Virology News and Research

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Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy.

Unlocking the Potential of CRISPR/Cas13 for Antiviral Therapy

RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2 demand new solutions. CRISPR/Cas13 tools work well against these viruses in the cell's nucleus, but not in the cytoplasm, where many replicate.

15 Apr 2024

Genetic Link to Persistent HPV Infections Identified

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the second most common cancer-causing virus, accounting for 690,000 cervical and other cancers each year worldwide.

15 Apr 2024

Unraveling the Molecular Mechanisms of DNA Entanglement Resolution

Picture in your mind a traditional "landline" telephone with a coiled cord connecting the handset to the phone.

12 Apr 2024

Study Reveals Genetic Underpinnings for Cervical Cancer Risk from Persistent HPV Infections

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the second most common cancer-causing virus, accounting for 690,000 cervical and other cancers each year worldwide.

12 Apr 2024

Chickadees' Brain Activity Reveals Unique Memory Barcodes

Your ability to remember and recall moments in time is important for recording life-defining moments and everyday information like where you parked the car.

30 Mar 2024

Viruses Pose Unforeseen Threat to Native Desert Ecosystems

Just as many people battle seasonal colds and flu, native plants face their own viral threats. People have long known that plants can succumb to viruses just like humans.

29 Mar 2024

mEnrich-seq: A High-Specificity Bacterial Enrichment Technique for Microbiome Research

In a landmark study recently published in the journal Nature Methods, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have unveiled mEnrich-seq-;an innovative method designed to substantially enhance the specificity and efficiency of research into microbiomes, the complex communities of microorganisms that inhabit the human body.

5 Jan 2024

Zebrafish Embryo Model Unveils Breakthrough Cultivation Method

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) specializing in food virology have achieved successful cultivation of the human norovirus using zebrafish embryos.

29 Dec 2023

Study Reveals Tissue-Specific Effects of JAK1 Signaling in Inflammation

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have gained a deeper understanding of the nuanced roles of JAK inhibitors, or modulators, in inflammation across various cell types and tissues.

26 Dec 2023

Structural Insights Into Coronavirus Spike Proteins

Coronaviruses employ protein “spikes” to latch onto and infect cells. Contrary to their name, these spikes do not have a rigid and pointed structure. Instead, they resemble chicken drumsticks, with the meaty portion facing outward.

27 Nov 2023

Scientists Identify 4,749 Gene Clusters Linked to Cancer Prognosis

Researchers at the Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling have released a groundbreaking study identifying 4,749 key gene clusters, termed "prognostic modules," that significantly influence the progression of 32 different types of cancer.

14 Nov 2023

Research Reveals How Gut Bacteria Influence Distant Organs Through Oxytocin Signaling

The gut microbiome, a community of trillions of microbes living in the human intestines, has an increasing reputation for affecting not only gut health but also the health of organs distant from the gut.

3 Nov 2023

Gene-Edited Chickens in Fight Against Bird Flu

Scientists have used gene editing techniques to identify and change parts of chicken DNA that could limit the spread of the bird flu virus in the animals.

11 Oct 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

Using Genetic Engineering to Facilitate Mutualistic Relationships Between Plants and Nitrogen-Fixing Microbes

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, but the overuse of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture is not sustainable.

27 Sep 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

RNA-Based CATCH Strategy Aims to Activate Dendritic Cells

Investigators at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have designed an innovative RNA-based strategy to activate dendritic cells-;which play a key role in immune response-;that eradicated tumors and prevented their recurrence in mouse models of melanoma.

28 Jul 2023

New Method Creates Embryo-Like Structure That Mimics Gastrulation

Gastrulation, the process where an embryo reorganizes itself from a hollow sphere into a multilayered structure, is considered a "black box" of human development.

21 Jul 2023

Novel Drug Slows Development of Antibiotic Resistance

At the Baylor College of Medicine, a research group is gaining ground in its quest for solutions to the global concern of bacterial antibiotic resistance, which was accountable for almost 1.3 million deaths in 2019.

26 Jun 2023

Influenza A Viruses Use "Tactical Strikes" to Hijack Host Cells

Influenza A is one of two influenza viruses that fuel costly annual flu seasons and is a near constant threat to humans and many other animals. It’s also responsible for occasional pandemics that, like the one in 1918, leave millions dead and wreak havoc on health systems and wider society.

23 Jun 2023