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.

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause severe abnormalities in the fetus

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause severe abnormalities in the fetus, including malformations such as microcephaly. In a small proportion of cases, the disease may lead to miscarriage and perinatal death.

4 Sep 2020

Researchers investigate cellular factors that could be significant for COVID-19 infection

An infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can affect multiple organs. With this in mind, researchers of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and Cornell University in the US have investigated cellular factors that could be significant for an infection.

4 Sep 2020

Study shows cell surface proteins in placental tissue prevent COVID-19 transmission

Scientists from the Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases at Boston Medical Center have discovered properties in the placental tissue that may play a significant role in inhibiting the transmission of COVID-19 infection from a mother, who has the novel coronavirus, to her fetus.

3 Sep 2020

Researchers develop new gene therapy for congenital blindness

Retinitis pigmentosa is the most prevalent form of congenital blindness. Using a retinitis pigmentosa mouse model, researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have now shown that targeted activation of genes of similar function can compensate for the primary defect.

3 Sep 2020

Combined point-of-care nucleic acid and antibody test can speed up COVID-19 detection

A Cambridge hospital has piloted the use of combined rapid point-of-care nucleic acid and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection after researchers at the University of Cambridge showed that this approach was superior to virus detection alone for diagnosing COVID-19 disease.

3 Sep 2020

Study reveals a successful strategy to fight influenza

For a long time, influenza scientists have largely focused their studies on the epithelial cells that line the lungs.

2 Sep 2020

Researchers identify an effective treatment for severe cases of COVID-19 infection

Scientists are trying to figure out how SARS-CoV-2 leads to a range of symptoms that appear to persist long after the active viral infection.

From Osaka University 1 Sep 2020

Study shows neutralizing antibodies can protect against SARS-CoV-2 virus

In May, a fishing vessel exited a port and returned with the first-ever proof that neutralizing antibodies offer protection from being re-infected by SARS-CoV-2.

1 Sep 2020

Decisions of small-scale poultry farmers can influence the spread of deadly virus

Small-scale poultry farmers in Vietnam tend to respond to viral outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) by rapidly selling their birds as a way to avoid financial loss, according to a new study by an international team of researchers.

31 Aug 2020

Researchers explore the structure and dynamics of biological nanomachine

Cells that are infected by a virus or carry a carcinogenic mutation, for example, produce proteins foreign to the body.

31 Aug 2020

Understanding skin damage caused by rubbing could lead to better topical skin treatments

Understanding the skin damage caused by rubbing could lead to better topical skin treatments and help prevent the formation of new routes for viral and bacterial infection.

31 Aug 2020

New cellular pathway can protect cells from infection by Ebola virus, coronavirus

Discoveries from the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) have identified a new cellular protection pathway that targets a common vulnerability in several different pandemic viruses, and collaborators at Case Western Reserve University, Boston University School of Medicine and MRIGlobal have shown that this pathway can protect cells from infection by Ebola virus and coronaviruses, like SARS-CoV-2.

28 Aug 2020

New COVID-19 mouse model helps advance vaccine development

A new COVID-19 mouse model developed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill captures many of the features of human disease and has helped advance a COVID-19 vaccine candidate to clinical trial.

28 Aug 2020

Researchers to launch clinical trials to test potential COVID-19 drug

A group of scientists from the University of Alberta is preparing to initiate clinical trials of a drug used for treating a lethal disease caused by the novel coronavirus in cats.

28 Aug 2020

Drug-like compounds previously developed to fight SARS may also work against COVID-19

An extensive search and testing of current drugs and drug-like compounds have revealed compounds previously developed to fight SARS might also work against COVID-19.

28 Aug 2020

First lethal mouse model established for COVID-19 infection

Army scientists have developed the first lethal mouse model of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using mice that were genetically engineered to express the human ACE2 gene--a key mechanism by which the virus enters human cells.

28 Aug 2020

Researchers identify new pathway that targets common vulnerability in different pandemic viruses

Researchers working in human cells have identified a new pathway that targets a common vulnerability in several different pandemic viruses.

28 Aug 2020

Scientists identify antigen valencies that work best in vaccine designs for HIV, SARS-CoV-2

Designing a vaccine starts with finding the right ingredients. Every infectious agent has molecules, called antigens, that the immune system could potentially recognize and attack. So scientists must carefully consider which antigens should go into a vaccine.

28 Aug 2020

AF4-MALS: A powerful tool to separate viruses and aggregates

Postnova Analytics has published an applications report that presents data from a collaboration with the Analytical Development group at Biogen Inc. on separation of a virus mixture using Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation and measurement of their radius of gyration.

From Postnova Analytics 27 Aug 2020

Scientists document communication pathways in SARS-CoV-2 infected human cells

In the transmission of signals within the cell which, for example, stimulate cell growth or trigger metabolic processes, phosphate groups play an important biochemical role.

26 Aug 2020

Virus News and Research

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause severe abnormalities in the fetus

Researchers investigate cellular factors that could be significant for COVID-19 infection

Study shows cell surface proteins in placental tissue prevent COVID-19 transmission

Researchers develop new gene therapy for congenital blindness

Combined point-of-care nucleic acid and antibody test can speed up COVID-19 detection

Study reveals a successful strategy to fight influenza

Researchers identify an effective treatment for severe cases of COVID-19 infection

Study shows neutralizing antibodies can protect against SARS-CoV-2 virus

Decisions of small-scale poultry farmers can influence the spread of deadly virus

Researchers explore the structure and dynamics of biological nanomachine

Understanding skin damage caused by rubbing could lead to better topical skin treatments

New cellular pathway can protect cells from infection by Ebola virus, coronavirus

New COVID-19 mouse model helps advance vaccine development

Researchers to launch clinical trials to test potential COVID-19 drug

Drug-like compounds previously developed to fight SARS may also work against COVID-19

First lethal mouse model established for COVID-19 infection

Researchers identify new pathway that targets common vulnerability in different pandemic viruses

Scientists identify antigen valencies that work best in vaccine designs for HIV, SARS-CoV-2

AF4-MALS: A powerful tool to separate viruses and aggregates

Scientists document communication pathways in SARS-CoV-2 infected human cells

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