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.

Study may help develop multi-pronged HIV eradication strategies

A team of researchers from the University of California - Davis Health (UC Davis) has made a breakthrough discovery of a unique type of stem cell that reduces the amount of the virus that causes AIDS.

25 Jun 2021

Epstein-Barr virus reactivation likely to blame for long COVID symptoms

Long COVID symptoms, such as weariness, brain fog, and rashes, may be caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation because of the inflammatory response to coronavirus infection, which occurs in about 30% of individuals following recovery from initial COVID-19 infection.

25 Jun 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

New nanobodies could fight against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Looking for a new strategy in the long-running battle against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, researchers have developed nanobodies.

23 Jun 2021

New airway model boosts COVID-19 research

A research team has successfully built a model of lung cells that can be used to simulate how COVID-19 infects the airways.

22 Jun 2021

Fluorescence microscopy and deep learning predict viral infections

Researchers have now used fluorescence images from live cells to train an artificial neural network to reliably detect cells that are infected by herpes viruses.

22 Jun 2021

Scientists explore the human gut to combat SARS-CoV-2 virus

Scientists have discovered that some commensal bacteria residing in the human gut release compounds that suppress the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

21 Jun 2021

A new treatment approach against SARS-CoV-2

Scientists have come up with a new method to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection by fixing the cell damage instead of fighting the virus directly.

21 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

Study sheds new light on the early stages of viral evolution

Scientists from the Universities of York and Leeds, in association with Hilvert Laboratory at the ETH Zurich, have investigated the evolution, structure, and assembly of virus-like particles. According to the researchers, this breakthrough discovery will impact the way viruses are treated in the future.

11 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 virus does not spread on hospital surfaces

By observing what was going on across the world in early 2020, researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine knew that their region will soon be flooded with patients infected with COVID-19—the disease caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

11 Jun 2021

COVID-19 spread varies seasonally, but warmer conditions are not enough to prevent transmission

New research shows transmission of the virus behind COVID-19 varies seasonally, but warmer conditions are not enough to prevent transmission.

10 Jun 2021

Study shows how T cells become activated when encountering pathogens

Researchers from Monash University have made a significant breakthrough relating to how T cells get activated when exposed to pathogens, like viruses.

9 Jun 2021

Gene therapy may be a safe and effective single-dose treatment for hypophosphatasia

A preclinical study led by scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys has established that AAV8-TNAP-D10--a gene therapy that replaces a key enzyme found in bone--may be a safe and effective single-dose treatment for hypophosphatasia (HPP).

8 Jun 2021

Study reveals how coronavirus aerosols flow through the lower lungs

When we inhale isolated coronavirus particles, more than 65% reach the deepest region of our lungs where damage to cells can lead to low blood oxygen levels, new research has discovered, and more of these aerosols reach the right lung than the left.

8 Jun 2021

Scientists discover two drugs that provide effective SARS-CoV-2 suppression

COVID-19 continues to claim lives across the world and is infecting millions more. Although several vaccines have recently become available, making significant strides towards preventing COVID-19, what about the treatment of those who already have the infection?

4 Jun 2021

Study shows how scar tissue can effectively regenerate the injured heart

It is estimated that during a heart attack, one billion cells in the heart are lost. In the wake of the heart attack, the lost tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which can lead to heart failure, arrhythmia and death. In a new study, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have shown how cells in the scar tissue can be converted to heart muscle cells, effectively regenerating the injured heart.

3 Jun 2021

World Food Safety Day 2021: An Interview with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

To celebrate World Food Safety Day, AZoLifeSciences interviewed Dr. Markus Lipp from the FAO about the importance of food safety in 2021.

2 Jun 2021

Global land-use changes are creating “hot spots” favorable for new coronaviruses

Global land-use changes -- including forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion and concentrated livestock production -- are creating "hot spots" favorable for bats that carry coronaviruses and where conditions are ripe for the diseases to jump from bats to humans, finds an analysis published this week by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) and Massey University of New Zealand.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers identify new therapeutic targets for flaviviruses

In a recent study, Australian scientists used an original approach to resolve the 3D structure of flaviviruses with an unprecedented level of detail, identifying small molecules known as 'pocket factors' as new therapeutic targets.

2 Jun 2021