higher than previously reported and affects up to 400 million individuals worldwide.
The study found that local variation in neighborhood immunity significantly alters the risk of dengue infection, even in highly mobile and dense urban populations. Infection with dengue provides lifelong immunity to the infecting serotype, but susceptibility returns, increasing the risk for severe disease.
A new study from researchers in the Netherlands found no association between viral infections during infancy and later childhood wheezing symptoms. However, children with reduced neonatal lung function were more prone to experience wheezing during viral infections.
Researchers found that patients taking oral acne medications like Accutane or Roaccutane doubled their risk of developing conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. Using artificial tears or eye drops can help minimize this risk and prevent long-term damage.
A study published in PLoS Pathogens found that the rabies virus evolves nearly four times faster in tropical bats than in temperate bats. The rate of evolution depends on the bat's ecological traits, including its geographical location and behavior.
Babies with a robust innate immune response have fewer respiratory illnesses in their first year, while those with a diminished response experience more infections. Researchers measured interferon-gamma levels in umbilical cord blood samples to identify potential indicators of viral infection.
Researchers use molecular signatures to detect mutated virus strains, identifying characteristic changes in cells. The technique helps predict the severity of infection and assess potential impact on health.
Researchers from A*STAR identified the molecular switch Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) that triggers innate immunity and activates potent virus killers, enabling effective responses to dengue and influenza viruses. The discovery paves the way for developing anti-viral drugs targeting BTK.
An investigation found that a reusable open-top grocery bag stored in a hotel bathroom contaminated with norovirus aerosol led to an outbreak among 17 girls and their chaperones attending a soccer tournament. Proper disinfection of areas and use of multiple bathrooms can help limit outbreaks.
New estimates suggest that around 16% of all cancers worldwide are infection-related, with a significant disparity between developed and developing countries. Infection-related cancers are largely preventable, particularly those associated with human papillomaviruses, Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B and C viruses.
A study published in Nature shows that relatively few amino acid mutations enable avian H5N1 influenza virus to transmit in mammals. This breakthrough has significant public health benefits and contributes to understanding the pathogen's transmission dynamics.
Research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that vitamin D supplementation can strengthen innate immunity against viral infections. The study found that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with impaired immune function and lower levels of toll-like receptor 7, which regulates immune responses to viruses.
Researchers discover small molecule inhibitors that protect a tumor-suppressing protein targeted by viral proteins, killing infected cells. The inhibitors work by binding to the protein itself, allowing it to trigger normal cell division without disrupting the effect of HPV.
A study revealed that ancient viruses, which infected ancestors as far back as the age of dinosaurs, became widespread in mammals' genomes due to a loss of cell infectivity. This led to a dramatic increase in viral genetic material, resembling the spread of 'superspreaders' during epidemic outbreaks.
University of Missouri veterinarian Leah Cohn has discovered an effective treatment for cytauxzoonosis, a deadly feline disease spread by Lone Star ticks. The treatment has been shown to save about 60 percent of infected cats, offering new hope for cat owners nationwide.
Baylor College of Medicine researchers found that the P[14] strain of rotavirus uses the histo-blood group antigen A as a receptor to infect human cells. Laboratory tests showed that cells with this antigen were easily infected, while those without it were not.
Researcher Timpka investigates how different age groups are affected by the flu, with seasonal epidemics striking hardest in children and elderly. The study also explores theories on why this is the case, including the impact of early-life infections on immunity.
Researchers aim to identify compounds disabling the NS2 protein, crucial for HCV replication, with a novel high-throughput screening test. The goal is to develop chemical tools to study NS2's role in HCV biology and potentially discover new treatments.
Researchers found antibodies that can prevent infection from widely differing strains of HCV in cell culture and animal models. The newly discovered antibodies attach to sites on the viral envelope that seldom mutate, making them promising targets for an HCV vaccine.
Researchers found that infection with gammaherpesvirus 68 significantly reduces lupus symptoms in mice, including decreased antibodies, reduced tissue damage, and inhibited activation of lymphocytes and dendritic cells. The study suggests a possible mechanism for how the virus protects against autoimmunity.
Researchers from the University of Utah School have discovered that IFITM3 contributes to the body's defense against viral infections. The protein plays a critical role in the structural stability and function of vacuolar ATPase (v-ATPase), which regulates cellular waste disposal and pH levels.
A recent study found that dengue virus infection triggers changes in the activity of genes and functions of mosquito salivary glands, which may lead to greater virus transmission. The researchers also identified three salivary gland genes that modulate dengue virus infection and two olfactory genes that help control mosquito behavior.
Researchers found that dengue virus infection of mosquito salivary glands triggered genes involved in immune response, feeding behavior, and odor sensing. This may facilitate the spread of dengue fever to humans by making mosquitoes more efficient at finding and feeding on hosts.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified a number of tiny but powerful genetic regulators that are hijacked by avian and swine flu viruses during human infection. The discovery could reveal new targets for broad-spectrum antivirals to combat current and future strains of influenza A viruses.
A study published by the World Health Organization estimates that 20.1 million individuals were infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 1 and 2 in 2005. This resulted in 3.4 million symptomatic cases, 70,000 deaths, and 3,000 stillbirths, primarily affecting countries in Asia and Africa.
A genetic finding has identified a human gene that influences how we respond to influenza infection. People carrying a particular variant of the IFITM3 gene are more likely to be hospitalized with severe flu symptoms than those with other variants.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how to treat the lethal norovirus, which causes severe gastroenteritis. The study reveals that antibodies can bind to the virus's unique structure, potentially leading to the development of more effective vaccines and treatments.
Research suggests that calorie-restricted diets can impair immune systems and increase mortality in mouse models with colon cancer. The findings contradict previous research on obesity's impact on inflammatory bowel diseases. Further studies are needed to understand the association between body fat percentage and immune responses.
Brain-tumor cells infected with a cancer-killing virus release CCN1, which initiates an antiviral response that reduces viral replication and limits its cytolytic efficacy. This mechanism may help control viral infections and improve oncolytic viral therapy for glioblastoma.
A Stanford researcher used an integrative 'omics' profile to discover and track his own type-2 diabetes onset, demonstrating the potential of personalized medicine. By analyzing his DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, and immune system responses, he was able to identify the disease early and make lifestyle changes to prevent further damage.
The number of US deaths from gastroenteritis increased by 10,000 over eight years, with adults over 65 accounting for most deaths. C. difficile and norovirus were the top infectious causes, with a five-fold increase in C. difficile deaths.
Scientists at A*STAR's Singapore Immunology Network have made significant strides in understanding Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne disease that can cause severe joint pains. Researchers discovered a direct biomarker, IgG3 antibodies, to identify patients at risk of the more severe form of the disease.
US Army researchers have successfully tested antibody-based therapies in monkeys infected with Ebola and Marburg viruses, demonstrating full protection even when treatment was delayed until two days post-infection. This breakthrough provides proof-of-concept for developing filovirus therapies for human use.
Researchers have discovered that an Epstein Barr-like virus can infect dogs and be linked to lymphoma, similar to its effects on humans. The study found that dogs with lymphoma had antibodies against the virus and viral elements in their tumors, indicating a direct association.
Researchers found that blocking PD-1 molecule after antiretroviral therapy interruption can significantly enhance viral control in SIV-infected monkeys. The effect depends on maintaining measurable immune cell response following therapy.