influenza

Researchers are advancing a recombinant flu vaccine that uses innovative nanoliposome technology for enhanced immunity and efficiency, showing promising early results against common flu strains. Credit: SciTechDaily.comTests show the recombinant vaccine outperforming existing vaccines in some areas.Recombinant protein vaccines, like the Novavax vaccine used to fight COVID-19, offer several advantages over conventional vaccines.They’re easy to precisely produce. They’re safe, and potentially more effective. And they could…

A tetramer of the influenza neuraminidase protein (shown in blue and light blue) bound by variable domains of two new human antibodies (shown purple/pink and brown/beige) targeting its “dark side.” Viewed along with a 4-fold axis of NA tetramer with its catalytic sites facing up. Credit: NIAIDScientists at the National Institutes of Health have discovered antibodies that attack a difficult-to-detect area of the influenza virus, shedding light on the relatively unexplored “dark side” of the neuraminidase (NA) protein head.…

New research reveals the adaptation of the H5N1 avian influenza virus to spread among birds and marine mammals, marking a significant threat to wildlife conservation and highlighting the virus’s ability to affect multiple species across South America. The research underscores the virus’s potential for human concern, driven by its rapid spread and high mortality rates among affected wildlife, including its deadly impact on marine mammals and birds across the continent.The findings have raised concerns regarding the…

Recent research demonstrates that blocking the attachment of virus particles to cell surface molecules in infant mice can significantly reduce the transmission of influenza A. This finding opens the door to new preventative strategies against seasonal flu, potentially supplementing existing vaccines and treatments with methods that target the host’s ability to spread the virus.Researchers have long understood that certain viruses and bacteria initiate infections by initially attaching to sugar molecules present on the…

A new kind of death is coming to Antarctica, scientists fear. The harsh environment is full of everyday heartbreak: predation, starvation, chicks that are lost at sea when their icy shoreline melts away. Now a novel pathogen threatens to rip through colonies of marine mammals and birds, potentially including penguins. If the very worst happens, it could make ghosts of entire species—and scientists can’t do much more than wait.A deadly strain of H5N1 avian influenza has been blazing through poultry farms and flocks of wild…

Research from Georgia State University shows that gut bacteria, particularly segmented filamentous bacteria, play a crucial role in protecting mice against respiratory viruses by influencing immune cells in the lungs. This study could have profound implications for understanding and managing respiratory infections in humans.Researchers at the Center for Translational Antiviral Research within the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University have discovered that the makeup of gut microbiota affects mice’s…

February 12, 20245 min readThe pandemic early exposed weaknesses in CDC’s laboratories. Organizational and culture changes there are good first steps, but more must be doneBy Jill Taylor, Ewa King & Scott Becker Almost unnoted, the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the COVID pandemic in the U.S. passed in January. Missteps made in the early weeks of that tragedy, however, still offer vital lessons about what public health agencies need to do better to keep us safe.That’s particularly true at the U.S. Centers for…

Researchers have discovered a new class of antibodies capable of neutralizing various flu virus strains, potentially aiding in the development of more broadly protective flu vaccines. This breakthrough, to be published in PLOS Biology, emphasizes the importance of diversifying flu vaccine production methods and provides new avenues for vaccine design.The findings may assist in creating vaccines that offer wider protection against various flu strains.Researchers led by Holly Simmons from the University of Pittsburgh School…

By Washington University in St. Louis December 31, 2023A study comparing COVID-19 and seasonal influenza shows both viruses can cause significant long-term health issues post-hospitalization, with COVID-19 affecting multiple organ systems and the flu mainly impacting the respiratory system. Study shows patients hospitalized for flu or COVID-19 face increased risk of long-term health problems and death.Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, extensive research has emerged detailing the virus’s ability to attack multiple organ…

This respiratory illness season, face masks are back in fashion. U.S. public health officials are encouraging people to take precautions against rising cases of COVID, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumonia, and the like. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently issued a video advising people to get updated vaccinations and stay home when sick—and, of course, wear a mask—especially as people travel and gather for the holidays.Properly wearing face masks is one of…