Tag Archives: Viruses

A rare genetic condition that once looked like a weakness has revealed a hidden strength: immunity against nearly all viruses. Credit: Shutterstock Some people carry a rare mutation that makes them resistant to viruses. Now scientists have copied that effect with an experimental mRNA therapy that stopped both flu and COVID in animal trials — raising hopes for a universal …

Researchers at Columbia Engineering have built a cancer therapy that makes bacteria and viruses work as a team. In a study published recently in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the Synthetic Biological Systems Lab shows how their system hides a virus inside a tumor-seeking bacterium, smuggles it past the immune system, and unleashes it inside cancerous tumors. The new platform combines the bacteria’s …

Summary: Researchers have developed CAPPSID, a novel cancer therapy that teams bacteria and viruses to infiltrate and destroy tumors. The system hides an oncolytic virus inside Salmonella typhimurium, which naturally migrates into tumors, shielding the virus from immune detection. Once inside, the bacteria release the virus directly into cancer cells, where it replicates and spreads throughout the tumor. Built-in safeguards …

Cancer survivors could see the disease return with a vengeance if they contract a common virus, new research suggests.  A study, led by scientists from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, looked at how Covid-19 and influenza could awaken dormant breast cancer cells that have spread to the lungs.  In remission, dormant cancer cells can exist undetected in the body and …

DNA that humans acquired from ancient viruses plays a key role in switching parts of our genetic code on and off, a new study has found. Nearly half of the human genome consists of segments called transposable elements (TEs), also known as “jumping genes” because they can hop around the genome. Some of these TEs are remnants of ancient viruses …

If bacteria had a list of things to fear, phages would be at the top. These viruses are built to find, infect and kill them — and they have been doing it for billions of years. Now that ancient battle is offering clues for how we might fight back against antibiotic-resistant infections. As more bacteria evolve to withstand our antibiotics, …

Breast cancer patients who have been in remission for years or even decades may still need to be cautious about respiratory infections. Some common viruses may re-awaken a very small number of dormant breast cancer cells within our lungs, according to emerging research. “Dormant cancer cells are like the embers left in an abandoned campfire, and respiratory viruses are like …

Westmoreland Conservation District is urging residents to take precautions against tick and mosquito bites as samples of the pests collected in the county have tested positive for Lyme disease, West Nile virus and a less familiar new threat — Jamestown Canyon virus. Chrissy Edwards-McCune, West Nile Virus coordinator for the conservation district, reported Tuesday that West Nile virus has been …

It’s smaller than your fingernail and kills more humans than any other animal on Earth. Now it’s spreading fast across New York,  and it’s already infected people. The New York State Department of Health wants New Yorkers to remember the dangers of mosquito bites and protect against diseases like West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). New York State …

Your DNA Is Full of Ancient Viruses – And They’re Running the Show  SciTechDaily Scientists Found a Ghost Code Hidden in the Human Genome  Popular Mechanics “Junk” Impeded Science  Evolution News Ancient viral DNA may help unlock what makes us human today  Interesting Engineering Scientists just discovered a secret code hidden in your DNA  ScienceDaily Source link