Viruses

Viruses play a major role in the functioning of ecosystems. They profoundly influence the dynamics of microbial communities, the flow of matter and global biogeochemical cycles. Yet despite their abundance and ecological importance, many of them have long remained invisible to science.

An international research team led by a Korean scientist has succeeded in designing large-scale protein structures that faithfully replicate the self-assembly principles found in naturally occurring viruses, using artificial intelligence (AI).

Everyday viral infections may be quietly reshaping the body’s network of molecules that support cells and tissues in ways that can raise cancer risk over time

In previous Ebola disease outbreaks in Africa as well as the current outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, immediate neighbouring countries are most affected when it comes to cross-border spread.

The recent Oropouche virus outbreak in 2023 drew attention in Brazil and other Latin American countries not only because of its scale – with more than 30,000 cases recorded nationwide – but also because of the first confirmed death in the country caused by the disease and its rapid spread to all states, extending beyond the Amazon region.

Following infection, Ebola virus can survive unnoticed in the human body for months or even years, hiding in areas with little immune surveillance like the central nervous system.

An interdisciplinary team of Rice University researchers has uncovered previously unknown relationships between bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—and their bacterial hosts, offering a powerful new tool for next-generation microbiome engineering.

It was something infectious disease expert Heather Ferguson never expected to see in her lifetime: a mosquito-borne virus originally from Africa spreading in Scotland.

Bacteria also produce molecules that have an antiviral effect. Researchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and Jülich Research Center (FZJ) have examined the antiviral molecule daunorubicin and decoded its mode of operation against viruses in collaboration with colleagues from Marburg and Zurich. They now describe this mechanism, which primarily targets a specific group of viruses—namely bacteriophages—in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study challenges the idea that cellular complexity emerged from a single evolutionary encounter, and point instead to a gradual process of interactions among bacteria and giant viruses lasting millions of years. The post Origins of First Eukaryotes Linked to Contributions from Multiple Bacteria and Giant Viruses appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Muscle spasticity is a common and often debilitating consequence of spinal cord injury that can significantly affect mobility and quality of life. Spasticity is a condition in which muscles become abnormally stiff or tight because of disrupted nerve signaling, often causing exaggerated reflexes, involuntary muscle spasms and difficulty with movement.

The virologist was stopped at the Detroit airport after working in Congo during a mpox epidemic. His lawyer said the material was for research.

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a clinically important human neurotropic herpesvirus that causes varicella (chickenpox) as primary infection, typically in children.

Researchers used AI to create a vaccine targeting multiple viruses, a breakthrough that could speed vaccine development and boost outbreak preparedness.

Two US scientists are charged with illegally smuggling 113 virus vials, including Mpox, from Africa, breaching strict biosafety and customs rules.

A new predictive model developed at Washington State University could help scientists more efficiently identify the reservoirs of emerging zoonotic viruses and dangerous pathogens like Ebola that can spill over from animals into humans.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have designed non-toxic Salmonella bacteria to deliver viruses that are safe to humans but potent against liver and pancreatic cancer tumors - two cancers with an extremely poor prognosis.

A new predictive model developed at Washington State University could help scientists more efficiently identify the reservoirs of emerging zoonotic viruses and dangerous pathogens like Ebola that can spill over from animals into humans. Confirming a reservoir species is critical to understanding and preventing those spillovers, but it requires detecting live virus in an actively infected animal. That can be a significant challenge, as infections are often rare, short-lived, and fluctuate seasonally, reaching detectable levels only during brief windows each year.

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The latest news and headlines from Yahoo! News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos.

Norovirus cases are rising across the US, with wastewater data showing increased activity. Experts monitor the situation, noting the emergence of a new strain and the virus's persistent spread.

Scientists identified "cross-reactive" T cells that can recognize different paramyxovirus pathogens, which may point to the development of vaccines and therapies that can target measles, Nipah, and other paramyxovirus infections at once. The post Cross-Reactive T Cells Could Point to Broad Vaccines or Treatments for Measles, Nipah Virus appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

T cells are some of the immune system's most important warriors. They can stop tumor growth and even fight off severe infections.

Scientists investigating how influenza viruses replicate within cells "accidentally" discovered that different flu viruses use distinct strategies to infiltrate cells in the first place.

In response to the current outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with cases also reported in Uganda, WHO convened several of its expert and advisory groups.

A cancer-killing virus has stopped pancreatic tumours from growing and spreading in three people in an initial safety trial, raising hopes that it may help to beat the deadly condition

Researchers have found surprising links that show that Neanderthal ancestry influences our immune system today in ways more nuanced than previously recognized. Their work is published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution.

Johanna Harvey, an assistant professor of wildlife disease ecology at the University of Rhode Island, has described bird flu in public presentations as a quiet virus with loud consequences. Now, she's published a new paper in Wildlife Monographs, describing how circulating avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) show an expanded set of susceptible hosts, including many migratory wild birds, and higher transmission rates. In the paper, Harvey examines data gaps in avian influenza host dynamics to prioritize wildlife conservation—and protect human health.

The types of Ebola and hantavirus panicking officials are very different from the species identified decades ago, raising new questions about how to respond.

The types of Ebola and hantavirus panicking officials are very different from the species identified decades ago, raising new questions about how to respond.

In evolutionary biology, all life on Earth is theoretically part of a single phylogenetic tree, indicating common ancestry. This model suggests that every living organism can be traced back to a distant common ancestor. However, viruses—which are not made of cells, but consist only of genetic material—are not part of this traditional cellular tree of life, raising important questions about their origin and evolution.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to identify nearly two dozen antiviral compounds that could potentially treat a rare species of Ebola virus (Bundibugyo virus) currently affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo.

TUESDAY, May 26, 2026 — The Trump administration has issued a directive shutting key U.S. health research officials out of global discussions on virus outbreaks, according to CNN.Specifically, officials from the National Institute of Allergy and...

Bulevirtide (Hepcludex; Gilead Sciences, Inc.) is the first FDA-approved treatment for chronic hepatitis delta virus infection.

Experimental infection studies in lactating Holstein cows showed that H5N1 B3.13 can infect the bovine mammary gland at doses as low as 10 TCID50, producing extremely high viral loads in milk. However, the virus did not transmit to sentinel cows through repeated exposure to contaminated milking equipment or through close contact under high-biocontainment conditions, suggesting that real-world dairy-farm spread depends on additional cofactors.

Scientists have found high levels of hantavirus in rodents across the US Northwest, suggesting the virus is more widespread and raising new concerns about human exposure in rural areas.

Recent outbreaks and cruise ship exposures are renewing the debate over whether current Andes virus precautions adequately address possible respiratory spread.

A study led by researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) has identified a mitochondrial "checkpoint" that enables dendritic cells to efficiently activate T lymphocytes against viruses and tumors.

Tests with rodents suggest an mRNA vaccine in development offers protection against three strains of Ebola virus, including the one behind the current crisis

Bundibugyo virus is an uncommon species of Ebola-causing virus that has been linked to only two other known outbreaks

A phase I clinical trial is testing whether a tumor-targeting virus can help immunotherapy work more effectively against aggressive neuroendocrine tumors that often resist treatment.

A common vegetable oil may hold the key to fighting some of the world's most dangerous viruses.

A 74-year-old woman in Indiana lost millions in gold due to a tech scam, leading to an FBI investigation and the arrest of a courier involved in the fraud.

Former telecom executives admit guilt in a major tech-support fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans, involving fake virus alerts that cost victims billions.

Researchers at the University of Würzburg have unveiled a new tool for analyzing RNA molecules. It visualizes their structures as interactive maps and could help to improve our understanding of diseases.

The Sabiá virus causes an acute hemorrhagic and neurological syndrome. Four fatal cases have been recorded in the state of São Paulo since 1990.

A decade after Ebola vaccines changed outbreak response, a new epidemic in central Africa is caused by a strain the world never fully prepared for

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen have shown that giant viruses long thought to exist only as fleeting, free-living particles that can embed themselves permanently in the genome of a multicellular host, lie dormant for generations and then wake up on demand. Their study, published in Nature Microbiology, challenges fundamental assumptions about how giant viruses operate and establishes a powerful new model for studying viral latency in complex organisms.

Pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 12 - Determination of a public health emergency of international concern, including a pandemic emergency of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), after having consulted the States Parties where the event is known to be currently occurring, is hereby determining that the Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency, as defined in the IHR.

Gathering dust from buildings may hold promise as a more efficient way to track viral outbreaks in indoor settings, according to a new study published in Building and Environment by researchers from the Ohio State University. After collecting nearly 30 vacuumed dust samples from places like schools, university residence halls and office buildings, the team simultaneously identified the presence of 54 distinct viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, norovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and others.

The WHO has declared a global health emergency over a Bundibugyo virus outbreak in Congo and Uganda, a rare Ebola strain linked to rising deaths and cross-border infections.

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A CBBL research team led by Professor Balachandran Manavalan from the Department of Integrative Biotechnology at Sungkyunkwan University has developed DeepTYLCV, an accurate and interpretable artificial intelligence model for predicting the virulence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV).

A 2020 NEJM study of the 2018 to 2019 Epuyén outbreak showed that Andes virus spread from one zoonotic introduction into four generations of human infection, causing 34 cases and 11 deaths. The findings are newly relevant after WHO reported an ANDV cluster linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, where close indoor exposure may have enabled onboard human-to-human transmission.

Researchers discovered hantavirus can remain in human semen for nearly six years, raising concerns about potential sexual transmission and prompting a review of health guidelines.

Viruses play a far more active role in Earth's carbon cycle than previously understood, according to new research that reveals how they infect and control microbes responsible for carbon production in some of the planet's largest, darkest ecosystems. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.

A pill called ensitrelvir is the first drug shown to effectively reduce infection after exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

An unprecedented study led by researchers at the University of Malaga proposes a new antiviral strategy against SARS-CoV-2 -the virus responsible for causing COVID-19 disease- based on a treatment that combines two complementary approaches, capable of attacking the virus simultaneously, forcing its instability and hindering its ability to adapt.

A recent Views & Comments article published in Engineering highlights advances in repurposing influenza viruses as flexible therapeutic platforms for infectious diseases and cancer, driven by progress in reverse genetics and viral vector engineering.

With three people dead and 11 cases from the recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, UMD's internationally renowned expert on airborne viruses, Dr. Don Milton, joins public health colleagues in an opinion piece in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) to shift its default response to emerging respiratory 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.

Scientists at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, have uncovered a crucial trick used by enteroviruses—the group behind diseases like polio, myocarditis, encephalitis, and even the common cold—to reproduce inside human cells. The team captured, in unprecedented detail, how viral RNA recruits both viral and human proteins to assemble the machinery needed for replication, acting almost like a molecular “on-off switch” that controls whether the virus copies itself or makes proteins.

New models chart how virus-carrying rodents may spread across Argentina as climate change reshapes weather patterns.

A 2012 episode of The Simpsons featuring a 'Pandora virus' on a cruise ship is being touted by fans as a prediction of the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak.

Brazilian scientist Luciano Moreira tenderly handles a glass box of swarming mosquitoes infected with a bacterium that blocks the transmission of dengue.

A hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has led to confirmed cases in Europe and the US, prompting a large-scale international health response.

A deadly cruise ship outbreak of the Andes strain has revived global interest in a long‑delayed hantavirus cure, as scientists warn that early hospital care can make the difference between survival and a 38% fatality risk.

An enzymatic scissors recognizes and cuts viral RNA, but leaves the host cell unharmed. This opens up new antiviral strategies against hepatitis E.

European health agencies are monitoring passengers and crew members after suspected hantavirus exposure raised concerns about rare human transmission patterns.

Findings from California dairy farms show H5N1 in air and wastewater, indicating overlooked transmission routes and implications for outbreak management.

Sens. Diagn.DOI: 10.1039/D6SD00034G, Paper Open Access   This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence.Luis Enrique Franco-Correa, Luis A. Ortiz-Frade, Alejandro Bravo Patiño, Francisco Perez-Duran, Fernando Calderón-Rico, Alicia Gabriela Zamora-Avilés, Martha Leticia Jiménez-González, Gabriel Espinosa, Daniel Durand-Herrera, Ricarda Cortés-Vieyra, Rosa Elvira Nuñez-AnitaA peptide-based electrochemical immunosensor detects anti-PRRSV in pig serum. EIS monitors electron transfer resistance changes on a gold electrode functionalized with a synthetic viral peptide after antigen–antibody binding.To cite this article before page numbers are assigned, use the DOI form of citation above.The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry

A highly promising vaccine for Hanta virus is being developed by researchers from the University of Bath. The team is led by Professor Asel Sartbaeva, Chemistry researcher at the University and co-founder of University spinout company Ensilitech.

Trump called the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak 'fine' as scientists reveal his administration cut funding for a pilot project studying the deadly Andes virus.

Bacteria fend off invading viruses with molecular scissors that slice up viral DNA - a system called CRISPR that's become indispensable to gene editing.

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) are the first in the world to characterize human antibodies capable of neutralizing measles virus.

Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have developed a solid polymer coated with harmless viruses to detect the bacteria Salmonella enterica (S. enterica), an advance that could lead to new ways of finding contamination in the food supply. The work is published in the journal ACS Applied Bio Materials.

The Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases were designed to study viruses that could jump from animals to people, including hantavirus, but in 2025 the National Institutes of Health said the work wouldn’t continue

Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil have discovered that high-frequency ultrasound waves similar to those used in medical exams can eliminate viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 without damaging human cells. In an article published in Scientific Reports, they describe how the phenomenon, known as acoustic resonance, causes structural changes in viral particles until they rupture and become inactivated.

Scientists identified human mAbs from a previously measles-vaccinated human, which in a rodent model of measles infection reduced viral load 500-fold, and which could form the basis for future human therapies that prevent or treat measles infection. The post Human Antibodies Identified That Have Potential To Prevent and Treat Measles Virus appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Laboratory tests have implicated the Andes virus, a specific type of hantavirus, in the cluster of illnesses on the cruise ship MV Hondius.

A hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in three deaths, with WHO investigating rare human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus.

The H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in over 700 herds of dairy cows in California, the largest dairy-producing state in the U.S. A study published in PLOS Biology led by Seema S. Lakdawala at Emory University School of Medicine, U.S. and Jason Lombard at Colorado State University, U.S. suggests that H5N1 is transmitted through multiple, previously unknown sources and that some H5N1 positive cows do not show clinical signs of infection.

Experts explain whether all mice carry the virus and when droppings become dangerous after three deaths aboard the MV Hondius have renewed hantavirus fears.

With longer days, warmer weather and a little more breathing room in the schedule, summer often feels like the perfect time to bring home a new dog.

The ability to detect viruses and other harmful pathogens is highly advantageous for animals, as it can guide their behavior and prevent them from illness, and—in severe cases—death. When it comes to species that live in organized groups, such as bees, ants and some other insects, it can be even more crucial, as it can prevent the spread of pathogens across entire colonies.

As the spread of infectious diseases accelerates, technologies that can accurately distinguish multiple viruses in a single test are becoming increasingly important. KAIST and an international research team have developed a new diagnostic technology that simultaneously identifies various viruses and variants by controlling the "speed" of gene scissors.

Scientists at Stanford University have discovered that DRT3, a unique defense system found in bacteria, creates DNA to protect against viral infections. DRT3 is made up of two different enzymes called reverse transcriptases, Drt3a and Drt3b, and a piece of noncoding RNA (ncRNA). Together, this trio makes long, double-stranded DNA consisting of alternating repeats (GT/AC).

Researchers updated the global catalogue of human-infective RNA viruses to 239 ICTV-recognised species, incorporating taxonomy, discovery dates, locations, genome links, host range, transmissibility, and transmission routes. The dataset shows that most known human-infective RNA viruses remain strictly zoonotic, while only a minority are endemic in humans or capable of epidemic spread.

Researchers filmed 10 species eating or scavenging bats at known Marburg-virus hotspot—and caught hundreds of humans visiting

Florida's wildlife agency reports 31 sloth deaths in an unlicensed Orlando warehouse, highlighting regulatory gaps and sparking public outrage over animal welfare.

Memory cells in the nose slow the influenza virus as soon as it enters the body. They reduce viral levels and may help protect against more severe illness.

Researchers have developed a new methodology that uses artificial intelligence tools to identify and count target viruses more efficiently than previous techniques. The new approach can be used in applications such as pharmaceutical biomanufacturing.

The Epstein-Barr virus seems to affect gene expression and cell signalling in a way that causes the autoimmune condition multiple sclerosis

Instead of directly attacking the virus, the compound acts on the host cell and prevents infection.

A new virus-fighting plastic film could transform everyday surfaces into invisible defenders against disease. Instead of relying on chemicals, this flexible material is covered in microscopic pillars that physically stretch viruses until they burst, rendering them harmless. In lab tests, it destroyed or disabled about 94% of virus particles within an hour, showing impressive effectiveness.

A new Yale study published in JAMA Network Open finds that the virus that causes COVID-19 does not linger in placental tissue weeks to months after a pregnant woman recovers from infection - offering important reassurance for clinicians and patients alike.

For decades, two different viruses were believed to be responsible for a common, untreatable disease in dahlias, a colorful, high-value flower grown worldwide. Virologists at Washington State University have now learned that the two viruses, known as dahlia mosaic virus and the dahlia common mosaic virus, are variants of the same viral species. Based on the sequencing and comparison of the viruses' genomes, the discovery was published in the journal Archives of Virology.

A newly discovered virus hiding inside a common gut bacterium could help explain one of medicine’s long-standing mysteries: why a microbe found in both healthy people and cancer patients is linked to colorectal cancer. The research suggests that the interaction between bacteria and the viruses they carry may be key to understanding disease risk. It may even lead to future screening tests that detect cancer risk earlier.

Think of how many surfaces you touch every day, from your kitchen bench to the handrail on the bus or train, your work desk and your phone screen.

Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic disease in humans caused by the Marburg virus. It is carried by Egyptian fruit bats and can spread to people after exposure in caves or mines where they live. So imagine the surprise of researchers when they monitored Python Cave in Uganda, a known Marburg virus reservoir, and found that, despite the danger, dozens of people were entering the site. Most of these visitors were unprotected and ignored safety rules, creating a golden opportunity for the virus to jump from bats to the local community.