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.

Retrotransposon-Based PRINT Technique Holds Potential for Precise Gene Insertion

The recent approval of a CRISPR-Cas9 therapy for sickle cell disease demonstrates that gene editing tools can do a superb job knocking out genes to cure hereditary disease.

22 Feb 2024

Overlooked Sequence in Immunology Protein Holds Promise for New Autoimmune Therapies

Our immune system is remarkably powerful. It quickly assembles teams of cells to eliminate threats inside our bodies.

22 Feb 2024

The Promise of siRNA Nanomedicine for HIV Treatment

Society learned about the usefulness of mRNA during the COVID-19 pandemic when scientists and medical professionals leveraged its power to deliver a vaccine for the virus within a year.

21 Feb 2024

Unraveling Lenacapavir's Impact on the HIV Life Cycle

A new anti-retroviral medication for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections was licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Union just over a year ago.

14 Feb 2024

The Potential of Monoclonal Antibodies for Neonatal Herpes

The results of a recent study led by the Geisel School of Medicine and Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, and published in Cell Reports Medicine, provide new information about the role that antibodies play in preventing herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections.

13 Feb 2024

New CRISPR-Based Test Detects Mpox Faster

A rare viral illness called mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is transmitted by direct physical contact between individuals.

12 Feb 2024

Relation Between Faulty DNA Disposal System and Inflammation

The path from mitochondrial stress to leaking endosomes to immune system initiation in mouse cells is outlined by Salk scientists, providing new therapeutic targets to potentially reduce inflammation in aging and disease.

12 Feb 2024

GWAS Identifies Key Genetic Factors for Lassa Fever Susceptibility and Severity

While combing through the human genome in 2007, computational geneticist Pardis Sabeti made a discovery that would transform her research career.

9 Feb 2024

Exploring the Link Between Immune Response and Acute Viral Infections

For many years, it was thought that acute viral infections, such as COVID-19 or Zika, were the cause of neurological damage.

6 Feb 2024

Outsmarting Viruses: Scientists Rewire Bacteria for Biomanufacturing Revolution

Genome engineering allows scientists to modify the genetic code of microbes. Now, researchers have engineered the genome of the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) to make it immune to viral infections.

6 Feb 2024

Unveiling HIV's Hidden Entry Point for Targeted Antibodies

As the HIV virus approaches a human cell to dock and potentially deliver its lethal genetic code, there is a remarkably brief moment during which a tiny portion of its surface undergoes a rapid opening, initiating the infection process.

5 Feb 2024

Decoding Virus-Host Tug-of-War with RNA-Protein Interaction Mapping

The interplay between ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins is not only important for maintaining cellular homeostasis but is also at the center of the tug-of-war between virus and host.

2 Feb 2024

Scientists Create "Immunologically Silent" DNA Vaccine for Potent Virus Defense

Using a virus-like delivery particle made from DNA, researchers from MIT and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard have created a vaccine that can induce a strong antibody response against SARS-CoV-2.

31 Jan 2024

Gut Bacteria Shape Our Defense Against Respiratory Viral Infections

The composition of microbiota found in the gut influences how susceptible mice are to respiratory virus infections and the severity of these infections, according to researchers from the Center for Translational Antiviral Research in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.

31 Jan 2024