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.

ORNL Scientists Develop Fluorescent Biosensor to Track RNA in Plants

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a first-ever method of detecting ribonucleic acid, or RNA, inside plant cells using a technique that results in a visible fluorescent signal.

16 Apr 2025

Breakthrough Delivery System Advances CRISPR-Based Treatments

A research team from Helmholtz Munich and the Technical University of Munich has developed an advanced delivery system that transports gene-editing tools based on the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system into living cells with significantly greater efficiency than before.

10 Apr 2025

Carbon Dot-Based Fluorosensor Shows Superior Performance in Enterovirus RNA Detection

Scientists from the University of Jyväskylä's Nanoscience Center in Finland have introduced a novel, label-free ratiometric fluorosensor intended for the sensitive and specific detection of enteroviral RNA.

7 Apr 2025

Antibiotic Resistance Through Bacterial Genes Inhibiting Viral Reproduction

Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat that could supplant cancer mortality within a few decades. Researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, found that the emergence of resistance can be explained by how bacteria develop defenses against virus infection.

7 Apr 2025

Scientists Trace Cell Origins to Understand Inner Ear Development

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a method that shows how the nervous system and sensory organs are formed in an embryo.

4 Apr 2025

New Brain Organoid Model Reveals How Microglia Respond to Viral Infections

Organoids have revolutionized science and medicine, providing platforms for disease modeling, drug testing, and understanding developmental processes.

4 Apr 2025

Innovative Imaging Technique Tracks Cellular Processes with Minimal Damage

An advancement in imaging technology has the potential to revolutionize the understanding of the inner workings of living cells and offer insights into a variety of diseases.

3 Apr 2025

Scientists Build Live African Swine Fever Virus From Synthetic DNA Using CRISPR

Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9, scientists reconstitute live African swine fever virus from synthetic genomes, accelerating vaccine development for this deadly virus.

2 Apr 2025

New AI Model Helps Predict Future Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

It's been five years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. As SARS-CoV-2 shifts to endemic status, questions about its future evolution remain.

28 Mar 2025

How Does DNA Unwind? Study Explores Helicase Mechanisms In DNA Replication

This study reveals how SV40 helicase unwinds DNA, highlighting ATP hydrolysis's role in translocation and offering insights into viral replication mechanisms.

28 Mar 2025

AI Identifies COVID-19 Molecular Mimics Linked to Autoimmune Disease Risk

COVID-19 infection has been associated with an increased risk of autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

27 Mar 2025

Zika and Dengue Virus Use Different Strategies to Infect Dendritic Cells

Zika virus and dengue virus are very close relatives. Both are mosquito-borne flaviviruses, and both specialize in infecting a host's dendritic cells.

26 Mar 2025

Enhanced Embryo Screening Efficiency in Primate Genetic Modification

Genetic engineering in non-human primates has historically faced limitations due to the reliance on virus-based gene delivery methods.

26 Mar 2025

Unveiling Bacterial Immune Mechanisms Against Temperate Phages

Like humans, bacteria can be attacked by viruses. In the case of bacteria, these viral attackers are referred to as bacteriophages, a term derived from the Greek word for bacteria-eaters, or simply “phages.”

24 Mar 2025

RNA-Based Active Agents Successfully Shield Plants from Cucumber Mosaic Virus

New RNA-based active agents reliably protect plants against the Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), the most common virus in agriculture and horticulture. They were developed by researchers at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU).

20 Mar 2025

New Insights into How B Cells Strategically Clone High-Affinity Antibodies

A vaccine's ability to generate long-lasting, high-affinity antibodies hinges on a delicate balance. Upon exposure to a vaccine or pathogen, B cells scramble to refine their defenses, rapidly mutating in hopes of generating the most effective antibodies.

20 Mar 2025