ScienceDaily: Virology News

Easy and effective therapy to restore sight: Engineered virus will improve gene therapy for blinding eye diseases

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:48:48 EDT

Gene therapy using adeno-associated virus has successfully restored sight to people with a rare inherited retinal degeneration, but current therapy requires injecting the virus directly into the retina. Researchers have now caused AAV to evolve so that it is able to penetrate the retina, allowing doctors to inject the virus and its gene load into the vitreous to reach all cells of the retina. This broadens AAV's potential application to more common types of vision loss.

From hot springs to HIV, same protein complexes are hijacked to promote viruses

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:26:26 EDT

Biologists have discovered a striking connection between viruses such as HIV and Ebola and viruses that infect organisms called archaea that grow in volcanic hot springs. Despite the huge difference in environments and a 2 billion year evolutionary time span between archaea and humans, the viruses hijack the same set of proteins to break out of infected cells.

Duck genome provides new insight into fighting bird flu

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 19:57:57 EDT

The duck genome consortium has completed the genome sequencing and analysis of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos), one principal natural host of influenza A viruses, which caused a new epidemic in China since this February. This work reveals some noteworthy conclusions and provides an invaluable resource for unraveling the interactive mechanisms between the host and influenza viruses.

Herpes virus exploits immune response to bolster infection

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:11:11 EDT

Researchers report that the herpes simplex virus type-1, which affects an estimated 50 to 80 percent of all American adults, exploits an immune system receptor to boost its infectiousness and ability to cause disease.

Studies showing how bird flu viruses could adapt to humans offer surveillance and vaccine strategies

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:06:06 EDT

Bird flu viruses are potentially highly lethal and pose a global threat, but relatively little is known about why certain strains spread more easily to humans than others. Two studies identify mutations that increase the infectivity of H5N1 and H7N9 viruses through improved binding to receptors in the human respiratory tract. The findings offer much-needed strategies for monitoring the emergence of dangerous bird flu strains capable of infecting humans and for developing more effective vaccines.

Unusual antibodies in cows suggest new ways to make medicines for people

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:05:05 EDT

Humans have been raising cows for their meat, hides and milk for millennia. Now it appears that the cow immune system also has something to offer. A new study focusing on an extraordinary family of cow antibodies points to new ways to make human medicines.

Wolbachia bacteria evolved to infect stem cell niches through successive generations of their hosts

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EDT

A new study provides evidence that Wolbachia target the ovarian stem cell niches of its hosts -- a strategy previously overlooked to explain how Wolbachia thrive in nature.

Mosquitoes reared in cooler temperatures have weaker immune systems

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:32:32 EDT

Scientists have discovered mosquitoes reared in cooler temperatures have weaker immune systems, making them more susceptible to dangerous viruses and thus more likely to transmit diseases to people. The finding may have a bearing on urban epidemics resulting from viral diseases, such as West Nile fever and chikungunya fever, which are transmitted by infected mosquitoes.

Surges in latent infections: Mathematical analysis of viral blips

Fri, 31 May 2013 15:13:13 EDT

Recurrent infection is a common feature of persistent viral diseases. It includes episodes of high viral production interspersed by periods of relative quiescence. These quiescent or silent stages are hard to study with experimental models. Mathematical analysis can help fill in the gaps.

New single virus detection techniques for faster disease diagnosis

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:13:13 EDT

Two independent teams have developed new optics-based methods for determining the exact viral load of a sample by counting individual virus particles. These new methods are faster and cheaper than standard tests and they offer the potential to conduct the measurements in a medical office or hospital instead of a laboratory.

New agent inhibits HCV replication in mouse models: No resistance seen

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:13:13 EDT

Treatments against hepatitis C virus have only been partially successful. A major problem is that antivirals generate drug resistance. Now scientists have developed agents that bind to the business end of a critical protein, disabling it so successfully that no resistance has arisen.

Interleukin-22 protects against post-influenza bacterial superinfection

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:13:13 EDT

Researchers have shown in a mouse model that interleukin-22 protects against bacterial superinfections that can arise following influenza.

Computer simulations help scientists understand HIV-1 infection

Thu, 30 May 2013 09:49:49 EDT

Scientists have long been unable to fully explain how infections attack the body, but now a team of researchers has taken a step closer to understanding how the process works in HIV-1. The results mean that one day that knowledge may prevent infection.

Gene therapy gives mice broad protection to pandemic flu strains, including 1918 flu

Wed, 29 May 2013 14:42:42 EDT

Researchers have developed a new gene therapy to thwart a potential influenza pandemic. They demonstrated that a single dose of an adeno-associated virus expressing a broadly neutralizing flu antibody into the noses of animal models gives them complete protection and substantial reductions in flu replication when exposed to lethal strains of H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus. These were isolated from samples associated from historic human pandemics – the infamous 1918 flu pandemic and another from 2009.

Wit, grit and a supercomputer yield chemical structure of HIV capsid

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:34:34 EDT

Researchers report that they have determined the precise chemical structure of the HIV capsid, a protein shell that protects the virus's genetic material and is a key to its virulence. The capsid has become an attractive target for the development of new antiretroviral drugs.

Copper destroys norovirus, study suggests

Tue, 28 May 2013 09:21:21 EDT

New research shows that copper and copper alloys will rapidly destroy norovirus - the highly-infectious sickness bug. The virus can be contracted from contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, and contact with contaminated surfaces, meaning surfaces made from copper could effectively shut down one avenue of infection.

Vaccine blackjack: IL-21 critical to fight against viral infections

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:22:22 EDT

Scientists have shown that an immune regulatory molecule called IL-21 is needed for long-lasting antibody responses in mice against viral infections.

Ferrets, pigs susceptible to H7N9 avian influenza virus

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:37:37 EDT

Chinese and US scientists have used a virus isolated from a person who died from H7N9 avian influenza infection to determine whether the virus could infect and be transmitted between ferrets. Ferrets are often used as a mammalian model in influenza research, and efficient transmission of influenza virus between ferrets can provide clues as to how well the same process might occur in people.

Boosting body's natural flu killers as way to offset virus mutation problem

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:30:30 EDT

The known difficulty in fighting influenza (flu) is the ability of the flu viruses to mutate and thus evade various medications that were previously found to be effective. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have shown recently that another, more promising, approach is to focus on improving drugs that boost the body’s natural flu killer system.

What the smallest infectious agents reveal about evolution

Thu, 23 May 2013 00:46:46 EDT

Radically different viruses share genes and are likely to share ancestry, according to new research. The comprehensive phylogenomic analysis compares giant viruses that infect amoeba with tiny viruses known as virophages and to several groups of transposable elements. The complex network of evolutionary relationships the authors describe suggests that viruses evolved from non-viral mobile genetic elements and vice versa, on more than one occasion.

Low population immunity to new bird flu virus H7N9 in humans

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:15 EDT

The level of immunity to the recently circulating H7N9 influenza virus in an urban and rural population in Vietnam is very low, according to the first population level study to examine human immunity to the virus, which was previously only found in birds. The study has implications for planning the public health response to this pandemic threat.

Parasitic wasps use calcium pump to block fruit fly immunity

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:37:37 EDT

Parasitic wasps switch off the immune systems of fruit flies by draining calcium from the flies' blood cells, a finding that offers new insight into how pathogens break through a host's defenses. Researchers say their findings have uncovered an important component of cellular immunity, one that parasites have learned to take advantage of.

H1N1 discovered in marine mammals

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:44:44 EDT

Scientists detected the H1N1 (2009) virus in free-ranging northern elephant seals off the central California coast a year after the human pandemic began.

Study IDs key protein for cell death

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:06:06 EDT

Findings may offer a new way to kill cancer cells by forcing them into an alternative programmed-death pathway.

Level of dengue virus needed for transmission defined

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:28:28 EDT

Researchers have identified the dose of dengue virus in human blood that is required to infect mosquitoes when they bite. Mosquitoes are essential for transmitting the virus between people so the findings have important implications for understanding how to slow the spread of the disease.

Global warming trends contribute to spread of West Nile virus to new regions in Europe

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:52:52 EDT

Global warming trends have a significant influence on the spread of West Nile Virus to new regions in Europe and neighboring countries, where the disease wasn’t present before, according to a new study. The study found that rising temperatures have a more considerable contribution than humidity, to the spread of the disease, while the effect of rain was inconclusive.

Bird flu in live poultry markets are the source of viruses causing human infections

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:09:09 EDT

On 31 March 2013, the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission announced human cases of novel H7N9 influenza virus infections. Scientists have now investigated the origins of this novel H7N9 influenza virus.

Potential flu pandemic lurks: Influenza viruses circulating in pigs, birds could pose risk to humans

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:02:02 EDT

In the summer of 1968, a new strain of influenza appeared in Hong Kong. This strain, known as H3N2, spread around the globe and eventually killed an estimated 1 million people. A new study reveals that there are many strains of H3N2 circulating in birds and pigs that are genetically similar to the 1968 strain and have the potential to generate a pandemic if they leap to humans. The researchers also found that current flu vaccines might not offer protection against these strains.

Using bacteria to stop malaria

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:21:21 EDT

Mosquitoes are deadly efficient disease transmitters. New research however, demonstrates that they also can be part of the solution for preventing diseases such as malaria.

Scientists find key to gene-silencing activity

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:32:32 EDT

Scientists have found how to boost or inhibit a gene-silencing mechanism that normally serves as a major controller of cells’ activities. The discovery could lead to a powerful new class of drugs against viral infections, cancers and other diseases.

Biosensor that detects antibiotic resistance brings us one step closer to fighting superbugs

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:25:25 EDT

New research demonstrates how a biosensor can detect antibiotic resistance in bacteria. This new technology is a preliminary step in identifying and fighting superbugs, a major public health concern that has led to more deaths than AIDS in the United States in recent years.

New insights into Ebola infection pave the way for much-needed therapies

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:45:45 EDT

The Ebola virus is among the deadliest viruses on the planet, killing up to 90 percent of those infected. A new study reveals how the most abundant protein making up the Ebola virus -- viral protein 40 -- allows the virus to leave host cells and spread infection to other cells throughout the human body. The findings could lay the foundation for the development of new drugs and strategies for fighting Ebola infection.

Scientists alarmed by rapid spread of brown streak disease in cassava

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:55:55 EDT

Cassava experts are reporting new outbreaks and the increased spread of Cassava Brown Streak Disease or CBSD, warning that the rapidly proliferating plant virus could cause a 50 percent drop in production of a crop that provides a significant source of food and income for 300 million Africans.

Risks of H7N9 infection mapped

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:41:41 EDT

A map of avian influenza (H7N9) risk has just been completed. The map is composed of bird migration patterns, and adding in estimations of poultry production and consumption, which are used to infer future risk and to advise on ways to prevent infection.

Ebola's secret weapon revealed

Thu, 02 May 2013 19:22:22 EDT

Researchers have discovered the mechanism behind one of the Ebola virus' most dangerous attributes: its ability to disarm the adaptive immune system.

Tick-borne lone star virus identified through new super-fast gene sequencing

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:52:52 EDT

The tick-borne Lone Star virus has been conclusively identified as part of a family of other tick-borne viruses called bunyaviruses, which often cause fever, respiratory problems and bleeding, according to new research.

Potential novel treatment for influenza discovered: Scientists pursue new therapies as deadly H7N9 flu spreads in China

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:44:44 EDT

An experimental drug has shown promise in treating influenza, preventing lung injury and death from the virus in preclinical studies, according to new research. The scientists found that a drug called Eritoran can protect mice from death after they have been infected with a lethal dose of influenza virus.

Electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce viral food poisoning

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:16:16 EDT

Researchers have studied how electron-beam pasteurization of raw oysters may reduce the possibility of food poisoning through virus.

Synthetic derivatives of THC may weaken HIV-1 infection to enhance antiviral therapies

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:15:15 EDT

A new research report shows that compounds that stimulate the cannabinoid type 2 receptor in white blood cells, specifically macrophages, appear to weaken HIV-1 infection.

Tactics of new Middle East virus suggest treating by altering lung cells' response to infection

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:25:25 EDT

The deadly Human Coronavirus-Erasmus Medical Center, which first appeared April 2012 in the Middle East, is revealing its stronghold tactics. The virus dysregulates 207 lung cell genes to turn RNA levels up and down. The dysregulation makes it harder for cells to recognize the virus and also creates an environment for the virus to multiply. Currently available drugs are predicted to treat the infection by altering the infected cells' response, rather than killing the virus directly.

Flu and bacteria: Better prognosis for this potentially fatal combination

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:54:54 EDT

Scientists have provided insights into how much harm bacteria can cause to the lung of people having the flu. The results could prompt the development of alternative treatments for flu-related bacterial infections, to improve patient outcome and prevent permanent lung damage.

Biogeographic barrier that protects Australia from avian flu does not stop Nipah virus

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:51:51 EDT

An invisible barrier separates land animals in Australia from those in south-east Asia may also restrict the spillover of animal-borne diseases like avian flu, but researchers have found that fruit bats on either side of this line can carry Nipah virus, a pathogen that causes severe human disease.

High-nutrition and disease-resistant purple and yellow-fleshed potato clones obtained

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:10:10 EDT

Agricultural researchers have created four new potato clones which are characterized by their high antioxidant content, their good production both in size and number of tubers, as well as by their resistance to the usual diseases of this crop. The clones were obtained by natural methods through crossing varieties from South America with commercial varieties used in Europe. The result was three clones of the purple-fleshed potato and one with a markedly yellow flesh.

Counting on black crows to help us adapt to stressful situations

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:40:40 EDT

It’s hard not to catch sight of at least one black crow in the pursuit of our daily lives. For most of us, however, that is where the interaction ends. For one professor that single sighting is the open door to hours of observation.

When dogs are most likely to pick up ticks

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:09:09 EDT

It may be slighter later than expected but spring finally seems to be upon us. Unfortunately, this also means the start of the tick season, both for humans and for their pets. But when exactly is the risk of dogs’ picking up ticks greatest?

Hepatitis C-like viruses identified in bats and rodents

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

Investigators report the discovery of hepaciviruses and pegiviruses -- close relatives of HCV -- in rodents and bats. The viruses are similar to those that infect humans and may therefore provide insights into the origins of HCV, as well as the mechanisms behind animal-to-human transmission. It may also enable development of new animal models.

Quest for edible malarial vaccine leads to other potential medical uses for algae

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Can scientists rid malaria from the Third World by simply feeding algae genetically engineered with a vaccine? That's the question biologists sought to answer after they demonstrated last May that algae can be engineered to produce a vaccine that blocks malaria transmission. In a follow up study, they got their answer: Not yet, although the same method may work as a vaccine against a wide variety of viral and bacterial infections.

From blank round to a potently active substance?

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:10:10 EDT

A long-forgotten candidate for antiviral therapy is undergoing a renaissance: Since the 1970s, the small molecule CMA has been considered a potent agent against viral infections, yet it was never approved for clinical use. Scientists have now deciphered how the molecule can actually stimulate the immune system to combat viruses.

Treatment for novel coronavirus shows promise in early lab tests

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:01:01 EDT

Scientists studying an emerging coronavirus have found that a combination of two licensed antiviral drugs, ribavirin and interferon-alpha 2b, can stop the virus from replicating in laboratory-grown cells. These results suggest that the drug combination could be used to treat patients infected with the new coronavirus, but more research is needed to confirm this preliminary finding.

'Chink in the armor' of Schmallenberg virus identified

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:36:36 EDT

A key building block in the Schmallenberg virus could be targeted by anti-viral drugs, according to a new study.

Positive results for Phase I clinical trial for an H5N1 vaccine

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:49:49 EDT

Medical researchers reported positive interim results from a Phase I clinical trial for an H5N1 Avian Influenza VLP vaccine candidate. The H5N1 vaccine was found to be safe and well-tolerated and induced a solid immune response exceeding the three Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use immunogenicity criteria for licensure of influenza vaccines.

Discovery may help prevent HIV: Insights into eliminating reservoirs of HIV-1

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:46:46 EDT

Researchers have discovered how the protein that blocks HIV-1 from multiplying in white blood cells is regulated. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS, and the discovery could lead to novel approaches for addressing HIV-1 “in hiding” – namely eliminating reservoirs of HIV-1 that persist in patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy.

Scientists reveal natural process that blocks viruses

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:07:07 EDT

The human body has the ability to ward off viruses by activating a naturally occurring protein at the cellular level, setting off a chain reaction that disrupts the levels of cholesterol required in cell membranes to enable viruses to enter cells. The findings hold promise for the development of therapies to fight a variety of viral infections.

Climate and environmental changes affect the occurrence of diseases transmitted between animals and humans

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:48:48 EDT

How are human and animal diseases in general affected by the climate becoming “wilder, wetter and warmer?” New research shows that ticks have spread over larger geographical areas in Norway and that climate and environmental changes, access to host animals and demography affect tick distribution in Norway. Furthermore, local climatic conditions can have a decisive influence on the ability of the tick to spread dangerous viruses. The climate can also play a role in the spread of gastrointestinal infections.

Surprising finding could alter the face of dengue vaccine development

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:44:44 EDT

As efforts to create a strong and effective vaccine for the dreaded dengue virus continue to hit snags, a new study offers surprising evidence that suggests the need for a revamped approach to dengue vaccine design. The finding runs counter to current scientific understanding of the key cells that need to be induced to develop a successful dengue vaccine.

Could new flu spark global flu pandemic? New bird flu strain seen adapting to mammals, humans

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:24:24 EDT

A genetic analysis of the avian flu virus responsible for at least nine human deaths in China portrays a virus evolving to adapt to human cells, raising concern about its potential to spark a new global flu pandemic.

Blocking immune response protein helps body clear chronic infection; Potential therapy for HIV, other viral infections?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 EDT

Scientists have shown that temporarily blocking a protein critical to immune response actually helps the body clear itself of chronic infection. The finding suggests new approaches to treating HIV and other persistent viral infections.

Fighting disease from within the mosquito: New techniques to help halt the spread of disease

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:39:39 EDT

Scientists have revealed a new technique to introduce disease-blocking bacteria into mosquitoes, with promising results that may halt the spread of diseases such as dengue, yellow fever and potentially malaria.

Genome mapping of koalas is promising start for understanding how koalas respond to infectious diseases

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:43:43 EDT

The "holy grail" for understanding how and why koalas respond to infectious diseases has been uncovered in a world-first genome mapping project.

Some types of papilloma virus might prevent cervical cancer

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:24:24 EDT

Certain types of papilloma virus might actually prevent cervical cancer, according to a new study.