Articles tagged with Viral Rna
A team of researchers led by Ohio University professor Jennifer Hines has uncovered a new class of compounds that can target RNA and disrupt its function. The discovery identified a chemical scaffold that could be used to develop RNA-targeted medicines for various diseases.
Researchers identified 11,378 viroid-like cccRNAs in 4,409 species-level clusters, exceeding previously known elements. These findings reveal viroids are more common and abundant than thought, with distant relatives of human Hepatitis Delta Virus discovered.
Researchers have shed new light on viral genome replication machinery, revealing its intricate structure at atomic resolution. The study, published in PNAS, provides essential insights into the assembly, dynamic operation, and potential therapeutic targets of this complex machine.
A new study uses serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography to reveal the structure of NendoU protein at room temperature. The resulting high-resolution image shows that the protein's flexibility plays a crucial role in its functional mechanism, which is essential for designing antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers at Cambridge University have successfully created artificial enzymes, known as XNAzymes, that can target and destroy the genetic code of SARS-CoV-2, a promising approach to develop new antiviral drugs. The engineered enzymes are highly specific and can be programmed to attack mutated RNAs involved in cancer or other diseases.
Researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 increases methylation of host cell RNA, which can help the virus evade the immune system. This discovery provides insights into how different variants escape immunity and offers potential avenues for novel COVID-19 treatments.
Researchers investigated Aicardi-Goutières syndrome and found that viral RNA recognition drives uncontrolled interferon production. The immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells due to the failure of safety mechanisms to distinguish between viral and host genetic material.
A study found that 60% of healthcare workers tested positive for COVID with antigen tests after five days and 50% were positive after seven days. Antigen tests are a better proxy for indicating infectiousness than PCR tests.
Researchers have reverse-engineered a virus linked to chronic kidney disease in cats and described its mechanism of infection. The feline morbillivirus, or FeMV, can spread from host to host through urine, similar to the zoonotic Nipah virus.
Researchers discovered over 2.5 million novel RNA virus sequences in diverse metatranscriptomes, revealing new phyla and classes of bacteria-infecting viruses. This expansion significantly increases known RNA virus diversity, shedding light on their evolution.
The Independent Task Force Report emphasizes the need for a One Health approach to prevent or respond adequately to the next pandemic. Key findings highlight the importance of 'Smart Surveillance' to identify high-threat pathogens and invest in R&D for innovative diagnostics, antiviral strategies, and therapeutic research.
Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute discover new class of immunostimulatory dsRNAs that potently induce IFN-I production while limiting inflammation. The dsRNAs inhibit pandemic viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, in mouse and human Organ Chip models.
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside successfully modeled the formation of SARS-CoV-2 using coarse-grained models, revealing key ingredients and components contributing to its packaging. The study could inform the design of effective antiviral drugs to arrest coronaviruses in their assembly stage.
Researchers have discovered that two distantly related RNA viruses perform chemical choreography in strikingly similar ways, forming a symmetrical icosahedral shell. This finding has potential applications in improving pharmaceutical delivery and engineering, as well as understanding protein folding mechanisms.
A new point-of-care diagnostic device combines CRISPR with electrochemical sensing to track COVID-19 infections' course via saliva. The device can simultaneously detect both SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional lab tests.
Scientists at UC Berkeley develop a new COVID-19 therapeutic using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that target a conserved region of the viral genome. The treatment is highly effective in preventing and treating COVID-19 infections in human cells and animal models, with no significant immune response.
Researchers developed a SARS-CoV-2 saliva assay and prototype device combining speed, ease, and high sensitivity. The SLIDE device detects viral RNA in saliva within 45 minutes, comparable to traditional RT-PCR methods.
A multicenter study found mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 N protein associated with increased viral loads and severe disease symptoms. The changes enabled the virus to hijack host cell translation machinery, leading to a life-threatening cytokine storm.
Scientists have discovered more than 130,000 new RNA viruses using a new computer tool that analyzed 5.7 million biological samples collected globally. The discovery represents a tenfold increase in the number of viral RNA species described to date.
A new portable $51 testing kit can provide fast and reliable COVID-19 detection in resource-poor regions, refugee camps, and disaster zones. The non-invasive saliva sampling system uses a technique similar to PCR testing, with costs comparable to commercial tests.
A novel quantum-based sensor has been developed to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus with high accuracy and speed. The sensor uses nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond to detect minute perturbations in the presence of viral RNA, enabling fast and reliable detection.
Researchers discovered that HIV chooses its viral RNA genome based on a two-nucleotide difference, which could be targeted by new drugs. This finding has implications for future HIV treatments and is an important scientific step towards understanding the virus's replication process.
Researchers developed an RNA-based breath test called the Bubbler that can detect SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled breath, revealing a more direct indicator of current infection. The test also provides additional information on viral load and strain identity.
Researchers have uncovered how a viral RNA changes shape to hijack host proteins, revealing the role of cryogenic electron microscopy in making this discovery possible. The study highlights the emerging power of cryo-EM to visualize multifunctional dynamic RNA structures.
Scientists are using peptide nucleic acids to study SARS-CoV-2 RNA pseudoknots, a crucial mechanism for viral replication and translation. Understanding this process could lead to new methods to disrupt it, potentially leading to more effective treatments.
Scientists have identified the molecular origins of recombination in RNA viruses, a process that can lead to the emergence of new variants. The study reveals a new class of antiviral drugs that target this mechanism, but warns of potential risks when used in large quantities.
Researchers at Osaka University studied mice with mutations in ADAR1 and found that impaired Z-RNA recognition contributed to abnormal growth, organ development, and chronic inflammation. This study highlights the importance of proper RNA editing and its relation to Aicardi-Goutières syndrome.
Researchers at the National Eye Institute developed a new sample preparation method to detect SARS-Cov-2, simplifying purification and potentially reducing test time and cost. The method uses a chelating agent to preserve RNA in samples, allowing for direct detection and increasing sensitivity.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute elucidated the molecular mechanism of Molnupiravir, an antiviral agent that reduces Sars-CoV-2 coronavirus transmission. By incorporating RNA-like building blocks into the virus genome, Molnupiravir prevents further replication and transmission.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham have confirmed a novel COVID-19 testing method called RTF-EXPAR that is highly sensitive and fast, giving results in under 10 minutes even at low viral levels. The test was shown to be equivalent to PCR and LAMP tests but faster.
Researchers discover a new way for an antiviral enzyme to detect and destroy viruses that hide inside cell membranes. The OAS1 p46 isoform enhances the immune response against SARS-CoV-2, flaviviruses, and other RNA viruses.
The iSCAN test kit combines virus amplification with a CRISPR-Cas system for effective SARS-CoV-2 detection. It can be completed in under an hour and requires locally manufactured reagents.
DNA nanoswitches rapidly detect SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging viruses, including Zika and Dengue viruses. The low-cost platform can be performed within hours and provides a solution for resource-limited areas.
Scientists have developed a technique that can detect and quantify viral RNA in living cells, as well as minor changes in RNA sequences. This could help identify superspreaders and understand how viruses evolve to become more infectious.
Scientists have discovered a simple and ingenious strategy used by the Zika virus to protect important parts of its genome from host cell defence mechanisms. The virus uses an automatic umbrella-like mechanism, where one end of the viral RNA strand is protected while the other is not, allowing it to replicate efficiently.
Scientists have generated near atomic resolution images of a viral protein complex responsible for replicating the RNA genome of positive-strand RNA viruses. The results provide mechanistic insights into the virus life cycle and aid development of new antivirals.
Researchers have created a faster and more accurate COVID-19 test using plasmonic photothermal sensing, detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in minutes. The test can discriminate between SARS-CoV-2 and its close relative, reducing false-positive results.
A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) evades detection by the zinc-finger antiviral protein ZAP. Researchers found that HIV's RNA has evolved to mimic a specific sequence, allowing it to dodge ZAP's binding ability.
Researchers have developed a way to detect cells infected with chikungunya virus that survive the infection, shedding light on the cause of chronic viral arthritis. The study found that the virus can persist in muscle and connective tissue cells for up to 114 days after infection.
Researchers discovered a new protein called KHNYN that works together with the known virus-killing protein ZAP to target viral genomes and destroy viruses. This natural antiviral system has potential applications in developing new vaccines and treatments for cancer.
Scientists have discovered a molecular cause of rare autoimmune disorders, including Singleton-Merten syndrome and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. Mistakes in RNA proofreading lead to improper interferon signaling, triggering autoimmunity.
Mayo Clinic researchers find that viruses can hijack the ADAR1 enzyme to avoid immune detection, but at a threshold of 1,000 double-stranded RNA molecules. This discovery offers hope for new antiviral therapies targeting ADAR1.
Researchers at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School identified a crucial step in the immune system's defense against viruses, which also sheds light on autoimmune disorders. The study found that an immune receptor called RIG-I 'flutters' to detect viral RNAs, triggering an antiviral response.
A study by German Center for Infection Research scientists found that molecular diagnostic tests for the Zika virus in Brazil were not always reliable, resulting in false-positive or false-negative results. This highlights the need for reliable diagnostics to prevent fatal consequences and inform preventive measures.
A deadly tick-borne virus uses the host neuron's transportation system to move its RNA, resulting in local reproduction of the virus and severe neurological symptoms. The unique virus-host interaction reveals a pivotal non-coding sequence that hijacks the neuronal granule system.
A study published in the Journal of Virological Methods found that Bio-Rad's Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) technology significantly increases the sensitivity and precision of mutation abundance quantification when compared to RT-qPCR. This makes it an ideal tool for detecting viral RNA mutations in clinical samples.
Researchers have found that the Ebola virus uses a protein called VP35 to remove its genetic material's protective coat, allowing it to replicate. Disrupting this process could potentially stop the spread of the disease.
An international team of researchers from the University of Bonn Hospital and the London Research Institute have now discovered that our immunosensory system attacks viruses on a molecular level. This means a healthy organism can keep rotaviruses, a common cause of diarrheal epidemics, at bay.
Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have solved a biochemical mystery surrounding viral RNA molecules. The study reveals how these molecules mimic cellular RNAs as part of their strategy to infect cells and multiply, offering insights into potential treatments or vaccines against infectious diseases.
Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München have identified the structural features that enable the innate immune system to distinguish viral from host RNAs. The RIG-I like receptors (RLRs) recognize specific patterns in viral RNAs, which differ from endogenous cellular RNAs.
The human immune system uses enzymes like ADAR1 to modify viral genetic information, rendering it useless for new virus particles. The study reveals how the cell protects itself from accidental import of viral RNA into the nucleus.
Researchers discovered a stem-loop structure in viral RNA that blocks host cell immune proteins, allowing viruses to evade the immune system. By altering this structure, scientists hope to develop treatments that restore natural virus-fighting capabilities and stop or slow viral infections.
The IFIT protein recognizes foreign viral RNA and blocks viral infections by acting as a defender molecule. The discovery reveals the molecular mechanism behind how IFIT proteins capture only the viral RNA and distinguish it from normal molecules belonging to the host.
Researchers at University of Leeds discover crucial stage in virus lifecycle where RNA folds to fit into protein shell. This process could lead to novel anti-viral drugs less susceptible to resistance.
Scientists at EMBL have discovered how a protein called RIG-I sounds the alarm when it detects viral RNA, triggering an immune response. The study sheds light on how cells rapidly respond to various viruses, including influenza and hepatitis.
Researchers at Rutgers and UMDNJ have determined the structure of a protein that recognizes viral RNA, providing unprecedented insight into fighting viral infections. This discovery could lead to the development of broad-based drug therapies to combat viral infections such as influenza, hepatitis C, and measles.
Penn State researchers discovered that retroviruses like HIV take a detour through the cell nucleus before assembling new virus particles. Understanding this process could enable the development of drugs to stop the spread of infection.
A team of biochemists has identified the molecular mechanism by which an immune response is triggered by invading viruses, according to recent research. The results could lead to new therapies for viral infections, including the common cold and hepatitis. By understanding how the immune system recognizes viral RNA at the atomic level, ...
A widely used virus assay has been shown to be inaccurate in detecting and measuring replicating viral RNA. Researchers at Virginia Tech developed a novel assay that detects anti-genomic copies of the viral genome, which is more accurate than existing methods.
Researchers uncover how certain types of viral RNA pairs trigger an enzyme called protein kinase R (PKR) to inhibit viral production. PKR recognizes double-stranded RNAs and stops protein synthesis in infected cells, ultimately causing cell death.