Articles tagged with Viral Pathogenesis
The concept of Persistent Intracellular Extraintestinal Microbes (PIEM) expands human microbiome research to the body's internal tissues, influencing health and disease. PIEM, including latent viruses and bacteria, regulates host physiology over years and decades, affecting immune responses, vascular homeostasis, and chronic diseases.
Researchers at Texas A&M University develop a laser technique called TRIP to directly measure quantum forces shaping proteins, enabling accurate prediction of how pharmaceutical drugs interact with them. This breakthrough could lead to the design of medicines tailored to specific diseases, revolutionizing precision medicine.
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have characterized human antibodies capable of neutralizing measles virus. The new panel of human antibodies may form the basis for future medical therapies against measles infection, with a study showing a 500-fold lower viral load in a rodent model.
The study provides new insight into how the tick-borne virus replicates and matures, with detailed three-dimensional images revealing the virus's interior. The researchers also observed how a small genetic difference between variants affects maturation speeds, paving the way for future treatments against TBE.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center are using a human brain-on-a-chip system to study lethal encephalitis viruses and develop treatments. The chip replicates the function of the human brain, allowing scientists to test antiviral drugs in a more accurate and human-like environment.
Researchers have uncovered how mosquito-borne viruses invade the brain by exploiting specific proteins on blood-brain barrier cells. The study highlights promising molecular targets for future vaccines and antiviral drugs to prevent severe neurological complications.
The team built a high-resolution 3D structure of the Powassan virus, shedding light on its transmission and potential therapeutics. The findings could inform future treatments and preventions for this emerging tick-borne disease.
Researchers have uncovered a key reason why HIV remains difficult to cure, revealing that subtle variations in the Rev-RRE axis influence viral replication and latency reactivation. Understanding this regulatory system could help develop strategies to flush out the dormant virus and eliminate it for good.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology discovered that CD4+ T cells target Chikungunya virus, leading to chronic inflammation and joint pain. The study suggests that these monofunctional T cells may be the culprits behind arthritis-like symptoms in CHIKV patients.
Researchers from La Jolla Institute for Immunology and UC San Diego discover Zika virus blocks dendritic cells' ability to alert T cells, while dengue virus stimulates pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to a stronger but uncontrolled immune response. Understanding these differences is key to developing life-saving vaccines.
A new study aims to characterize the human virome, exploring its role in health and disease. The project will investigate nonpathogenic viruses and their potential impact on human phenotypes over time. Researchers hope to discover novel biomarkers for health and disease, as well as new therapeutic approaches.
A study published in PNAS reveals that ETV5 enhances the expression of osteopontin, leading to the differentiation of T cells into follicular helper cells. In SLE patients, disease activity is proportional to ETV5 and osteopontin levels, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for treating lupus.
Researchers from Osaka University found that influenza-associated brain disorders may be caused by the virus entering the brain and producing proteins. Antivirals blocking protein production are unlikely to be effective, but those targeting transcription and translation may offer hope for treatment.
Researchers found that early antibiotic treatment accelerated recovery in COVID-19 patients. The study used a combination of antibiotics, including amoxicillin and rifaximin, within the first three days of infection. This treatment significantly reduced the risk of long-term COVID symptoms.
Researchers document various reasons for long-term clinical symptoms in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Key findings include immune system alterations, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and mitochondrial issues contributing to post-COVID syndrome.
A review in the Journal of Neurochemistry suggests a link between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease, with age being the largest contributing factor. Emerging evidence may further support this association, with research assessing influences on AD neuropathology.
Research reveals that a healthy gut microbiome can play a role in the acquisition and severity of HIV and EBV infections. The study found that animals colonized with resident microbiota had higher rates of HIV infection and increased viral loads, suggesting that altering the gut microbiota could be a potential therapeutic approach to c...
Two studies investigate long-term consequences of COVID-19, identifying potential drug targets for treating chronic disease. Researchers found novel pathways in the lungs and immune system that may lead to effective treatment options, including therapies targeting immune dysfunction and mucous cell differentiation.
Researchers identified 7 key symptoms of long COVID, including heart issues and joint pain, in a study of 52,461 patients. The findings could help healthcare providers diagnose and treat the condition more effectively.
Researchers have found that hypermucoviscous K pneumoniae strains carry higher rates of virulence genes and are less responsive to conventional drugs. These strains are thicker and stickier than previous strains, making them more challenging to treat with antibiotics.
Researchers found that gut commensal bacteria enhance the pathogenesis of a tumorigenic murine retrovirus by upregulating genes that suppress the immune response. This ability to evade the immune system allows tumors to develop and progress in mice infected with the virus.
Researchers developed a novel, single-dose, intranasal treatment that reduces symptoms and viral shedding of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. The therapeutic interfering particle (TIP) treatment effectively blocks COVID-19 transmission in animal models.
A team of researchers found that two SARS-CoV-2 proteins, NSP6 and ORF7a, are essential for activating the NF-κB pathway, leading to elevated cytokine levels. The study suggests that targeting this pathway may offer a strategy to stop the virus.
A new study by Tokyo University of Science researchers reveals that dendritic cell immunoreceptor (DCIR) plays a crucial role in the development of colorectal tumors. Blocking DCIR may prevent ulcerative colitis and colon cancer, offering a potential therapeutic target for treating these diseases.
Researchers from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital review sarcopenic obesity's impact on liver disease, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. The study aims to clarify the pathogenesis of sarcopenic obesity and identify potential therapeutic avenues.
The study found that the Omicron variant led to less severe disease with lower mortality rates compared to other variants like Alpha, Beta, and Delta. The researchers observed a significant decrease in virus levels, lung inflammation, weight loss, and mortality rate in mice infected with the Omicron variant.
Research found that SARS-CoV-2 relies on human transmembrane proteins, especially IFITM2, to replicate efficiently and produce infectious viruses. Antibodies targeting IFITM2 can protect lung cells from infection, suggesting a promising therapeutic approach by targeting host factors instead of viral ones.
Researchers have found COVID-19 infection in white-tailed deer in six northeast Ohio locations, suggesting the virus may be spreading among wildlife. The study's findings indicate that infected deer can potentially harbor new strains of SARS-CoV-2, complicating human mitigation and control plans.
Researchers at University of Queensland discover koala retrovirus is transmitted from mother to joey through close proximity, highlighting a significant threat to wild koala populations. This finding may lead to re-thinked conservation plans and the use of antiretroviral treatment to prevent transmission.
The Salk Institute's NOMIS Center is expanding its research into health and immunity thanks to a $9.5 million gift from the NOMIS Foundation. The center aims to understand how the immune system interacts with other biological processes to combat diseases such as autoimmunity, cancer, and neurodegeneration.
Researchers engineered a SARS-CoV-2 variant with the D614G substitution to compare its characteristics against the ancestral form in human cells and animal models. The results suggest that the variant does not significantly enhance pathogenicity but may increase transmissibility.
Researchers built an interactome that includes a human lung cell host network integrated with a SARS-CoV-2 network, revealing potential molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets for COVID-19. The study identified 33 high-value SARS-CoV-2 targets involved in viral entry, proliferation, and survival.
Scientists at the University of Bristol found significant differences in viral proteins for all four DENV types, which may impact anti-viral therapy design. This discovery could lead to more effective treatments for dengue disease, a mosquito-borne infection affecting millions worldwide.
Researchers used DNA microarrays to analyze gene expression in livers from patients with biliary atresia and found a key regulator: RRAS. This gene plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of the disease, making it a potential prognostic biomarker.
Researchers used medical imaging to identify a severe case of H1N1 after a negative nasal swab test. CT scans revealed peripheral ground-glass opacities, which raised suspicion of the virus and were later confirmed as a cause of death. The study suggests that early CT scans may help clinicians recognize cases of severe influenza.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has awarded $7 million to 14 researchers studying infectious diseases. The award aims to encourage multidisciplinary approaches to understanding host-pathogen interactions.
Researchers identified genetic variations that significantly contribute to HIV/AIDS progression rates, including CCR5 and CCL3L1 genes. These findings may lead to the development of additional markers for predicting HIV disease course.
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund has awarded $8 million to 16 researchers investigating infectious diseases, including HIV, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Plasmodium falciparum. The awards aim to support multidisciplinary approaches to understanding the interaction between humans and pathogens.
Akiko Iwasaki, Yale assistant professor of immunobiology, has been awarded the Burroughs Wellcome Investigator in Pathogenesis in Infectious Diseases Award. She aims to understand how mucosal lining cells interact with viruses and trigger immune responses.
Dr. Fauci is scheduled to deliver a lecture on the pathogenic mechanisms of HIV disease, highlighting the paradoxical nature of immune cell activation and viral replication. He will present new data on how immune cells can inadvertently facilitate virus persistence.