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.

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

Study looks into safety and early outcomes of gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy

In May 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a gene replacement therapy for the inherited, progressive neuromuscular disease 5q-linked spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

26 Aug 2020

Researchers identify mechanisms that impair the immune system in response to viral infections

Scientists have discovered mechanisms that cause functional deterioration of the immune system in reaction to viral infections, including COVID-19 or HIV.

26 Aug 2020

Study uncovers how the immune system generates effective antibodies

An in-depth Garvan study of how the immune system generates effective antibodies provides new insights for vaccine design.

25 Aug 2020

Each person's gut has a unique viral 'fingerprint'

Each person's gut virus composition is as unique as a fingerprint, according to the first study to assemble a comprehensive database of viral populations in the human digestive system.

25 Aug 2020

Microsoft's AI supports the development of Vaxine's COVAX-19 vaccine

Given the global urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft's AI for Health program has stepped in to support the development and potential deployment of Vaxine's COVAX-19™ vaccine with a philanthropic grant.

25 Aug 2020

Researchers discover antibodies that may provide effective immunity against SARS-CoV-2

A new study by researchers at MassBiologics of UMass Medical School published in Nature Communications suggests that COVID specific IgA monoclonal antibodies may provide effective immunity in the respiratory system against the novel coronavirus - a potentially critical feature of an effective vaccine.

25 Aug 2020

STING protein activates a pathway that kills tumor-fighting immune cells

The immune protein STING has long been noted for helping protect against viruses and tumors by signaling a well-known immune molecule. Now, UT Southwestern scientists have revealed that STING also activates a separate pathway, one that directly kills tumor-fighting immune cells.

25 Aug 2020

Study: Wastewater containing coronaviruses may be a serious threat

Wastewater containing coronaviruses may be a serious threat, according to a new, global study led by researchers from the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU).

25 Aug 2020

Researchers add a component to make cancer vaccine more effective

Jefferson researchers developing a cancer vaccine to prevent recurrences of gastric, pancreatic, esophageal and colon cancers have added a component that would make the vaccine more effective.

25 Aug 2020

Researchers identify a novel molecular mechanism of intestinal stem cells

Stem cells in the intestines maintain an excellent balance between two promising forms—developing into intestinal epithelial cells, or remaining as stem cells.

24 Aug 2020

Researchers develop multiplex genetic diagnostic device for early detection, prevention of crop diseases

A research group composed of Professor Takayuki Shibata and his colleagues at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology has applied a microfluidic chip technology to develop a multiplex genetic diagnostic device for the early detection and prevention of crop diseases.

24 Aug 2020

New study shows promise for developing COVID-19 vaccine

When news about a novel coronavirus switched from a chronicle of its progress in China to headlines about a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Gladstone Institutes scientist Nadia Roan, PhD, was in the midst of publishing several papers on T cells and their role in HIV spread and long-lasting infections.

24 Aug 2020

Programmable DNA nanoswitches can rapidly detect emerging viruses, including SARS-CoV-2

Programmable DNA nanoswitches that bind to viral RNA in human body fluids may provide an inexpensive platform to rapidly detect a wide variety of emerging viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study.

24 Aug 2020

Study provides detailed map of natural killer cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study of 27 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has provided a detailed map of natural killer (NK) cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, revealing that specific characteristics of NK cell activation associate with different levels of disease severity.

24 Aug 2020

Virus News and Research

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

Study looks into safety and early outcomes of gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy

Researchers identify mechanisms that impair the immune system in response to viral infections

Study uncovers how the immune system generates effective antibodies

Each person's gut has a unique viral 'fingerprint'

Microsoft's AI supports the development of Vaxine's COVAX-19 vaccine

Researchers discover antibodies that may provide effective immunity against SARS-CoV-2

STING protein activates a pathway that kills tumor-fighting immune cells

Study: Wastewater containing coronaviruses may be a serious threat

Researchers add a component to make cancer vaccine more effective

Researchers identify a novel molecular mechanism of intestinal stem cells

Researchers develop multiplex genetic diagnostic device for early detection, prevention of crop diseases

New study shows promise for developing COVID-19 vaccine

Programmable DNA nanoswitches can rapidly detect emerging viruses, including SARS-CoV-2

Study provides detailed map of natural killer cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection

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