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.

Research Offers a Promising Avenue for Improving T-Cell-Based Cancer Therapies

Using laboratory-grown cells from humans and genetically engineered mice, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have evidence that modifying a specific protein in immune white blood cells known as CD8+ T cells can make the cells more robust, potentially opening the door for better use of people's own immune system T cells to fight cancer.

4 Oct 2023

Improving the Efficiency of Gene Delivery to the Brain

Researchers from Rice University conducted tests to assess the safety and feasibility of gene delivery to various regions of the brain using a noninvasive technique based on ultrasound in rodents.

28 Sep 2023

Promoting Viral Propagation with Decreasing Biodiversity

How are environmental changes, biodiversity decline, and disease spread related? The solution is a riddle.

27 Sep 2023

Novel Imaging Technique Captures Rapid Protein Dynamics

EPFL researchers have created a unique imaging approach for capturing fast protein dynamics.

22 Sep 2023

New Method That Genetically Modifies Individual Cells in Animals

Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a technique that enables them to genetically alter every animal cell in a unique way.

22 Sep 2023

New Bacteriophage Found in Mariana Trench

The Mariana Trench, the deepest location on Earth, descends over 11,000 meters to the Pacific Ocean’s seafloor at its shallowest point. Even in the utterly desolate darkness, life exists.

22 Sep 2023

Retrieving RNA from an Extinct Species

New research demonstrates the isolation and sequencing of RNA molecules from a Tasmanian tiger specimen kept at room temperature in a museum collection over a century ago.

20 Sep 2023

New Strain of Marine Bacteria with Distinct Characteristics

Researchers discovered a new type of marine bacteria with distinct traits on the ocean floor.

30 Aug 2023

High Levels of Exposure to the Virus Causing COVID-19 May Reduce Safety Given by Vaccination

High levels of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 may reduce or overcome the protection that vaccination and prior infection provides, according to a new study by researchers from Yale University, the University of Florida, and the Connecticut Department of Correction.

24 Aug 2023

New System to Quickly Detect Airborne Viruses Using High-Speed Train Technology

Researchers from University of British Columbia and Michigan State University have invented a system that can quickly and inexpensively detect airborne viruses using the same technology that enables high-speed trains.

24 Aug 2023

Epstein-Barr Virus Epigenome Targeted for Potential Cancer Treatment

Now, scientists at The Wistar Institute have discovered a potential target for gastric cancers associated with Epstein-Barr Virus; study results were published in the journal mBio.

23 Aug 2023

Analyzing the First Vaccine Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Many Older Adults

The first Americans over age 60 just started rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, now that brand-new vaccines have started to arrive at pharmacies and clinics.

23 Aug 2023

SARS-CoV-2 Infection is Significantly Linked With the Development of High Blood Pressure

An analysis of electronic medical records for more than 45,000 people found that COVID-19 infection was significantly associated with the development of high blood pressure, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

22 Aug 2023

Study Finds Diverse Set of Immune Cells Linked to Flu Protection

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists, in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Limited, found that immune cells present in people months before influenza (flu) infection could more accurately predict if an individual would develop symptoms than current methods which primarily rely on antibody levels.

18 Aug 2023

Single Injection of CRISPR Gene-Editing Treatment Safely Removes SIV From Non-Human Primates

A single injection of a novel CRISPR gene-editing treatment safely and efficiently removes SIV – a virus related to the AIDS-causing agent HIV – from the genomes of non-human primates, scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University now report.

17 Aug 2023

AI Tool Speeds Up Vaccine Development

From tackling homework challenges to drafting emails, people are discovering a vast array of applications for natural language processing tools like generative artificial intelligence (AI) engines.

14 Aug 2023

Gene Therapy Prevents Progression of Kidney Disease in Children

Researchers at the University of Bristol have made a remarkable step forward in finding a potential cure for a type of childhood kidney disease.

11 Aug 2023

Study Links Adenovirus Infection With a Rare Blood Clotting Disorder

Platelets, or thrombocytes, are specialized cellular fragments that form blood clots when we get scrapes and traumatic injuries. Viral infections, autoimmune disease, and other conditions can cause platelet levels to drop throughout the body, termed thrombocytopenia.

11 Aug 2023

Researchers Elucidate STING Protein's New Role in Immune Defense

A signaling protein known as STING is a critical player in the human immune system, detecting signs of danger within cells and then activating a variety of defense mechanisms.

7 Aug 2023

Environmental Factors Linked With AD Children Aged Between 15 – 35 Months Living in Rural Areas

Children raised in rural environments who spend a lot of time outdoors with some exposure to animals grow to have better regulated immune systems than children living in urban environments, a new study has found.

4 Aug 2023