Viruses must enter cells of the human body to cause disease. For this, they attach to suitable cells and inject their genetic information into these cells. Infection biologists from the German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen, together with colleagues at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, haveRead More →
The term “hepatitis” refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver and can be due to different possible causes, including toxic substances, such as alcohol or certain drugs and autoimmune diseases. However, hepatitis viruses are the most common cause of hepatitis around the world. If left untreated, the condition can beRead More →
“Our review shows that the coronavirus is at least as transmissible as the SARS virus. And that says a great deal about the seriousness of the situation,” says Joacim Rocklöv, professor of sustainable health at Umeå University and one of the authors of the study published in the scientific JournalRead More →
Evidence of intrauterine vertical transmission was assessed by testing for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, formerly the 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV) in amniotic fluid, cord blood, and neonatal throat swab samples from six pregnancies. All samples were negative. Study also evaluated clinical characteristics of the 2019Read 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 →
