Influenza News and Research

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Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.

New nanoparticle adjuvant could lead to more powerful vaccines

A common strategy to make vaccines more powerful is to deliver them along with an adjuvant -; a compound that stimulates the immune system to produce a stronger response.

6 Dec 2021

Nanoparticles mimicking flu viruses to deliver large biological drug molecules

Nanoengineers from the University of California San Diego recently created a new and potentially efficient means to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) into cells.

2 Dec 2021

New CRISPR technology could improve diagnostic tests for COVID-19

A new type of CRISPR platform that leverages the benefits of a compact RNA-editing protein could result in enhanced diagnostic tests for COVID-19.

2 Dec 2021

Study analyzes response of individuals from diverse populations to infections

A recent study has identified differences in immune pathway activation to influenza infection between people of European and African genetic ancestry.

2 Dec 2021

Correction of immune system's faulty timing may offer a new strategy to prevent severe COVID-19

Once an infection is under control, the body normally uses a biochemical messenger known as TGFβ to downgrade its immune response.

27 Oct 2021

Poor systemic immune responses and elevated MAIT cell activation linked to fatal COVID-19 infections

The mortality rate of COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation is 30-40%, however, the immunological factors associated with death in critically ill COVID-19 patients are poorly understood.

17 Sep 2021

Research identifies an unnoticed site for priming of CD8+ T cells—the spleen

CD8+ T cells, also called “killer” T cells, are the killers of the immune system. Upon being primed, they look for and kill cancerous cells or virus-infected cells.

14 Sep 2021

Pairing microscopy with AI to develop a rapid, accurate COVID-19 test

Beckman researchers paired microscopy with artificial intelligence to develop a COVID-19 test that's fast, accurate, and cost-effective. All we need to do is say "ahh."

13 Sep 2021

UAB researchers identify an unnoticed additional site for priming of "killer" T cells

CD8+ T cells -; known as "killer" T cells -; are the assassins of the immune system. Once they are primed, they seek out and destroy other cells that are infected with virus or cells that are cancerous.

13 Sep 2021

Plant bulbs harboring lethal pathogen make the perfect lab for evolving drug-resistant strains

Just when we thought it was safe to go to the local garden center, researchers from Japan have discovered that fungicide-resistant strains of a nasty pathogen have been getting up to no good among the tulip bulbs.

6 Sep 2021

Study details the role of PANoptosome in activating innate immune response

Immunologists discovered how immune sensors in infected cells organize and initiate an immune response to infections with living bacteria and viruses.

3 Sep 2021

Small synthetic molecules could one day cure or prevent COVID-19, herpes

In addition to antibodies and white blood cells, the immune system deploys peptides to fight viruses and other pathogens.

24 Aug 2021

Accurate diagnosis of bacterial superinfection pneumonia could help avoid antibiotic overuse

Only 21 percent of patients with severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) have a documented bacterial superinfection at the time of intubation, resulting in potential overuse of antibiotics, according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

23 Aug 2021

Rare variants in the MX1 gene increase susceptibility to zoonotic H7N9 avian influenza

According to recent research, rare, single-nucleotide variants in the MX1 gene increase the human susceptibility to zoonotic H7N9 avian influenza infection.

23 Aug 2021

Genomic surveillance is vital to achieve effective mitigation and containment of COVID-19

Although the development and increasingly widespread availability of effective and safe vaccines provides the greatest hope for the future recovery from the increasingly devastating COVID-19 pandemic, genomic surveillance is emerging as a vital necessity to achieve effective mitigation and containment.

19 Aug 2021

New methodology assesses whole-genome sequencing data of SARS-CoV-2 mutations

According to researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and MIT, the use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) methodology to assess whole-genome sequencing data of SARS-CoV-2 mutations and COVID-19 mortality data can help identify highly pathogenic variants of the virus that should be flagged for containment.

25 Jun 2021

AI model helps predict which viruses are likely to spread from animals to humans

A new model that applies artificial intelligence to carbohydrates improves the understanding of the infection process and could help predict which viruses are likely to spread from animals to humans. This is reported in a recent study led by researchers at the University of Gothenburg.

16 Jun 2021

Influenza News and Research

New nanoparticle adjuvant could lead to more powerful vaccines

Nanoparticles mimicking flu viruses to deliver large biological drug molecules

New CRISPR technology could improve diagnostic tests for COVID-19

Study analyzes response of individuals from diverse populations to infections

Correction of immune system's faulty timing may offer a new strategy to prevent severe COVID-19

Poor systemic immune responses and elevated MAIT cell activation linked to fatal COVID-19 infections

Research identifies an unnoticed site for priming of CD8+ T cells—the spleen

Pairing microscopy with AI to develop a rapid, accurate COVID-19 test

UAB researchers identify an unnoticed additional site for priming of "killer" T cells

Plant bulbs harboring lethal pathogen make the perfect lab for evolving drug-resistant strains

Study details the role of PANoptosome in activating innate immune response

Small synthetic molecules could one day cure or prevent COVID-19, herpes

Accurate diagnosis of bacterial superinfection pneumonia could help avoid antibiotic overuse

Rare variants in the MX1 gene increase susceptibility to zoonotic H7N9 avian influenza

Genomic surveillance is vital to achieve effective mitigation and containment of COVID-19

New methodology assesses whole-genome sequencing data of SARS-CoV-2 mutations

AI model helps predict which viruses are likely to spread from animals to humans

New AI model predicts targets for previously unmapped T cells against coronavirus

Study shows how human viruses are better adapted to infect certain tissues

Study sheds light on how T cells specialize to combat pathogens

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