Articles tagged with Influenza Viruses
Researchers discovered atomic-resolution structure of BM2, a key influenza B protein. This finding helps design drugs to block the protein and prevent viral spread. The study also revealed unique structural differences between influenza A and B proteins.
A new study published in PLoS Pathogens found that a person's ability to fight off the flu virus is determined by the sequence of flu viruses they've been infected with throughout their lives. The study also revealed that people who were first exposed to the less severe H1N1 strain during childhood had extra protection against H3N2 lat...
A new antiviral compound based on a protein found in bananas has been shown to safely protect against multiple strains of the influenza virus in mice, with over 80% survival rate. The compound also shows promise against Ebola, HIV and other deadly viruses, including a synergistic effect with Tamiflu.
Researchers developed a novel nanoparticle vaccine that combines M2e and NA proteins, providing strong cross-protection against six different influenza virus strains. The vaccine offers potential as a universal flu vaccine or component of such vaccines.
A new study by UK researchers found that people with one virus are less likely to catch another common cold-causing virus. The interaction is thought to occur both at an individual and population level, which could help improve forecasting models and disease control strategies.
A new study from Yale University finds that a ketogenic diet can enhance the body's natural response to influenza by activating gamma delta T cells, which produce mucus in lung cell linings. The research suggests that the way the body burns fat may fuel the immune system's ability to fight flu infection.
Researchers have isolated three broadly protective human antibodies targeting the influenza virus neuraminidase protein, providing strong protection against various strains in vitro and mice. These antibodies could inform the development of new antiviral treatments and HA-based vaccines with longer-lasting immunity.
A clinical trial is recruiting volunteers aged 18-50 to be deliberately infected with influenza virus under controlled conditions. The study aims to assess the impact of pre-existing antibodies on flu symptoms, fever and muscle aches. Volunteers will undergo follow-up clinic visits for up to 90 days after challenge.
A new antiviral drug blocks RNA polymerase, inducing mutations in the genetic material of the influenza virus and rendering it nonfunctional. The study found the drug to be highly efficacious against various strains of the flu, including seasonal and pandemic viruses.
Researchers at Mount Sinai develop a novel vaccine using chimeric hemagglutinin, inducing broad antibody responses against human and avian influenza viruses. The study shows promise for a universal flu vaccine, but interim results indicate further work is needed.
New insights into the influenza virus polymerase have revealed that its subunits co-evolve to guarantee proper levels of dimerization and optimal inter-subunit cooperation. This finding has significant implications for the development of novel antiviral drugs targeting viral RNA replication.
The NIH has initiated a collaborative influenza vaccine research network to develop more durable and broadly protective vaccines. The CIVICs program will support the development of universal influenza vaccines with longer-lasting protection against a wider variety of influenza viruses.
Researchers found that bat influenza viruses acquire specific amino acid mutations in hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), enabling NA-independent growth. These changes facilitate viral spread without relying on the HA protein.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that the M gene segment of influenza A virus restricts growth and transmission in human hosts. Excess production of the M2 protein resulting from avian-derived M segments interferes with cellular functions, highlighting the critical role of M segment gene expression in host adaptation.
Scientists have created a microneedle patch based on snake fangs that can deliver therapeutic liquids and vaccines through the skin of rodents in under 15 seconds. The device uses capillary action to bypass pumping systems, making it an attractive alternative for simple and pain-free drug delivery.
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.
Dr. Baozhong Wang is developing a multivalent layered nanocluster vaccine that can act against multiple influenza virus strains, using conserved antigenic proteins from both A and B viruses. The goal is to induce broadly reactive immune responses providing cross-protection against both influenza A and B viruses.
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.
The study found that acidic environments make the HA0 molecule flatter and more circular, inducing conformational changes. The researchers used high-speed atomic force microscopy to visualize the structure of HA0 in real-time, paving the way for developing therapeutic approaches against influenza A viruses.
Researchers have discovered a human antibody that recognizes and disrupts a vulnerable region on the hemagglutinin protein of the influenza virus. This breakthrough could lead to the development of effective vaccines against multiple strains of the virus, potentially eliminating the need for annual seasonal flu vaccination.
Researchers have gained insight into how influenza A virus particles utilize the balance between HA and NA proteins to penetrate host mucus barriers. The proteins are organized asymmetrically, enabling persistent directional motion that allows the virus to effectively overcome its first line of defense.
Exposure to low humidity impairs airway tissue repair, mucociliary clearance, and innate antiviral defenses in mice infected with the influenza virus. This study suggests that controlling relative humidity may be important for preventing influenza infection and disease symptoms during winter.
The FDA has cleared InDevR's FluChip-8G Influenza A+B Assay, enabling the detection of non-seasonal and seasonal influenza viruses in a single multiplexed assay. This technology can identify emerging strains like H7N9 and H5N1 with high accuracy.
Researchers at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia have identified a new mechanism for assembling influenza A virus genomes within infected cells. The study reveals that viral-induced compartments called 'viral inclusions' use liquid-liquid phase separation to segregate and assemble the eight distinct parts of the genetic material.
The NIH has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immune response of an experimental universal influenza vaccine candidate. The vaccine, known as H1ssF_3928, is designed to induce immunity against diverse influenza subtypes by focusing on a portion of the virus that varies relatively little from strain to strain.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified a promising small molecule that targets the HA stem of influenza A group 1 viruses, demonstrating effectiveness against seasonal and pandemic strains in mice. The orally active compound, JNJ-4796, has the potential to be used as a treatment for flu sickness.
A new study reveals that a diet rich in birds is the key factor driving influenza A virus exposure in wild African mammals. Herbivores showed low prevalence and diversity, while carnivores had the highest diversity and prevalence.
Scientists have identified a novel infection route for influenza A viruses, utilizing MHC class II proteins to infect human and animal cells. This discovery raises questions about the risk of spill-over infections to other species and the evolutionary genesis of influenza viruses.
A researcher at Georgia State University has received a $3.86 million grant to develop a universal flu vaccine using a microneedle patch that can protect against any strain of the influenza virus. The vaccine aims to induce strong cross-immune protection and overcomes seasonal flu limitations, which have been ineffective in recent years.
Researchers have discovered that bat influenza viruses can infect humans and livestock by using the MHC-II molecule to enter host cells. This finding suggests that these viruses have the potential to cause zoonotic transmission, leading to serious illnesses and deaths.
Researchers sequenced avian influenza viruses from wild birds in Mongolia and found that they replicate in horse respiratory tracts without causing tissue damage. The study suggests that equine infections by avian viruses are more common than thought, with the failure to acquire key genetic changes being the main barrier to disease eme...
Research in mice at the University of Tokyo found that heat waves can reduce the body's immune response to flu. However, providing supplemental nutrition before and after infection can help restore normal immune function. The study suggests that food insecurity may weaken the immune system, making people more susceptible to illness.
A study found that NPY enhances pulmonary inflammation and viral replication in severe influenza virus infection, leading to poorer outcomes. Deletion of NPY improved survival rates and reduced disease pathology in infected mice.
Researchers found that influenza virus impairs immune response to pneumococcus, especially monocyte activity. The study identified a key cellular mechanism controlling pneumococci proliferation and movement from nose to lungs.
A new study found that underweight and morbidly obese individuals are at an elevated risk of hospitalization with influenza-like illness. The risk follows a 'U' shaped curve, indicating those at both extremes have a higher likelihood of developing severe symptoms.
Researchers are collaborating with AFRIMS to test FluChip-8G Insight system for rapid characterization of influenza virus subtype from human and animal-origin samples. The system has been installed at AFRIMS sites in Bangkok, Kathmandu, and Manila, and will conduct side-by-side performance comparison with real-time RT-PCR assays.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a novel nanopore-based sensor that can detect individual influenza virions with high accuracy. The sensor uses artificial intelligence to identify distinct physical features of the virus, making it suitable for point-of-care screening without specialized expertise.
Researchers at Griffith University have discovered specific sugar molecules that bind to the respiratory tract, allowing influenza viruses like H5N1 to infect humans. This knowledge could lead to the development of novel anti-influenza drugs to prevent human infection.
The FluChip-8G test promises to reduce influenza A and B characterization times from two weeks to eight hours. The study uses the test alongside standardized WHO/CDC rRT-PCR tests, employing specimens collected from various locations including Vietnam, Malaysia, and the US.
Researchers have identified two small-molecule experimental inhibitors that target the influenza protein NS1, which plays a crucial role in blocking the body's immune response. The study's findings provide strong evidence for the mechanism of action of these compounds and offer significant structural insights into NS1.
Researchers have generated a new anti-flu antibody that offers long-lasting protection from various influenza viruses. The approach shows promise as a preventative measure for vulnerable populations like the elderly or immunocompromised.
Researchers have identified two compounds with better antiviral properties than oseltamivir, effective against both drug-resistant and sensitive strains of influenza A. These compounds target the AM2 protein with the S31N mutation, a key site of resistance in most influenza A viruses.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have demonstrated pre-clinical success for a universal flu vaccine by identifying regions of limited variability in the influenza virus. The vaccine targets these regions, which are targeted by the immune system and can induce cross-reactivity to historical strains.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have made a groundbreaking discovery about the influenza virus, finding that its replication rate differs significantly between various cell types. The study reveals that certain cells are protected from severe infection, while others remain vulnerable to viral damage.
A synthetic DNA vaccine has been shown to produce broad immune responses against diverse H3N2 viruses, which have led to high morbidity and mortality in recent years. The vaccine was found to be more effective than traditional vaccines in protecting mice from lethal influenza A infection.
Scientists have discovered how enveloped viruses, such as HIV and influenza, undergo critical structural changes before infecting host cells. The study used nano-infrared spectroscopic imaging to examine the virus's behavior in simulated cell environments and identified an antiviral compound that can block these changes.
A multi-year study of Nicaraguan households found that obesity extends the duration of influenza A virus shedding from infected adults by approximately 1.5 days, compared to non-obese adults. Chronic inflammation caused by obesity and increasing age are implicated as reasons for extended viral shedding.
A new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases suggests that obesity may play a role in how the flu spreads. Obese adults infected with flu shed the virus for a longer time than non-obese adults, potentially increasing the opportunity for transmission to others.
A double-layered nanoparticle vaccine made with peptides has been found to effectively protect mice against the influenza A virus. The vaccine triggers immune responses of both B and T lymphocytes, providing broad cross-protection against a wide range of diverse influenza viruses.
Researchers at NIAID developed a 3D model of the 1918 H1 pandemic influenza virus using cryo-electron microscopy. The study found that VLPs are mostly composed of hemagglutinin proteins, influencing vaccine efficacy.
A recent study by the University of Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech found that mucus and airway secretions protect the flu virus when it becomes airborne, regardless of humidity levels. The study refutes previous findings that suggested the virus degrades and is inactivated at higher humidity levels.
Researchers developed a genetic screening tool that identified two key genes, SLC35A1 and CIC, that enable the influenza virus to infect human lung cells. The study found that modifying these genes can make cells resistant to the flu, which could lead to new antiviral drug targets.
Researchers found that influenza vaccines rarely induce antibodies against the neuraminidase protein, while natural infection does. This suggests that vaccines should be optimized to target NA for broad protection against diverse strains.
Two new clinical trials are enrolling volunteers to test an experimental H7N9 influenza vaccine candidate in the US. The Phase 2 studies will evaluate different dosages and vaccination schedules of the inactivated vaccine, as well as an adjuvant to boost immune responses.
Researchers from NIAID highlight the potential of monoclonal antibodies in treating and preventing emerging infectious diseases. These therapies have shown promise in clinical trials, such as the Ebola outbreak, and may offer a more targeted approach to infection prevention and treatment.
A new model forecasts influenza spread based on commuter data, predicting disease onset weeks up to 6 weeks in advance. The method outperforms traditional models when analyzing state-level transmission, offering a promising approach for future outbreak prediction and real-time monitoring.
A chamber design separates airborne influenza particles by size, revealing that ferrets transmit the virus via particles ranging from 15 μm to 1.5 μm before fever onset and after infection. This study provides insights into the efficient transmission ranges for influenza in ferrets.
A new study at WashU Medicine identified specific features of the influenza virus genome that could improve surveillance for pandemic flu. The researchers found that certain strains of the virus require similar genetic material to recombine and create a new hybrid virus.
Researchers developed a universal vaccine to combat influenza A viruses, producing long-lasting immunity in mice and protecting them against seasonal flu vaccines. The nanoparticles target the stalk of the HA protein, offering universal protection against various influenza viruses.
A study by McMaster University researchers found that people born during previous pandemics were at higher risk of dying during subsequent outbreaks. The analysis suggests exposure to pandemic influenza early in life may be a risk factor for mortality.