Virus News and Research

RSS

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.

Father's Toxoplasma infection may be transmitted to subsequent generations

Australian researchers have revealed for the first time that males infected with the Toxoplasma parasite can impact their offspring's brain health and behavior.

28 Apr 2020

Innovative antibody test developed for COVID-19 pandemic

Many tests have been formulated for identifying the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that is responsible for causing the COVID-19 pandemic.

27 Apr 2020

Study identifies role of interferon-stimulated genes in defense against hepatitis C viruses

The immune system responds immediately when a virus enters the cell, producing interferon—the signaling protein.

27 Apr 2020

Two nose cells may contribute to COVID-19 pandemic

Scientists have discovered two specific types of cells in the nose that are believed to be the initial infection points for COVID-19 coronavirus.

27 Apr 2020

Study develops a memory-intensive approach to visualize genomes

At Ulm University in Germany, a new method has been devised for developing pan-genome subgraphs at various granularities without the need to wait several hours or days for the software to process the complete genome.

27 Apr 2020

Pancreatic tumors hijack basic cell mechanism for immune evasion

Pancreatic cancer cells use a normal waste removal process to hide tags on their surfaces that would otherwise let the immune system destroy them, a new study finds. Published online April 22 in Nature, the study results help to answer a longstanding question: why are pancreatic cancers so resistant to immunotherapies, which use the body's own immune defenses to fight cancer?

24 Apr 2020

AI accelerates drug discovery to fight COVID-19

A global race is underway to discover a vaccine, drug, or combination of treatments that can disrupt the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, and prevent widespread deaths.

24 Apr 2020

Developing novel compounds that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 main protease

A research team from China has now created two novel compounds that block the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro).

23 Apr 2020

Preventing viral infections by protein shell misassembly

A study published recently in eLife reports new understanding of conditions that govern self-assembly in the protective shell of viruses.

23 Apr 2020

Identifying Salmonella

AZoLifeSciences speaks to Dr. Silin Tang about her research into the importance of identifying salmonella in food.

23 Apr 2020

New database of 14,000 known macrolactones could aid future drug discovery

Researchers from North Carolina State University and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals have created a free-to-use database of 14,000 known macrolactones - large molecules used in drug development - which contains information about the molecular characteristics, chemical diversity and biological activities of this structural class.

22 Apr 2020

A novel prediction method for promising antiviral drug or vaccine targets

A novel method to predict the most promising targets for antiviral drugs or vaccines is based on the conformational changes viral glycoproteins go through during the process of recognition and binding to the host cell.

21 Apr 2020

Glycomimetics can prevent viruses from infecting cells

Viruses are responsible for causing many different diseases, with the present coronavirus pandemic being one such example. Hence, these infectious agents are part of the human experience all through their lives.

21 Apr 2020

Researchers work on developing COVID-19 vaccine using plant virus

At the University of California San Diego, nanoengineers are making efforts to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 using a plant virus—an unconventional candidate.

21 Apr 2020

Genetic variability of immune system affects severity of COVID-19

Genetic variations in the immune system of humans may have an impact on the vulnerability to, and severity of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

20 Apr 2020

New Coronavirus Research Examines Immune Response

A study has been launched to understand how the body's immune system responds to COVID-19, including if and when a person could be re-infected with the virus.

20 Apr 2020

Corona and Air Pollution: How does it Impact Fatalities?

Elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air may be associated with a high number of deaths from COVID-19.

20 Apr 2020

Designing Peptide Inhibitors For Possible COVID-19 Treatments

Scientists across the globe are rushing to find inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus behind the COVID-19 pandemic.

20 Apr 2020

Unlocking New Ways To Understanding Evolving Strains Of SARS-Cov-2

Researchers from CSIRO have unveiled a new approach to analyzing the genetic codes - or the blueprint - of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

20 Apr 2020

Specialized proteins could help combat severe cytokine storms in COVID-19 patients

One of the defining features of COVID-19 is the excessive immune response that can occur in severe cases. This burst of immune overreaction, also called a cytokine storm, damages the lungs and can be fatal.

17 Apr 2020