Page 28: Research news on viruses

Viruses are acellular infectious agents that depend entirely on host cellular machinery for replication and are therefore studied as a central topic in microbiology, virology, and infectious disease research. They consist minimally of a nucleic acid genome (DNA or RNA, single- or double-stranded, linear or circular) enclosed in a protein capsid, and in many cases a host-derived lipid envelope containing viral glycoproteins. Viral classification and research focus on genome organization, replication strategies, host range, tropism, mechanisms of cell entry and egress, immune evasion, and evolutionary dynamics, as well as their roles in pathogenesis, horizontal gene transfer, and biotechnology applications such as vectors and phage therapy.

Inhalable molecules neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in mice

Nanofitins, which are derived from a protein found in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius—an archaeal microorganism found in hot springs—successfully neutralized SARS-CoV-2 in mice and were well-tolerated. When inhaled by the rodents, ...

Detection of bacteria and viruses with fluorescent nanotubes

An interdisciplinary research team from Bochum, Duisburg and Zurich has developed a new approach to construct modular optical sensors which are capable of detecting viruses and bacteria. The researchers used fluorescent carbon ...

Mosquito bite prevention with cellulose nano crystals

A study proposes a new way to prevent mosquito bites, based on an inexpensive and readily available biomolecule. Mosquitos spread potentially fatal diseases affecting humans, including malaria, zika, chikungunya, and yellow ...

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