Listeriosis is a rare bacterial infection caused by a family of bacteria called Listeria. Listeria family contains ten different species, being Listeria monocytogenes the main responsible of causing listeriosis. Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium, capable of surviving in the presence or absence of oxygen. Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most virulent food-borneRead More →
Were you born in an H1N1 year or an H3N2 year? The first type of influenza virus we are exposed to in early childhood dictates our ability to fight the flu for the rest of our lives, according to a new study from a team of infectious disease researchers atRead More →
Most people living with HIV control the virus thanks to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Although this medication is highly effective, the presence of latent viral reservoirs in their bodies means they require lifelong therapy. Studies have demonstrated that immunotherapy combining two anti-HIV antibodies can also suppress HIV, similar to ART. NowRead More →
Authors caution that given the lack of a robust and detailed timeline of records of suspected, probable, and confirmed cases and close contacts, the true size of the epidemic and its pandemic potential remains unclear. New modelling research, published in The Lancet, estimates that up to 75,800 individuals in the ChineseRead More →
New antiviral materials made from sugar have been developed to destroy viruses on contact and may help in the fight against viral outbreaks. This new development from a collaborative team of international scientists shows promise for the treatment of herpes simplex (cold sore virus), respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis C, HIV,Read More →
JGI-led team significantly expands the global diversity of large and giant viruses While the microbes in a single drop of water could outnumber a small city’s population, the number of viruses in the same drop–the vast majority not harmful to humans–could be even larger. Viruses infect bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes,Read More →
Emerging viral infections—from bird flu to Ebola to Zika infections—pose major threats to global public health, and understanding their origins can help investigators design defensive strategies against future outbreaks. A new study provides important insights on the potential origins of the most recent outbreak of viral pneumonia in China, whichRead More →
Certain bacteria can override a defence mechanism of the immune system, so-called programmed cell death, through inhibition of death effector molecules by their outer membranes components. Shigella bacteria, which cause diarrhoea, use lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on their surface to block the effector caspases. Lipopolysaccharides are a component of the bacterial outerRead More →
There are two types of human immunodeficiency virus: type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). HIV–1 is the most widespread type and accounts for 95% of all infections worldwide. HIV is a virus that damages the immune system and, without treatment, a person infected with HIV can develop acquired immunodeficiencyRead More →
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus spread through certain body fluids that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 T cells. If left untreated, HIV infection eventually progresses until leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), being one of the world’s most serious public health challenges. Since the beginningRead More →
