Articles tagged with Viruses
A rapidly evolving gene contributes to the origin of new species by driving an evolutionary arms race inside cells. The Nup160 and Nup96 genes, which code for gatekeepers of a cell's nucleus, have become incompatible between closely related fruit fly species.
Scientists have discovered a new mechanism by which the human immune system adapts to infections, involving 'cluster mutations' in antibody genes. This discovery fills a significant gap in our understanding of how we survive microbial invasions and may lead to new ways to prevent illnesses or make them less dangerous.
Biologists have discovered the atomic structure of a powerful molecular motor that packages DNA into viral heads during assembly. The motor consists of two ring-like structures with five segments, progressively drawing genetic material into the virus's capsid.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered how mosquitoes control the pathogenicity of viruses, using short-interfering RNAs to modulate disease. By altering the virus genome, the team found a way to upset the balance, potentially targeting mosquito-borne diseases.
A University of Delaware-led research team is conducting a deep-sea expedition to study hydrothermal vents on the Pacific ocean floor. The team, including experts on marine viruses and protists, aims to explore the ecosystems surrounding these underwater oases of life.
Researchers have identified a stable, modifiable virus capable of withstanding harsh conditions and can be used as a nanobuilding block. The virus particles are ideal for producing materials on the nanometre scale and can be modified spatially controlled.
Four patients with pre-exposed lamivudine resistance experienced rapid re-emergence of YMDD mutations and significant viral rebound after lamivudine re-treatment. Sequential administration of lamivudine is discouraged in these cases.
Researchers at McGill University have discovered a way to make cancer vulnerable to viruses using a new compound called histone deacetylase inhibitors. This approach has the potential to overcome resistance and increase the effectiveness of viral 'magic bullets' in targeting cancer cells.
Researchers developed a method to preserve and visualize SARS-coronavirus replication complexes, revealing the dependence on modified host membranes for viral replication. The study provides insights into the interplay between viral proteins and host membranes, opening doors for new antiviral strategies.
Dr. Joseph DeRisi receives the Heinz Award for his pioneering work in viral detection platforms, including the ViroChip that detects new viruses and characterizes malaria parasites' life cycles. His open access approach to science enables free sharing of research and software.
The EPA has awarded $3.6 million in research grants to develop innovative technologies for detecting known and emerging drinking water contaminants, including blue-green algae toxins and noroviruses. These new projects will improve the toolkit available to protect America's drinking water and public health.
A recent study identified a bluetongue virus strain that originated in sub-Saharan Africa, rather than Europe. The discovery was made through multi-centre sequence analysis of the full genome of the virus strain and its comparison to other BTV strains.
Duke University scientists discovered how the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) hides during its inactive phase, using molecular understanding to provide a framework for studying latent viruses. The findings also offer hope for a potential cure by activating and killing the dormant virus with a new drug.
Scientists have found that Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) does not replicate in Varroa mites, highlighting the need for further investigation into its transmission. Research suggests that the virus is transmitted to bees when the mite bites and picks up infected bees' saliva or gut contents.
Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences have been awarded a $5.6 million grant to develop vaccines and treatments for Nipah and Hendra viruses. The grant will support collaboration with Australian researchers to test vaccines and therapeutics, which have shown promising results in previous studies.
Researchers found that the measles virus can replicate only in immune cells, causing disease in monkeys and potentially improving cancer therapy efficacy. The study's findings challenge traditional textbook assumptions about how the virus spreads, paving the way for more effective vaccines and treatments.
Researchers found that oncolytic viruses designed to kill cancer cells can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels to tumors, leading to regrowth and immune cell eradication. The study suggests a strategy to design combination therapies that inhibit this effect and enhance viral therapy efficacy.
Researchers have developed artificial viruses that can transport genes and drugs into cancer cells, eliminating immune responses and potential side effects. The viruses are self-assembled using a ribbon-like protein structure, allowing for precise control over their size and shape.
Researchers documented the arms race within viral and host genes, showing viruses shuffling DNA to evade RNA silencers. This study sheds light on constant warfare between viruses and microbes, with economic impacts on industries using microbe cultures.
A nested case-control study found that high HBV DNA levels are associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with higher viral loads have a heightened potential for developing liver cancer, suggesting a potential correlation between viral load and liver cancer development.
Researchers develop a technique to coat viruses with proteins, allowing for easier tracking and treatment of infectious diseases. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and inherited disorders.
Researchers at ETH Zurich identify a unique invasion strategy used by the vaccinia virus, exploiting cellular waste disposal mechanisms and evading immune response. The discovery sheds light on a new mechanism of action for this virus, which could inform the development of new antiviral agents.
Cornell researchers have identified 63 proteins in male mosquitoes' seminal fluid that can suppress female appetite for mammalian blood and stimulate egg production. The study's findings could lead to novel strategies to prevent dengue virus spread, a disease affecting 50 million people annually.
Phytoplankton in major oceans produce half the world's oxygen through photosynthesis, while cyanobacteria are infected by viruses that provide genetic material for photosynthesis machinery. This symbiotic relationship highlights the essential role of viruses in planetary processes and global cooling.
Researchers at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron have determined the structure of the enzyme responsible for the Norwalk virus's genetic replication. This breakthrough could lead to the development of drugs that can effectively treat outbreaks of this highly contagious and untreatable bug.
A new study reveals that transfer RNA (tRNA) preserves the earliest events of evolutionary history in its structure. The researchers used detailed data to reconstruct the tRNA family tree and determine the order of emergence for viruses, archaea, bacteria, and eukarya.
The BioBlower technology has passed US Department of Defense tests and has been directed to retrofit military platforms with the system. The device destroys airborne pathogens by rapidly heating and compressing contaminated air, providing a more efficient and effective solution than conventional HEPA filters.
Biomedical engineer Robert Langer is working on novel ways to deliver drugs and genes to targeted sites in the human body. His lab has developed polymers that can efficiently deliver DNA with reduced toxicity, potentially leading to new cancer treatments and disease therapies.
Scientists at SLU and UAB have made a breakthrough in understanding how poxviruses replicate and wreak havoc on the immune system. Their findings could lead to the development of new drugs for inflammatory and immunological disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Epstein-Barr virus uses LMP1 to activate TRADD, a critical signaling molecule. Without TRADD, LMP1 loses its ability to induce apoptosis, allowing uncontrolled cell growth and cancer formation.
Two new studies found that treating Hepatitis C with peginterferon and ribavirin for shorter durations can yield similar success rates to longer treatments, with cost savings and reduced risk of serious side effects. Patients' HCV-RNA levels after 4 weeks may be an important factor in determining the best treatment length.
Scientists at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health used MassTag PCR to detect a new human rhinovirus as the cause of severe pediatric respiratory tract infections in Europe. Human rhinoviruses are frequent causes of respiratory illness worldwide, and this discovery confirms earlier findings in New York.
Researchers found that Yellowstone viruses migrate from pool to pool through droplets of steam, thriving in acidic environments even when hosts are rare. This discovery sheds light on how these viruses survive and interact with microbes in hostile surroundings.
A study of 124 patients with acute viral hepatitis found that 5.65% had mild pancreatitis, all of whom recovered on conservative management. Patients with severe abdominal pain should undergo serum amylase and ultrasonography to rule out pancreatitis as a cause.
Researchers developed a new virotherapeutic targeting cancer cells expressing E2F and EGFR proteins, showing antitumor effects in mice and rabbits. The virus demonstrated high selectivity for cancer cells in tumor-bearing rabbits and human tissue samples.
A new study suggests that viruses may contribute to cancer by causing excessive death to normal cells while promoting the growth of surviving cells with cancerous traits. The Phoenix Paradigm model proposes a separate mechanism where viral infection selects pre-existing mutated clones, promoting their further growth and multiplication.
A team of researchers has found a strong correlation between Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) genetic material and Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in bees. The prevalence of IAPV, the timing of outbreaks, and geographical circumstances suggest that IAPV is a significant marker for CCD.
A new University of Georgia study reveals that sewage-contaminated groundwater is contaminating coral reefs up to six miles offshore in the Upper Florida Keys. The study found common fecal indicator bacteria and human viruses in surface water, groundwater, and corals.
Researchers discovered that PKR enzyme plays a crucial role in the antiviral effect of interferon against some viruses. They found that PKR affects protein synthesis and apoptosis, leading to reduced cell death and viral replication in response to stimuli.
Angela Belcher's research with viruses is developing faster, better, cheaper, and environmentally-friendly electronic devices. Her nanofactories generate little waste, grow at room temperature, and promise to be inexpensive and largely biodegradable.
A new reovirus has been isolated from bats and can cause a serious but non-fatal respiratory illness in humans. The virus, named Melaka, is closely related to two other bat-borne reoviruses and can be transmitted between people.
A researcher at Kansas State University has created a special habitat for the yellow fever mosquito in an effort to understand how viruses disrupt programmed cell death. The goal is to determine if mosquitoes can be made immune to viruses, which could lead to breakthroughs in treating diseases like dengue fever and Alzheimer's.
Researchers have identified a new virus, known as the WU virus, potentially linked to unexplained respiratory infections. The virus was detected in patients' nasal secretions using high-throughput DNA sequencing and shows similarities to polyoma viruses.
A study by Queensland University of Technology found that droplets carrying viruses can travel large distances in the air, posing a risk to people breathing nearby. The research dispels the myth that viruses only travel a short distance from a person, suggesting that one infected individual can spread the virus simply by exhaling.
Research by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory finds that harmless viruses can cause cancer through chromosomal instability, potentially leading to cancer progression. Protecting against these viruses may decrease cancer incidence.
Researchers discovered that New World arenaviruses enter cells through the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), a well-known protein involved in iron uptake. Inhibiting this receptor may help reduce infection severity and develop a treatment strategy.
A University of Alberta study reveals that travelers are aware of some key factors in avoiding and treating travellers' diarrhea, but lack knowledge on others. The study found that hand-washing is an effective way to ward off the sickness, but many travelers are unaware of the risks of chlorinated water and viral causes.
Researchers in Taiwan create a new method to accurately analyze the masses of individual, intact viruses using a miniaturized ion trap. They achieve a margin of error of ±1% by employing a gentle ionization technique and a specially designed cylindrical ion trap.
Researchers found that Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) synthesizes a protein, called 2b, to bind and inhibit AGO1, attenuating RNA silencing. Understanding the function of 2b will enable designing novel strategies for crop plants to survive various viruses.
Researchers created a biosensor using quantum dots to mimic the clustering of MHC proteins on target cells, revealing strong contributions from non-viral peptide-MHC interaction with co-receptors. This cooperativity suggests that a single virus-MHC complex recognized in self-MHC complexes can activate a T-cell response.
Researchers found that some viruses, like the human polyomavirus JCV, may be evolving at higher rates than previously assumed. The virus is traditionally used as a genetic marker for human migration and evolution, but its reliability has been called into question by this new study.
Monash PhD researcher Ms Fleur Tynan has been awarded a Victoria Fellowship to study advanced cellular imaging techniques at Stanford University. Her research focuses on the human immune response to viruses, which may lead to developing therapeutics that assist in the anti-viral immune response.
Cells use a molecular signature to distinguish their own RNA from viral RNA, triggering an immune response and cell suicide. This discovery opens up new possibilities for therapy, including using triphosphate-end RNAs to trigger anti-viral responses and gene therapy.
Researchers discovered that viruses can infect cells more efficiently by attaching to different carbohydrates on the cell surface. This finding helps explain how flu and other viruses evade the immune system and may be useful for developing gene therapies for cancer and brain diseases.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have designed polymer macromolecules as effective gene transfer agents, overcoming the need for foreign DNA and viruses. The study's findings focus on the structure of these molecules, which can control their ability to transfer genes across cell membranes.
Stanford engineer James Swartz has made significant advances in cell-free protein synthesis, including the production of nanoscale viral spheres that can act as delivery trucks for new vaccines. These engineered capsids have the potential to provide safer and more effective vaccinations by targeting specific immune-system cells.
A team of researchers at Cornell University has developed a biodegradable absorbent wipe that can detect bacteria, viruses, and other biohazards using sensitive nanofibers. The innovative material is inexpensive, easy to use, and can provide fast indication of contaminant presence, enabling quick disinfection and retesting.
Scientists identified a genetic element that the dengue virus uses to replicate, triggering the potentially fatal illness known as dengue hemorrhagic fever. The discovery provides a model for RNA replication in flaviviruses, which cause millions of cases of human illness each year.
The Chikungunya outbreak in the Indian Ocean affects several islands and India, with a large portion of populations infected. The disease is caused by the chikungunya virus, spread by mosquito bites, and has no specific treatment. Genetic analysis reveals unique molecular features among outbreak strains.
Recent studies demonstrate improved virus suppression with novel therapy combinations for hepatitis treatment, including valopicitabine plus peg-interferon. Researchers found a higher dose of the drug showed promising results, but also led to side effects that forced dosage reduction.