Tag: "viruses" at biology news

Viral DNA sequence a possible trigger for breast cancer

...n found in proteins from some other cancer-causing viruses such as Epstein Barr virus and Kaposi's sarcoma virus, but what role this sequence plays in cancer development has remained unexplored. Katz and colleagues now show that this sequence is contained in the Env protein of MMTV and show that expression ...

New binding target for oncogenic viral protein

...hemistry and Molecular Biology journal. DNA tumor viruses proliferate by hijacking their host cell's DNA rep... Dr. Welcker emphasized. "The study of DNA tumors viruses has been an extremely important tool in understanding the cellular pathways that regulate cell divis...

Computers to be used to find blueprint for new influenza drug

...similarities between the enzymes used by different viruses and bacteria, a similar approach may also be useful in fighting other diseases such as the South American sleeping sickness, Chagas Disease. ...

Ecological destruction fuels emerging diseases

...s of plants and animals, including everything from viruses to jaguars. For his part, Dr. Brooks has looked for parasites in more than 4,000 individuals from species ranging from frogs to deer. So far, he has found more than 5,000 different types of these often microscopic hangers-on and created one of the w...

Newly discovered virus linked to childhood lung disorders and Kawasaki disease

...empts to linkKawasaki disease to bacteria or other viruses had failed and thusjustified healthy skepticism about the present findings, Dr. McIntoshpointed out some "tantalizing facts": onset of Kawasaki disease isoften preceded by a respiratory syndrome; both the disease andrespiratory coronavirus infections...

Spider Venom Could Yield Eco-Friendly Insecticides

... to insert a gene for encoding a spider toxin into viruses that are specific to a particular insect genus, or... his colleagues are now developing both engineered viruses and small-molecule mimics of the toxins in preparation for field trials. The Blue Mountains funnel-...

Study: Soap And Water Work Best In Ridding Hands Of Disease Viruses

...ing works better in getting rid of disease-causing viruses than simply washing one’s hands with good old-fashioned soap and water. Among the viruses soapy hand washing flushes down the drain is the one that causes the common cold. Other removable vi...

Scientists identify genetic pathways essential to RNA interference

...nce a single gene. Promising targets could include viruses like HIV and hepatitis C or cancer-causing oncogenes. An RNAi-based treatment for age-related macular degeneration is already in clinical trials." Ruvkun is a professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School. RNAi was originally identified in the C. ...

Studies reveal methods viruses use to sidestep immune system

...dical Center sheds light on the mechanisms used by viruses to thwart a host's immune defenses and may aid in ...ikely to be similar to those employed by other RNA viruses such as West Nile, influenza and the common cold. "This work has broad implications that go beyond ...

New SARS Protein Linked To Important Cell Doorway

... disable or weaken it. "The key to studying novel viruses used to be the ability to isolate the virus and gr...ound in other viruses. SARS belongs to a class of viruses known as coronaviruses. Because those viruses typically aren't harmful to humans, researchers suspec...

Antibodies from plants protect against anthrax

...tamination by human or animal pathogens, and plant viruses are not known to infect humans," says Yusibov. "It is an easy, inexpensive and, very stable system. If you're looking for a way to stockpile a large amount of antibodies for a long periods of time, plant-produced antibodies are the answer," says Bai...

Influenza vaccine uses insect cells to speed development

...kly and safely to address late appearing influenza viruses and to reduce the impact of a potential flu pandemic." ...

New Insights Into HIV Immunity Suggest Alternative Approach to Vaccines

...sorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus. When viruses activate innate B cells, the body destroys the B cells to protect against autoantibodies that could cause autoimmune disease or other harm. The second immune system category is adaptive B cell immunity, a slower response that creates powerful, patho...

Researchers develop rapid diagnostic tool for pathogen identification

...t detects and discriminates 22 pathogens including viruses and bacteria that can present as clinically similar pulmonary disease. This new technology platform addresses important challenges for infectious disease identification—sensitivity and breadth. Mass Tag PCR provides the ability to be precise in ide...

Mayo Clinic Researchers Create 'Obedient Virus'; First Step To Use Measles Virus Against Cancer

...the sort of thing that, having worked on targeting viruses for about 15 years, I just couldn't believe that w...y," says Dr. Russell. Background Biology Natural viruses are cellular parasites. To reproduce more viruses, they need to bind to a partner on their target ce...

Gene Signatures Predict Interferon Response For Multiple Sclerosis Patients

...ne cells typically secrete interferons to fend off viruses and other pathogens. Interferons stem viral infection by inhibiting cell division in neighboring cells—thus preventing the virus from reproducing—and triggering pathways that kill the infected cells. It's thought that interferon therapy may relieve s...

Norovirus, AIDS vaccine and Hepatitis Virus

...urther investigations concerning the role of these viruses in TD are warranted." (A.R. Chapin, C.M. Carpente...or human use due to the potential that the vaccine viruses could mutate and reacquire the ability to cause disease. DNA vaccines offer a new possibility for t...

Chemists identify immune system mechanism for methamphetamine binges

...eloping antibodies to the body's invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, is normally a good thing and forms the basis of modern vaccines, he explains. But ironically, people who abuse methamphetamine may build up antibodies to the drug itself, so they require increasing amounts to get high, resulting in bing...

Viral protein influences key cell-signaling pathway

...in the laboratory even when p12 was missing. "But viruses do not keep genes unless they have a purpose," Lairmore says. In an earlier study, Lairmore and his colleagues tried to infect an animal model with an HTLV-1 that lacked the p12 gene, and it stopped the virus from replicating almost entirely. "That ...

Gene therapy promising for growing tooth-supporting bone

...heir genetic machinery. Once inside the cell, the viruses help BMP-7 genes get where they need to be in the host's cells to boost bone production. Gene expression producing BMP-7 proteins peaked after a week. Giannobile said that was ideal because the team did not want to make any permanent genetic changes....

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