Virus News and Research

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A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can reproduce only inside a host cell. Viruses infect all types of organisms: from animals and plants, to bacteria and archaea. Since the initial discovery of tobacco mosaic virus by Martinus Beijerinck in 1898, more than 5,000 types of virus have been described in detail, although most types of virus remain undiscovered. Viruses are ubiquitous, as they are found in almost every ecosystem on Earth, and are the most abundant type of biological entity on the planet. The study of viruses is known as virology, and is a branch of microbiology.

Chemical compounds in foods can inhibit a key SARS-Cov-2 enzyme

Chemical compounds in foods or beverages like green tea and dark chocolate can bind to and block the function of an enzyme in SARS-CoV-2.

3 Dec 2020

Specific immune mechanism in COVID-19 patients triggers inflammatory process

Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have demonstrated for the first time that in COVID-19 patients an immune mechanism known as the inflammasome participates in activation of the inflammatory process that can damage several organs and even lead to death.

3 Dec 2020

Researchers determine role of NLRP1 protein in detecting the common cold virus

The role of a protein in detecting the common cold virus and kickstarting an immune response to fight infection has been uncovered by a team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore.

From Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore) 3 Dec 2020

Researchers identify chemical compounds that could block key enzyme in SARS-CoV-2

According to a new study, chemical compounds found in dark chocolate can inhibit the function of a specific enzyme, or protease, in the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

1 Dec 2020

New breakthrough in AI system could significantly accelerate biological research

In a major scientific advance, the latest version of DeepMind's AI system AlphaFold has been recognized as a solution to the 50-year-old grand challenge of protein structure prediction, often referred to as the 'protein folding problem', according to a rigorous independent assessment.

1 Dec 2020

Scientists conduct “molecular dissection” of part of virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease

Scientists have conducted a 'molecular dissection' of a part of the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease, to try and understand why the pathogen is so infectious.

1 Dec 2020

Scientists successfully edit SIV virus from genomes of non-human primates

Taking a major step forward in HIV research, scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University have successfully edited SIV - a virus closely related to HIV, the cause of AIDS - from the genomes of non-human primates.

1 Dec 2020

Protein interactions could serve as therapeutic targets to treat viral infections

Researchers have investigated the role of the interplays within the proteins membranes of viral families involved in the control of programmed cell death.

30 Nov 2020

Study underlines the significance of epithelial against invasive pathogens

Researchers have demonstrated that a protein present in skin cells detects a particular nucleic acid that is developed at the time of virus replication.

30 Nov 2020

World’s largest proteomics centre accelerates biomarker discoveries to improve people’s lives

Opened in 2016, Manchester’s Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre (SBDC) is a globally renowned, multi-million-pound precision medicine research facility.

From Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre 30 Nov 2020

Research provides new insight into how the CRISPR immune system evolved

With new insights into how the genetic tool CRISPR - which allows direct editing of our genes - evolved and adapted, we are now one step closer to understanding the basis of the constant struggle for survival that takes place in nature. The results can be used in future biotechnologies.

26 Nov 2020

Warwick researchers design computational model to enable drug predictions against COVID-19

A computational model of a human lung cell has been used to understand how SARS-CoV-2 draws on human host cell metabolism to reproduce by researchers at the University of Warwick.

From The University of Warwick 26 Nov 2020

Air quality could influence the virulence and spread of COVID-19

The correlation between the high concentration of fine particles and the severity of influenza waves is well known to epidemiologists.

25 Nov 2020

Study reveals genomic structures that allow SARS-CoV-2 virus to control the infection process

An international research alliance has visualized the RNA folding structures of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, for the first time.

23 Nov 2020

Researchers use metal-organic frameworks to target prostate cancer cells

Scientists have used metal-organic frameworks to effectively deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic snipping tool into human cancer cells.

23 Nov 2020

Genetic modification in the ‘coat’ of fatal brain virus may allow it to escape antibodies

A genetic modification in the 'coat' of a brain infection-causing virus may allow it to escape antibodies, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

23 Nov 2020

Adipose tissue plays key role in the aggravation of COVID-19

There is growing evidence that adipose tissue plays a key role in the aggravation of COVID-19. One of the theories under investigation is that fat cells (adipocytes) act as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 and increase viral load in obese or overweight individuals.

23 Nov 2020

Research sheds light on T cell abnormality in critically ill COVID-19 patients

There is an idea within the coronavirus research field that there is some kind of T cell abnormality in critically ill COVID-19 patients, but specific details have not yet been clarified. To shed light on the problem, a research collaboration based in Kumamoto University (Japan) has performed a genetic analysis of T cells from lung tissue of COVID-19 patients.

23 Nov 2020

Researchers investigate solutions to make cell membranes resistant to coronavirus entry

The cell membrane is the cell's outermost line of defense against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 disease.

23 Nov 2020

Chemists identify effective inhibitors to block the uptake of SARS-CoV-2

The cell membrane is impermeable to viruses: to get inside and infect a cell, they use a range of strategies to exploit the cellular and biochemical properties of the membranes.

23 Nov 2020

Virus News and Research

Chemical compounds in foods can inhibit a key SARS-Cov-2 enzyme

Specific immune mechanism in COVID-19 patients triggers inflammatory process

Researchers determine role of NLRP1 protein in detecting the common cold virus

Researchers identify chemical compounds that could block key enzyme in SARS-CoV-2

New breakthrough in AI system could significantly accelerate biological research

Scientists conduct “molecular dissection” of part of virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease

Scientists successfully edit SIV virus from genomes of non-human primates

Protein interactions could serve as therapeutic targets to treat viral infections

Study underlines the significance of epithelial against invasive pathogens

World’s largest proteomics centre accelerates biomarker discoveries to improve people’s lives

Research provides new insight into how the CRISPR immune system evolved

Warwick researchers design computational model to enable drug predictions against COVID-19

Air quality could influence the virulence and spread of COVID-19

Study reveals genomic structures that allow SARS-CoV-2 virus to control the infection process

Researchers use metal-organic frameworks to target prostate cancer cells

Genetic modification in the ‘coat’ of fatal brain virus may allow it to escape antibodies

Adipose tissue plays key role in the aggravation of COVID-19

Research sheds light on T cell abnormality in critically ill COVID-19 patients

Researchers investigate solutions to make cell membranes resistant to coronavirus entry

Chemists identify effective inhibitors to block the uptake of SARS-CoV-2

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