Tag: Virology
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Bats and Dangerous Viruses: New Insights from Nature
Introduction: Rethinking Bat-Virus Relationships A recent study published in Nature Communications Biology offers a fresh perspective on how bats interact with dangerous viruses. Led by researchers at the University of Oklahoma, the work challenges some long-held assumptions about bats as universal reservoirs for high-risk pathogens. Instead, the study emphasizes context, behavior, and ecology as key…
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Pin1 Inhibitors Offer New Hope Against Cold Sores by Altering Cell Structures
New class of antivirals targets host cell structure to block HSV-1 A promising development from recent research suggests that a class of antivirals known as Pin1 inhibitors could prevent or significantly reduce outbreaks of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), the virus behind oral herpes and cold sores. The study, published in Antiviral Research, highlights a…
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Pin1 Inhibitors Could Halt HSV-1 Outbreaks In Humans
New Pin1 Inhibitors Offer a New Way to Combat Cold Sores Researchers are exploring a novel class of antivirals that could change how we prevent and treat oral herpes. Pin1 inhibitors, designed to target a cellular enzyme called peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1), have shown potential to curb herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) replication.…
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Systematic misclassification of sylvatic dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) infections as “undetermined serotype”: implications for RT-qPCR dengue surveillance
Overview: An emerging blind spot in dengue diagnostics Recent correspondence highlights a critical flaw in routine dengue molecular surveillance: sylvatic dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) infections are being misclassified as “Undetermined Serotype” by commercial serotyping assays. This misclassification mirrors prior reports of assay failure against sylvatic DENV-2 strains, notably in Senegal, West Africa, suggesting a broader,…
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Astronomers Edge Closer to 3I/ATLAS’s Origins and Other Striking Science Finds This Week
Interstellar Clues: 3I/ATLAS and the Quest to Determine Its Origins The week’s science headlines were dominated by an enigmatic visitor from beyond our solar system: the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. First spotted in late June, this icy traveler has become a window into the distant past of our galaxy. Researchers are piecing together a story about…
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Disabling a Cellular ‘Entry Code’ Could Stop Deadly Rotavirus Infection
New Target in the War Against Rotavirus Rotavirus remains a leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children, claiming more than 128,500 lives globally each year despite broad vaccination efforts. In the United States, a worrying trend toward waning vaccine uptake has coincided with rising rotavirus cases in recent years. A team…
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Discovery Opens New Avenues for Treating Rotavirus Infections
New Insight Into How Rotavirus Enters Cells Rotavirus remains a leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea in infants and young children, contributing to over 128,000 deaths annually worldwide despite widespread vaccination efforts. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis sheds light on a crucial step in the virus’s infection process,…
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Canadian Study Reveals How HIV Hides in Different Parts of the Body
New Evidence of Tissue-Specific HIV Integration A landmark study from Western University and the University of Calgary reveals a nuanced picture of how HIV hides in the body. By examining tissue-specific patterns of HIV DNA integration, researchers show that the virus does not randomly embed itself in host genomes. Instead, HIV targets particular regions within…
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First Step Toward Treatment for TBE
First steps toward a treatment for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) remains a significant public health challenge in Europe and Asia, where climate-driven changes are expanding the habitats of ticks and the viruses they carry. While vaccines provide strong protection for many, not everyone can or wants to be vaccinated, and a specific treatment…
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New Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses Opens in Vienna
Overview: A dedicated hub for respiratory virus surveillance On October 1, 2025, the Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses at the Medical University of Vienna, Center for Virology, officially began operations. Commissioned by the Austrian Ministry of Health, the center is designed to monitor seasonal respiratory diseases such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19. The project represents…