Viruses

The latest potato variety released in August by the Texas A&M Potato Breeding Program, the Duncan Russet potato, delivers disease resistance that will directly benefit growers in the southern U.S., including Texas.

Some viruses appear to vanish when outbreaks dissipate, only to emerge again. Scientists don’t always know which animals they lurk in — and how to stop them from spilling back over.

Half of our genome is made of transposons — snips of DNA that can move and copy themselves. But they’re more than parasites or genetic junk. The post How Virus-like ‘Jumping Genes’ Became Our Partners in Evolution first appeared on Quanta Magazine

When public health researchers want to know whether diseases such as COVID-19 or polio are circulating in a community, they can look for genetic evidence in wastewater.

The instrument, the first benchtop-scale platform in Asahi Kasei Bioprocess’s VANTIJ family, extends the automation and operator-focused design principles of the existing portfolio while simplifying virus filtration processes. The post Asahi Kasei Introduces VANTIJ ® SU-VFC Benchtop Virus-Filtration System appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

The Global Virus Network (GVN) is closely monitoring detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, in several mammal species in Australia as the virus continues to spread among birds and mammals worldwide.

A rare Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) on Kangaroo Island has been confirmed to have died from highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu. The sea lion had recently been attacked by a shark, weakening it. Testing revealed that the virus caused its death. Another dead sea lion is being tested.

Oxford University researchers have captured the step-by-step assembly of individual virus-like particles, revealing how simple molecular interactions can reliably build these complex biological structures. The results were published today (September 16) in Nature.

When you think of viruses, you probably think of flu-like symptoms and quarantines. Humankind has suffered from viral diseases ranging from smallpox to COVID-19, hantavirus and Ebola since the dawn of recorded history.

A new study illuminates the connection between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis (MS), pointing to a causal role for reactivation of the virus in triggering MS attacks in people with certain genetic risk factors.

UTS researchers utilize the VACUBOY and VACUSAFE systems to enhance respiratory health studies, streamlining cell culture workflows and improving productivity.

When a virus mutates, the world usually finds out the hard way. Variants of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 can slip past vaccines and antibody drugs before scientists fully understand what has changed. A new study from Harvard's Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) suggests the hard way may not be inevitable.

When public health researchers want to know whether diseases such as COVID-19 or polio are circulating in a community, they can look for genetic evidence in wastewater.

The scavenging behavior of many wild birds plays an important role in the type, number and variety of viruses they have, a new University of Otago–Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka-led study has found.

While the highly virulent avian influenza strain has only recently been discovered on Australian shores, researchers at Deakin University have been working behind the scenes for years, anticipating what an outbreak might look like.

As Dr. Anthony Fauci has faced public scrutiny from congressional Republicans, the D.O.J. has pursued a quieter and more expansive effort against a wider circle of researchers.

As Dr. Anthony Fauci has faced public scrutiny from congressional Republicans, the D.O.J. has pursued a quieter and more expansive effort against a wider circle of researchers.

In recent years, scientists have developed methods to measure a cell's transcriptome, or all the RNA produced by a cell, to study the cell's identity and genetic activity. However, these methods rely on killing the cell to access the bits of RNA within and offer only a one-time snapshot.

Some of Europe's most well-known historic manuscripts, including the York Gospels, have proven to be biological time capsules for uncovering the 3,500-year history of the sheeppox virus (SPPV).

Scientists discovered that more than 500 species of vesper bats possess two separate sets of antibody genes, an immune arrangement never before found in mammals. The surprising system could help explain how bats tolerate so many viruses without becoming seriously ill.

Some of Europe's most well-known historic manuscripts, including the York Gospels, have proven to be biological time capsules for uncovering the 3,500-year history of the sheeppox virus (SPPV).

Influenza viruses constantly shapeshift to evade recognition by the immune system. This shapeshifting occurs in critical proteins like hemagglutinin (HA), which controls how the virus attaches to human cells before entering them. Influenza viruses can evade immunity in two major ways: through the gradual accumulation of mutations that make HA harder for the immune system to recognize or through reassortment events that can introduce substantially different viral proteins and potentially lead to flu pandemics. To address this challenge, seasonal flu vaccines remain the primary approach because they can be developed to target the flu viruses circulating most predominantly in a given season.

Monkeypox virus used to be transmitted predominantly from animals to humans. In recent years, however, new virus variants have become increasingly capable of spreading from person to person.

The tide came in last week carrying thousands of dead sardines onto South Africa's south coast, and by dawn, stretches of Gqeberha's shoreline were flecked with silver.

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Every time your body fights a virus, cells are making split-second decisions that determine whether an infection spreads or stops.

The confirmation of Australia's first mainland death of a mammal from bird flu last week highlights New Zealand's challenge in managing the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

Scientists studying eight bat species uncovered genetic adaptations that may explain their exceptional longevity, cancer resistance, viral defense, and ability to repair or eliminate damaged cells. The post Myotis Bat Genomes Reveal How They Fight Viruses, Cancer, and Cellular Damage appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Bats are anomalies in the mammalian world—they fly, have long lifespans and rarely get cancer. Scientists now suspect the bat immune system enables them to live longer without disease, according to a new study published today in Nature.

Nearly half of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had a dormant virus flare back to life, and one family of viruses found in the majority of people was tied to lasting symptoms from long COVID.

The mosquito-borne illness has sickened hundreds of people this year

Every RNA virus — from stomach bugs and influenza to chickenpox and the common cold — has its own story to tell, with a unique combination of symptoms, rates of transmission, duration, and chemical blueprint.

A study reveals AI agents can develop 'mind viruses', self-propagating ideas that persist even after memory erasure, highlighting new challenges in AI safety and multi-agent systems.

COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses hiding in the body, including Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, and several herpes viruses. One poorly understood viral family was strongly associated with long COVID and lasting disability, offering a potentially important clue to why some patients struggle to recover.

Every 15 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from a drug-resistant superbug. A few decades from now, antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections threaten to become the leading cause of death worldwide, outpacing cancer.

Scientists have crossed an important line in biological engineering. In a recent study, researchers used artificial intelligence to design complete sets of genetic instructions for bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. Some of those computer-generated designs produced working viruses when they were built and tested in the laboratory.

Research is outpacing regulation to govern artificial intelligence-designed biology

A new study out of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine suggests that West Nile virus (WNV) has had impacts on one in five Pennsylvania bird species, demonstrating how decades of community science data and mosquito surveillance can uncover the long-term ecological effects of wildlife disease.

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2026 — Federal regulators have granted accelerated approval to a novel therapy for advanced melanoma — giving doctors another weapon to fight this challenging skin cancer. Tudriqev is an oncolytic viral therapy, which...

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2026 — Federal regulators have granted accelerated approval to a novel therapy for advanced melanoma — giving doctors another weapon to fight this challenging skin cancer.Tudriqev is an oncolytic viral therapy, which means it is a...

Fever is one of the best-known mechanisms by which animals combat infectious diseases. Sick animals can increase their body temperature in two ways: through physiological regulation, by altering internal metabolic processes, or through behavioral changes, such as seeking warmer environments. Ectothermic animals, including amphibians, fish and reptiles, generally rely only on the latter strategy. However, fever is not always the most effective response against every pathogen.

A small outbreak of a rare hantavirus on a cruise ship earlier this year captured worldwide attention and sparked concerns about a possible new pandemic.

In a world first, scientists led by a team from Stanford University have created 16 viable viruses that do not exist in nature and were designed by AI. Their experiment, which is published in Science, could help in the fight against superbugs by allowing researchers to design customized viruses to kill drug-resistant bacteria. Thomas Inglesby and Moritz S. Hanke have published a Perspective piece on the work and its implications in the same edition of the journal.

Scientists made 16 successful viruses that had their genetic code designed by artificial intelligence.

Researchers have used AI to design complete viral genomes that function in labs, potentially advancing medical research but raising biosafety concerns. The breakthrough could aid in combating antibiotic-resistant infections.

The technique could lead to new treatments for antibiotic-resistant bugs, but some scientists say the technology could be misused

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. How ideas of a vast censorship network moved from the online fringe to Trump policy For years, narratives about a “censorship-industrial complex” spread in right-wing circles. The theory claimed that, under…

A longitudinal study of 1,154 hospitalized COVID-19 patients found widespread reactivation of chronic Herpesviridae and Anelloviridae, with distinct viral patterns linked to disease severity, inflammation, and clinical outcomes. Anelloviridae also persisted during convalescence and were associated with physical deficits in long COVID, although the study did not establish causation.

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Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses.

Scientists trained artificial intelligence on libraries of DNA and then asked the model to create recipes for viral genomes. Sixteen of them were viable, yielding new viruses.

COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses, including Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus, according to a large NIH-funded study. Researchers also linked reactivation to long COVID, revealing potential targets for future diagnostics and treatments. The post COVID-19 Reactivates Dormant Viruses, Offering New Clues to Long COVID appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

The last time you had a cold sore, you might have fretted about how long it would hang around. Perhaps you avoided reflective surfaces. It's unlikely you worried about dying from it.

A highly contagious herpes virus causes Marek's disease, a deadly illness that mainly infects chickens. While it does not make people sick, the virus causes tumors and paralysis in chickens and, if unchecked, can spread rapidly through entire flocks.

Low arginine levels may allow cancer cells and viruses to slip past the immune system by reducing production of a crucial cellular warning protein. In mice, arginine-rich diets led to fewer colon tumors and milder viral infections, suggesting a simple supplement could have powerful therapeutic potential.

The high frequency of RNA virus mutations and outbreaks of emerging RNA viral infections are challenging public health issues. Developing a drug that can overcome viral mutations with broad-spectrum antiviral activity is an unmet need.

When a virus enters a cell, its top priority is to replicate its genome rapidly, creating new viruses to infect elsewhere. The host has the opposite priority: to destroy the virus, ideally before it can do any harm. Biology has evolved diverse tactics for viral recognition and destruction, but they share a common theme—sensing that an invading viral genome is present in a cell.

Researchers found that vesper bats use two separate sets of genes to build antibodies ‪—‬ a rare evolutionary quirk that may give them different ways to fight infection.

It is a mystery that has puzzled scientists for years. How can the world's only winged mammals carry viruses that cause severe disease while rarely becoming seriously ill themselves?

Many viruses can infect both humans and animals, including hepatitis E virus. This virus is often transmitted to humans via contaminated meat products, such as by ingesting raw or undercooked pork or wild game. However, mouse liver cells are not a suitable host for hepatitis E viruses. Researchers have now discovered why.

Mouse liver cells are not a suitable host for hepatitis E viruses. The Virology department in Bochum has discovered why.

After more than 15 years of collaborative research, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and Houston Zoo have reached a major milestone in the fight against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), publishing the first peer-reviewed evidence that an experimental mRNA vaccine may help protect young Asian elephants from one of the deadliest diseases facing the species.

Researchers at the University of Vermont Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, have discovered that dengue virus can infect and replicate inside memory B cells, immune cells traditionally understood to help protect the body from infection.

An oral antiviral candidate prevented airborne and contact transmission of a measles-like virus in ferrets, reduced disease severity and infectious duration, and could complement vaccination strategies to help control future measles outbreaks. The post Oral Antiviral Blocks Measles-Like Virus Transmission in Ferrets appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Researchers report rapid spread, widespread underdiagnosis, and growing travel-associated infections, raising concerns about future outbreaks beyond Latin America.

Viruses lack the molecular machinery required for protein synthesis. Instead, they hijack the host's protein-making machinery, specifically ribosomes and translational factors. This process is essential for viral multiplication and infection. Viruses have RNA genomes or mRNAs containing structured regions called internal ribosomal entry sites (IRES) that help capture the host ribosome to translate viral genes while translation of host genes is blocked.

All cellular life-from humans to bacteria-possesses two layers of immunity: innate and adaptive. Scientists have long understood how these two types of immunity work together in higher organisms but not in the microbial world.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed over 1,000 lives, with the Bundibugyo strain spreading rapidly. Health officials struggle to contain the crisis amid logistical challenges.

Scientists uncovered how influenza A commandeers human cells, including a surprising strategy that dissolves tiny structures in the nucleus and releases proteins the virus may use to reproduce. The detailed molecular map could reveal new drug targets and help researchers study dangerous flu strains such as H5N1.

Researchers developed a customized experimental workflow combining cross-linking mass spectrometry with AlphaFold-based structural modeling and functional assays to directly map protein-protein interactions in influenza-infected human cells. The post Flu Virus Interaction with Host Cell Machinery Mapped Inside Infected Cells appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Researchers at EMBL Hamburg and collaborators at the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) have mapped how the influenza A virus rewires infected human cells in unprecedented detail.

Researchers at EMBL Hamburg and collaborators at the Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP) have mapped how the influenza A virus rewires infected human cells in unprecedented detail. To do this, the researchers used a customized experimental workflow to directly observe how proteins interact inside intact infected cells.

A research team has developed a multisite bridging-mediated lateral flow immunoassay (mbLFIA) that enables highly sensitive, portable detection of mosquito-borne viruses, using Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) as a model target.

Professor Yasutoshi Kido of the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU), in collaboration with K.K. DNAFORM and the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is developing a portable rapid diagnostic system for Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV).

As of 14 July, 2,093 confirmed cases of Bundibugyo Virus Disease and 798 deaths had been reported in the DRC and Uganda. A total of 394 people have recovered.

A study led by a University of California, Riverside biomedical scientist shows how a family of tick-borne viruses known as orthonairoviruses can evade immune defenses, offering important insights into emerging infectious disease threats and the potential pandemic risk posed by these viruses.

Nature is the foremost international weekly scientific journal in the world and is the flagship journal for Nature Portfolio. It publishes the finest peer-reviewed research in all fields of science and technology on the basis of its originality, importance, interdisciplinary interest, timeliness, accessibility, elegance and surprising conclusions. Nature publishes landmark papers, award winning news, leading comment and expert opinion on important, topical scientific news and events that enable readers to share the latest discoveries in science and evolve the discussion amongst the global scientific community.

Researchers detected Usutu virus RNA in nine of 818 wild carnivores sampled across the Netherlands, while no animals tested positive for West Nile virus RNA. Neutralizing antibodies to one or both viruses in red foxes and stone martens indicate broader spillover exposure and suggest these species may support arbovirus surveillance.

Oxford University has initiated human trials for a new Ebola vaccine just 57 days after development, targeting the Bundibugyo strain amid an outbreak in the Congo and Uganda.

Researchers have discovered that a group of viruses known to infect an agriculturally important plant pathogen has remained genetically stable for an astonishing four decades. The discovery of a disease-fighting virus that doesn't mutate at a rapid rate points the way toward new tools for fighting crop disease—and highlights how little is known about viruses that infect bacteria in agricultural settings.

Knowing how viruses change in the initial weeks of an infection can provide important information about their adaptability.

Air pollution from cruise ships could be damaging the health of people living in port cities by increasing inflammation and susceptibility to viruses such as the common cold and COVID-19.

A single gram of soil contains between 10 million and 1 billion viruses. Most of those viruses do not infect plants, animals or people, but they do target bacteria and other microbes. Because of their influence on microbial communities, viruses can affect nutrient cycling and soil health. Understanding how they behave is therefore crucial to supporting agriculture, food production and water quality.

The $500 million seed fund will support universal antiviral platforms and air cleaning technologies.

In a major international effort to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola disease due to Bundibugyo virus (BVD), the PARTNERS clinical trial has opened enrolment today for patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) has added the first molecular diagnostic test for Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) to its Emergency Use Listing (EUL).

Is it possible to study the history of viruses that emerged several hundred million years ago? An international team of INRAE and CIRAD researchers answered this question by exploring plant genomes to find the molecular fossils of viruses. The work is published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

Ugandan health authorities have confirmed an isolated case of Marburg virus disease, a highly infectious hemorrhagic ⁠fever, while conducting surveillance for an Ebola...