Virus Weekly articles from April 2009

Virus Weekly archives from April 2009

The host makes all the difference.
April 7, 2009... "Where there are many scientific works dealing solely with the flu virus, we have investigated how the host reacts to an infection," says Klaus Schughart, head of the Experimental Mouse Genetics research group. In infection experiments the...

Herpes: Scientists find cellular process that fights virus.
April 7, 2009... This release is available in French. Montreal, March 23, 2009 - Scientists have discovered a new way for our immune system to combat the elusive virus responsible for cold sores: Type 1 herpes simplex (HSV-1). As reported in the advance online...

Research from University of Pennsylvania, Medical Department reveals new findings on enzyme research.(Report)
April 7, 2009... According to recent research published in the Journal of Neurochemistry, "The calpain family of cysteine proteases has a well-established causal role in neuronal cell death following acute brain injury. However, the relative contribution of...

Recent findings in Epstein-Barr virus described by researchers from Central South University.(Report)
April 7, 2009... "Oncoprotein 18/stathmin (Op18/stathmin) plays a crucial role in maintaining cell biological characteristics by regulating microtubule dynamics, especially entry into mitosis; phosphorylated Op18/stathmin promotes microtubule polymerization to...

Research findings from University of London, Imperial College update understanding of Epstein-Barr virus.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from London, the United Kingdom, "Introns from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BART RNAs produce up to 20 micro RNAs (miRNAs) but the spliced exons of the BART RNAs have also been investigated as possible mRNAs, with the...

Study results from D. Li and colleagues in the area of Epstein-Barr virus published.(Report)
April 7, 2009... "The presentation of peptides to T cells by MHC class II molecules is of critical importance in specific recognition to a pathogen by the immune system. The level of MHC class II directly influences T lymphocyte activation," scientists in...

New findings in foamy virus described by V.A. Morozov and co-researchers.
April 7, 2009... "Foamy viruses are frequently found in non-human primates and apes in captivity. However, data on simian foamy virus (SFV) infection in apes from the wild are limited," scientists in Berlin, Germany report (see also Foamy Virus). "Necropsy...

New findings from S.T. Ong and co-researchers in the area of nipah virus described.
April 7, 2009... "The nucleocapsid protein of Nipah virus produced in Escherichia coli assembled into herringbone-like particles. The amino- and carboxy-termini of the N protein were shortened progressively to define the minimum contiguous sequence involved in...

Recent findings from Karolinska Institut highlight research in Epstein-Barr virus in children.(Report)
April 7, 2009... New research, 'Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus are differentially associated with numbers of cytokine-producing cells and early atopy,' is the subject of a report. "We have previously shown that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seropositivity,...

Study data from Chosun University, Department of Dermatology update understanding of herpes zoster virus.
April 7, 2009... Fresh data on herpes zoster virus are presented in the report 'Case of herpes zoster duplex bilateralis.' According to a study from Korea, "Non-contiguously simultaneous development of herpes zoster is very rare. It is named either herpes...

Findings from Peking University broaden understanding of antivirals.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "gC1qR is one of the C1q receptors implicated in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. We found that gC1qR inhibits RIG-I and MDA5-dependent antiviral signaling." ...

Research from A.C. Brehin and co-researchers in the area of antivirals described.
April 7, 2009... According to recent research from Paris, France, "Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) becomes one of the most important mosquito-borne alphavirus in the medical field. CHIKV is highly sensitive to antiviral activity of Type-I interferons...

Study findings from Iowa State University broaden understanding of arbovirus.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Horizontally transmitted mosquito-borne viruses enter the midgut with a blood meal then disseminate to infect the salivary glands. En route to the salivary glands, these viruses encounter the plasma...

Researchers at University of Zagreb release new data on cancer.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from Zagreb, Croatia, "Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) pharmacophores are interesting in designing potential anticancer drugs. Indeed, numerous experimental, epidemiologic and clinical studies suggest that...

Research reports from C.N. Detje and co-authors provide new insights into central nervous system infection.
April 7, 2009... "Several neurotropic viruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) induce peripheral neutralizing Ab responses and still can infect cells within the CNS. To address whether local type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) triggering plays a role in...

New cytokines study findings recently were reported by S. Lata and co-researchers.
April 7, 2009... According to recent research from Grenoble, France, "ESCRT-III (endosomal sorting complex required for transport 111) is required for the formation and abscission of intraluminal endosomal vesicles, which gives rise to multivesicular bodies,...

Research on DNA research detailed by M. Ninomiya and co-authors.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from Tochigi, Japan, "Humans are frequently infected with three anelloviruses which have circular DNA genomes of 3.6-3.9 kb [Torque teno virus (TTV)], 2.8-2.9 kb [Torque teno mini virus (TTMV)] and 3.2 kb [a recently...

New findings from Leiden University in the area of Epstein-Barr virus published.
April 7, 2009... "EBV persists for life in the human host while facing vigorous antiviral responses that are induced upon primary infection. This persistence supports the idea that herpesviruses have acquired dedicated functions to avoid immune elimination,"...

Research on foamy virus reported by scientists at University of Wurzburg.
April 7, 2009... "In contrast to other retroviruses, foamy viruses (FVs) generate their Pol protein precursor independently of the Gag protein from a spliced mRNA. The exact mechanism of Pol protein incorporation into the viral capsid is poorly understood,"...

Research on herpesvirus published by scientists at University of Utah.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Treatment of herpes simplex labialis (HSL) has been associated with modest benefits. This difficulty results from the rapid resolution of the disease accomplished by the immune system, which narrows...

Findings in pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis reported from Food & Drug Administration.
April 7, 2009... "Two analogues of sildenafil were detected in herbal dietary supplements marketed as aphrodisiacs. Both compounds were identified as thioketone analogues or sildenafil in which the carbonyl group in the pyrimidine ring of sildenafil was...

New influenza study findings have been published by D. Marsolais and colleagues.
April 7, 2009... "Pulmonary tissue damage resulting from influenza virus infection is caused by both the cytolytic activity of the virus and the host immune response. Immune-mediated injury results from T cell-mediated destruction of virus-infected cells and by...

New influenza study findings have been published by N. Wressnigg and colleagues.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from Vienna, Austria, "Contemporary influenza B virus strains were generated encoding C-terminally truncated NS1 proteins. Viable viruses containing the N-terminal 14, 38, 57 or 80 aa of the NS1 protein were rescued in Vero...

Reports summarize influenza research from N.J. Dharan and co-authors.(Report)
April 7, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Context During the 2007-2008 influenza season, oseltamivir resistance among influenza A(H1N1) viruses increased significantly for the first time worldwide. Early surveillance data suggest that the...

Research findings from S. Mubareka et al update understanding of influenza.
April 7, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Limited data on the relative contributions of different routes of transmission for influenza virus are available. Person-to-person transmission is central to seasonal and pandemic spread;...

Researchers at University of Mississippi Medical Center target influenza.
April 7, 2009... "Recent investigations have shown that guinea pigs are important for the study of influenza A virus (IAV) transmission. However, very little is known about IAV replication and histopathology in the guinea pig respiratory tract," scientists...

Study data from Y. Shtyrya et al provide new insights into influenza.
April 7, 2009... According to recent research published in the Glycoconjugate Journal, "Balanced action of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) is an important condition of influenza virus efficient replication, but a role of HA and NA specificities at...

New life sciences research from Linkoping University discussed.
April 7, 2009... "In this novel study, we have for the first time identified evolutionarily conserved capsid residues in an individual chronically infected with norovirus (GGII.3). From 2000 to 2003, a total of 147 P1-1 and P2 capsid sequences were sequenced...

Research from S. Gisder et al broadens understanding of life sciences.
April 7, 2009... "Deformed wing virus (DWV) normally causes covert infections but can have devastating effects on bees by inducing morphological deformity or even death when transmitted by the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor. In order to determine the role...

Researchers from University of York detail findings in life sciences.(Report)
April 7, 2009... "RNA silencing in plants serves as a potent antiviral defense mechanism through the action of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which direct RNA degradation. siRNAs can be derived directly from the viral genome or via the action of host-encoded...

Scientists at University of St. Andrews discuss research in life sciences.
April 7, 2009... "The L protein of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV; family Bunyaviridae) is an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, 2233 aa in length, that catalyses transcription and replication of the negative-sense, tripartite RNA genome. To learn more about the molecular...

Data from Mie University, Medical Department advance knowledge in paramyxovirus.
April 7, 2009... "The fusion (F) protein of parainfluenza virus 5(PIV-5) strain W3A is able to induce cell fusion when it is expressed alone in baby hamster kidney cells, whilst the F protein of PIV-5 strain WR induces cell fusion only when co-expressed with...

Research on polyomavirus reported by scientists at University of Basel.
April 7, 2009... "The replication of BK virus (BKV) and JC virus (JCV) is linked to polyomavirus-associated nephropathy, hemorrhagic cystitis, and multifocal leukoencephalopathy in immunodeficient patients, but the behavior of these viruses in immunocompetent...

Recent studies from Kyoto University add new data to proteomics.
April 7, 2009... "A novel yeast three-hybrid (Y3H) vector pBT was developed, which contains a tetracycline (Tet)-sensitive transactivator (tTA) expression unit and a Tet-responsive element (TRE)-driven 3rd protein expression unit within a single plasmid. To...

Researchers at Columbus Children's Hospital have published new data on rabies.
April 7, 2009... "Rabies is a fatal viral encephalitis characterized by a clinically acute and progressive course. With rare exceptions, there is a discrepancy between clinical outcome and frank histological alterations in rabies," scientists in the United...

New simian immunodeficiency virus research reported from S. Souquiere and co-authors.(Report)
April 7, 2009... According to recent research from Franceville, Gabon, "The mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) is naturally infected by two types of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV): SIVmnd types 1 and 2. Both of these viruses cause long-term, non-progressive...

Research results from B.A. Goetz and colleagues update understanding of spectroscopy.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from Zurich, Switzerland, "BtuCD is a type II ABC importer that catalyzes the translocation of vitamin B12 from the periplasm into the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli." "Crystal structures of BtuCD and the related HiF (or...

Studies from Wake Forest University, Medical Department in the area of stomatitis published.
April 7, 2009... "Viral matrix (M) proteins bind the nucleoprotein core (nucleocapsid) to host membranes during the process of virus assembly by budding. Previous studies using truncated M proteins had implicated the N-terminal 50 amino acids of the vesicular...

New research on surgery from Cleveland Clinic summarized.
April 7, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Dural replacements are used in cranial surgery when primary closure of native dura is not possible. The goal is to recreate a watertight barrier to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leakage with...

Research from D.C. Schroeder and co-authors reveals new findings on virology.
April 7, 2009... According to a study from South Korea, "Genomic analysis of Feldmannia sp. virus 158, the second phaeovirus to be sequenced in its entirety, provides further evidence that large double-stranded DNA viruses share similar evolutionary pressures...

Research in the area of west nile virus reported from G. Zou and colleagues.
April 7, 2009... "Lycorine potently inhibits flaviviruses in cell culture. At 1.2-mc M concentration, lycorine reduced viral titers of West Nile (WNV), dengue, and yellow fever viruses by 10(2)- to 10(4)-fold," researchers in Singapore, Singapore report (see...

New life sciences in children findings from University Hospital published.(Report)
April 7, 2009... Research findings, 'Detection of human bocavirus in hospitalised children,' are discussed in a new report. "The objectives of this study are to assess the frequency of human bocavirus (HBoV) infection in hospitalised children and to study the...

Studies from University of Alicante have provided new information about life sciences.
April 7, 2009... A report, 'Short motif sequences determine the targets of the prokaryotic CRISPR defence system,' is newly published data in Microbiology. According to a study from Alicante, Spain, "Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats...

Study results from University of Maryland provide new insights into virology.
April 7, 2009... Data detailed in 'Perinatal outcomes after second trimester detection of amniotic fluid viral genome in asymptomatic patients' have been presented. "Symptomatic fetal viral infection can affect placental and fetal development and may lead to...

Revolutionary HaloPure[R] Drinking Water Disinfection Technology Registered by EPA.
April 7, 2009... HaloSource®, a leading clean water and antimicrobial solutions company, has been granted United States Environmental Protection Agency registration for HaloPure BR®, a revolutionary technology which provides safe, clean drinking water...

Norman Launches DNA Matching - a Unique Technology to Stop Malware.
April 7, 2009... Norman launched today Norman DNA Matching, a new proactive technology and method for identifying the viral profile of all kinds of malicious programs. DNA Matching is unique in its capability to detect programming codes that malware authors...

Oncolytics Biotech(R) Inc. Collaborators Present Reovirus Research at Replicating Oncolytic Virus Meeting.(Report)
April 7, 2009... Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSX: ONC, NASDAQ: ONCY) announced results of two preclinical studies that were presented at the Fifth International Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics. The meeting was held in Banff, Alberta from March...

Findings from University of Pennsylvania, Medical Department provide new insights into bird flu.
April 21, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "During fall 2005, personal stockpiling of oseltamivir for use during an outbreak of H5N1 influenza virus infection was widely reported. The present study aimed to identify indications for...

Effective Weight Management with Gene-Eden, a New Dietary Supplement Based on Dr. Hanan Polansky's Discovery.(Report)
April 21, 2009... What is the relationship between latent viruses and excess body weight? An important study examined this relationship. The scientists measured the percentage of fat and body weight of 20 identical twins, that is, individuals with an identical...

New Epstein-Barr virus study findings recently were reported by B. Gruhne and co-researchers.
April 21, 2009... According to a study from Stockholm, Sweden, "The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen (EBNA)-1 is the only viral protein expressed in all EBV-carrying malignancies, but its contribution to oncogenesis has remained enigmatic. We show that...

Study data from M. Chittaro et al provide new insights into immunization.
April 21, 2009... According to recent research from Udine, Italy, "The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a 2-year vaccination program on the compliance of healthcare workers (HCWs) employed in an acute care university hospital to influenza...

New life sciences study findings have been reported from Stanford University, Medical Department.
April 21, 2009... "Epstein-Barr virus requires glycoproteins gH/gL, gB, and gp42 to fuse its lipid envelope with B cells. Gp42 is a type II membrane protein consisting of a flexible N-terminal region, which binds gH/gL, and a C-terminal lectin-like domain that...

Investigators at Sichuan University, Department of Microbiology have published new data on influenza therapy.
April 21, 2009... Data detailed in 'Expression of mouse beta-defensin-3 in MDCK cells and its anti-influenza-virus activity' have been presented. "Influenza (flu) pandemics have presented a threat to human health in the past century. Because of outbreaks of...

Study findings from University of Toyama broaden understanding of life sciences.
April 21, 2009... Data detailed in 'Valacyclovir neurotoxicity: clinical experience and review of the literature' have been presented. "Valacyclovir (VACV) is used increasingly to treat herpes zoster, although neuropsychiatric symptoms [VACV neurotoxicity (VAN)...

Research results from University of Lyon update knowledge of adenovirus.
April 21, 2009... According to a study from Lyon, France, "We have previously reported that human adenovirus (HAdV) reference strains clearly show species-dependent resistance to ribavirin, whereas different species of HAdV are equally sensitive to cidofovir....

Data on bone research discussed by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.
April 21, 2009... "Signaling through the IGF-I receptor by locally synthesized IGF-I or IGF-II is crucial for normal skeletal development and for bone remodeling. Osteogenesis is primarily regulated by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which activate gene...

Recent findings from D.J. Wolff and co-authors highlight research in cytomegalovirus.(Clinical report)
April 21, 2009... "Viral load (VL) assessment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) by real-time PCR is an Important tool for diagnosing and monitoring CMV viremia in patients with compromised Immune systems. We report results from a sample exchange organized by members of...

Reports from University of California highlight recent research in dengue fever.
April 21, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Previous attempts to define dengue virus (DENV) tropism in human autopsy tissues have detected DENV antigens that are abundant in circulation during severe dengue, and thus may be present in...

New DNA research study findings recently were published by researchers at University of Iowa, Medical Department.
April 21, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Replication protein A (RPA), the eukaryotic single-stranded DNA-binding complex, is essential for multiple processes in cellular DNA metabolism. The ''canonical'' RPA is composed of three subunits...

Findings from H.X. Li and co-authors provide new insights into enteritis.
April 21, 2009... "The nucleotide sequences of eight open reading frames (ORFs) located at the 5' end of the unique long region of the duck enteritis virus (DEV) Clone-03 strain were determined. The genes identified were designated UL1, UL2, UL3, UL4, UL5, UL6...

Data on enzyme research reported by researchers at University of Massachusetts, Medical Department.
April 21, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "The innate immune system senses nucleic acids by germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors. RNA is sensed by Toll-like receptor members TLR3, TLR7 and TLR8, or by the RNA helicases...

Data on applied ergonomics published by researchers at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.(Report)
April 21, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Applied Ergonomics, "Falls from elevation continue to be the most serious hazard for the workers in construction. Simple and cost effective technical approaches to improve workers' balance...

Data on influenza published by researchers at University of Athens.
April 21, 2009... "1-2 Annulated adamantane piperidines 4, 6, 16, 17, 19, 23 and 25 were synthesized and evaluated for anti-influenza A virus activity," investigators in Athens, Greece report (see also Influenza). "The stereoelectronic requirements for...

Reports on influenza findings from University of Rochester provide new insights.(Report)
April 21, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pyogenes colonize overlapping regions of the nasopharynx and oropharynx. The effect of 10 H. influenzae strains (5 non-piliated parent strains and 5 piliated...

Researchers' work from National University, Medical Department focuses on influenza.
April 21, 2009... According to recent research from Kent Ridge, Singapore, "Most pandemic influenza virus strains undergo adaptation or reassortment before they acquire the ability to cause fatal infections in a new host species. The pathologic changes and...

Researchers' work from University of Wisconsin focuses on influenza.
April 21, 2009... "The pH-controlled M2 protein from influenza A is a critical component of the virus and serves as a target for the aminoadamantane antiflu agents that block its H+ channel activity. To better understand its H+ gating mechanism, we investigated...

Research conducted at INSERM has updated our knowledge about life sciences.(Report)
April 21, 2009... According to recent research from Paris, France, "Plasmacytoid predendritic cells (pDCs) play a key role in antiviral immunity through their capacity to produce large amounts of type I interferons in response to Toll-like receptor triggering,...

Researchers at Radboud University release new data on life sciences.
April 21, 2009... According to a study from Netherlands, "Conflicting data exist regarding the effect of efavirenz (EFV) plasma concentrations on central nervous system (CNS) toxicity. We aimed to determine whether patients with high EFV plasma concentrations...

New findings reported from Korea University describe advances in neurological disease.
April 21, 2009... "Gammaherpesvirus infection of the central nervous system (CNS) has been linked to various neurological diseases, including meningitis, encephalitis, and multiple sclerosis. However, little is known about the interactions between the virus and...

Studies from University of Leeds describe new findings in nucleocapsids.
April 21, 2009... According to a study from Leeds, the United Kingdom, "Bunyamwera virus (BUNV) is the prototypic member of both the Orthobunyavirus genus and the Bunyaviridae family of negative stranded RNA viruses. In common with all negative stranded RNA...

Scientists at University of Miami, Medical Department target proteomics.
April 21, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Human lactoperoxidase (LPO) exists as two distinct molecules independent of glycosylation. The N-terminus of one form is blocked and has not been identified while the other is...

Study data from University of Virginia update knowledge of rhinovirus.
April 21, 2009... "Because studies suggest that the dietary supplement conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has immunomodulatory activities that might benefit common colds, we performed two studies of CLA effects in experimental human rhinovirus (HRV) infection. The...

Reports on SARS findings from National Taiwan University, Medical Department provide new insights.
April 21, 2009... According to a study from Taipei, Taiwan, "Coronavirus (CoV) nucleocapsid (N) protein is a highly phosphorylated protein required for viral replication, but whether its phosphorylation and the related kinases are involved in the viral life...

Research from Stanford University, Medical Department yields new findings on stem cell research.
April 21, 2009... "Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a pleiotropic transcription factor involved in a variety of physiological processes. STAT3 acts as a key transcriptional determinant of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal...

Research from A. Belsy and co-researchers in the area of adenovirus published.(Report)
April 21, 2009... A report, 'Molecular characterization of adenoviral infections in Cuba: report of an unusual association of species D adenoviruses with different clinical syndromes,' is newly published data in Archives of Virology. According to recent research...

New findings from University of Manchester, Faculty of Life Sciences describe advances in Alzheimer disease.
April 21, 2009... A report, 'Alzheimer's disease-specific tau phosphorylation is induced by herpes simplex virus type 1,' is newly published data in Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. According to recent research from Manchester, the United Kingdom,...

Research data from Wuhan University, Institute of Medical Virology update understanding of coxsackie virus therapy.
April 21, 2009... A report, 'Antiviral activity of Arbidol against Coxsackie virus B5 in vitro and in vivo,' is newly published data in Archives of Virology. According to recent research from People's Republic of China, "We investigated the antiviral activity of...

Data on dengue fever detailed by researchers at Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
April 21, 2009... Researchers detail in 'In vitro assembly of nucleocapsid-like particles from purified recombinant capsid protein of dengue-2 virus,' new data in dengue fever. According to recent research published in the journal Archives of Virology, "The...

Reports outline hemorrhagic fever genetics study results from University of Texas, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity.
April 21, 2009... New investigation results, 'Sub-genomic replicon and virus-like particles of Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus,' are detailed in a study published in Archives of Virology. "Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV) is a member of the tick-borne...

Data from University of Pennsylvania provide new insights into herpes simplex virus immunology.(Report)
April 21, 2009... Research findings, 'Herpes simplex virus type 1 infection increases the carbohydrate binding activity and the secretion of cellular galectin-3,' are discussed in a new report. "Galectin-3 binds beta-galactoside-containing sugars and is a...

Research on life sciences published by scientists at Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
April 21, 2009... Data detailed in 'Genetic diversity of porcine Norovirus and Sapovirus: Canada, 2005-2007' have been presented. According to a study from Canada, "Noroviruses and sapoviruses are members of the family Caliciviridae and emerging enteric...

Researchers at Rey Juan Carlos University, Department of Health Sciences publish new data on pediatric in children.(Report)
April 21, 2009... Research findings, 'Varicella paediatric hospitalizations in Spain,' are discussed in a new report. According to a study from Madrid, Spain, "Varicella is a very common childhood disease responsible for an important number of hospitalizations...

Research in the area of stomatitis prevention reported from Northeast Forestry University.(Report)
April 21, 2009... Researchers detail in 'Lipid rafts play an important role in the vesicular stomatitis virus life cycle,' new data in stomatitis. "Lipid rafts are involved in the life cycle of many viruses. In this study, we investigated the role of lipids in...

Cigarette smoke may alter immune response in COPD exacerbations.(Report)
April 21, 2009... Smoking cigarettes is not only the principle cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it may change the body's immune responses to bacteria that commonly cause exacerbations of the disease, according to new research in a mouse...