Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

Earth BioGenome Project Aims to Build a Digital Library of All Life

From the mighty blue whale to the humble baker’s yeast, scientists have barely begun to understand the vast genetic diversity among lifeforms.

5 Sep 2025

Scientists Identify Human Proteins Essential for SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Replication

Despite vaccines and treatments, SARS-CoV-2-the virus that causes COVID-19-continues to pose a global health threat, driven by new variants and its ability to hijack human cells in ways that still aren't fully understood.

5 Sep 2025

H5N1 Evolution Points to Higher Risk of Human Transmission

In recent years, there has been growing concern over the H5N1 influenza virus. It was first identified in birds three decades ago and has now gradually found its way to humans.

13 Aug 2025

Mapping T Cell Targets to Fight Coronaviruses and Beyond

Most vaccines are designed to provide immunity against just one pathogen. Vaccines for chicken pox (caused by varicella-zoster virus) were only developed to fight that one disease, for example.

8 Aug 2025

Small Viral Protein ORF3a Reveals Big Role in SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Chicago discovered that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses a small but powerful protein, ORF3a, to assemble the infectious particles, making it more efficient at spreading the disease.

29 Jul 2025

Gene Editing Offers New Hope to Stop Malaria Transmission

Mosquitoes kill more people each year than any other animal. In 2023, the blood-sucking insects infected a reported 263 million people with malaria, leading to nearly 600,000 deaths, 80% of which were children.

24 Jul 2025

New Microchip Maps Antibody Responses Using Just a Drop of Blood

A new microchip invented by Scripps Research scientists can reveal how a person's antibodies interact with viruses-using just a drop of blood.

14 Jul 2025

New Study Highlights Increased COVID-19 Risk for Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

Even decades after their diagnosis, those who survived childhood cancer are more likely to get severe COVID-19.

7 Jul 2025

Blocking Viral Enzyme Boosts Brain Immunity Against HSV-1

Infections caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can lead to HSV-1 encephalitis-a rare but deadly condition that inflames the brain.

4 Jun 2025

Meta-Analysis Identifies Genome-Level Associations of FOXP4 Gene With Long COVID

New genome-wide meta-analysis shows FOXP4 gene variants elevate the risk of long COVID (PASC), linking genetic predisposition to persistent symptoms and lung dysfunction. Findings support tailored treatment approaches.

30 May 2025

Peptide Metabolites: A New Frontier in Antiviral Therapies

Interest in antiviral treatments has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective peptide treatments made from natural substances are in high demand right now due to the increased attention being paid to peptide-based drugs like Wegovy.

27 May 2025

Scientists Engineer Proteins That Morph Like Nature’s Own

The ability to engineer shapeshifting proteins opens new avenues for medicine, agriculture, and beyond.

24 May 2025

Uncovering How Cholera Evaded Phages For Epidemic Success

Cholera bacteria engage in microscopic battles with phages, influencing pandemic dynamics and highlighting the role of viral defenses in outbreak management.

23 May 2025

Lab Perturbations Disrupt Cross-Feeding, Leading to Microbial Extinction

A study highlights that microbial interdependencies are key to survival in lab settings, offering insights into maintaining diversity in microbial cultures.

13 May 2025

Scientists Use AI to Predict Future Viruses and Design Better Vaccines

Effective vaccines dramatically changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing illness, reducing disease severity, and saving millions of lives.

10 May 2025

Dr. Jeremy Poschmann’s data-driven approach to immune profiling and translational science

Dr. Jeremy Poschmann discusses data-driven approaches in genomics, revealing how immune profiling can predict disease risk and improve patient outcomes.

1 May 2025

Scientists Build Live African Swine Fever Virus From Synthetic DNA Using CRISPR

Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9, scientists reconstitute live African swine fever virus from synthetic genomes, accelerating vaccine development for this deadly virus.

2 Apr 2025

New AI Model Helps Predict Future Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

It's been five years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. As SARS-CoV-2 shifts to endemic status, questions about its future evolution remain.

28 Mar 2025

AI Identifies COVID-19 Molecular Mimics Linked to Autoimmune Disease Risk

COVID-19 infection has been associated with an increased risk of autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

27 Mar 2025

Zika and Dengue Virus Use Different Strategies to Infect Dendritic Cells

Zika virus and dengue virus are very close relatives. Both are mosquito-borne flaviviruses, and both specialize in infecting a host's dendritic cells.

26 Mar 2025