Virus
Mosquitoes Engineered to Repel Dengue Virus
An international team of scientists has synthetically engineered mosquitoes that halt the transmission of the dengue virus. The development marks the first engineered approach in mosquitoes that targets the four known types of dengue, improving upon previous designs that addressed single strains.
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Virus surfaces help MTU engineers study vaccine and gene therapy applications
An isoelectric point is a common way to characterize viruses. However, it’s not easy. To improve manufacturing for vaccines and gene therapy, a Michigan Tech team uses surface charge to determine the isoelectric point of different viruses. Specifically, they use a single-particle method with atomic force microscopy (AFM).
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Stop asking for that antibiotic
“We believe Beaumont has a duty to raise awareness and help change attitudes about antibiotics and behaviors that cause antibiotic resistance,” said Dr. Sam Flanders, senior vice president and chief quality and safety officer of Beaumont Health. “Antibiotics save lives. But when they’re used too much, they can lead to antibiotic resistance.”
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Wound healing in mucous tissues could ward off AIDS
Some primates can carry SIV, a virus resembling HIV, lifelong and yet not develop AIDS. They are able to repair SIV damage to intestinal mucous tissues and avoid escape of gut bacteria and other events leading to immune system exhaustion. The findings offer clues for new HIV treatments
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Newly discovered virus infects bald eagles across America
Researchers have discovered a previously unknown virus infecting nearly a third of America’s bald eagle population. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USGS and the Wisconsin DNR found the virus while searching for the cause of Wisconsin River Eagle Syndrome, an enigmatic disease endemic to bald eagles near the Lower Wisconsin River. The newly identified bald eagle hepacivirus, or BeHV, may contribute to the fatal disease, which causes eagles to stumble and have seizures.
Virus may jump species through rock-and-roll motion with receptors
The researchers used a sophisticated electron microscope that can take pictures of structures at the atomic level to examine the virus as it interacted with the transferrin receptor, or TfR, a protein on the surface of the cell that helps manage a body’s iron uptake.
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