Page 4 - Viruses

Covid antiviral drug molnupiravir linked to virus mutations: Research

A widely used COVID-19 antiviral drug, molnupiravir, has been linked with a pattern of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to a study published in the journal Nature. A team, including researchers from the Francis Crick Institute and the University of Cambridge in the UK, noted that molnupiravir works by inducing mutations in the virus's genetic information, or genome, during replication. Many of these mutations will damage or kill the virus, reducing viral load in the body. It was one of the first antivirals available on the market during the COVID-19 pandemic and was widely adopted by many countries. The scientists used global sequencing databases to map mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus over time. They analysed a family tree of 15 million SARS-CoV-2 sequences so that at each point in each virus's evolutionary history they could see which mutations had occurred. Although viruses mutate all the time, the researchers identified mutational events in the global sequencing ..

Omicron subvariant BA.5 more virulent, study in mice finds

Scientists have used engineered mice to compare SARS-COV-2 Omicron subvariants and found that the BA.5 strain was more virulent likely due to its ability to rapidly replicate early during infection. The research, published in the journal Science Advances, addresses a challenge to studying and understanding rapidly evolving variants of concern due to a lack of animal models for running tests that could help explain why variants and subvariants each behave differently in people. The genetically modified mice, called K18-hACE2, used in the research express a human receptor that allowed SARS-COV-2 to enter otherwise inaccessible mouse cells. "One of the things we found is that the strain that causes more pathology, BA.5, replicates much faster early on during infection," said Avery August, a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Cornell University in the US. "By doing that, the virus generates a really strong immune response, which then leads to increased pathology a

Nipah virus: Educational institutions to function normally in Kozhikode

The district administration advised students to wear masks and carry hand sanitizers when going to their respective educational institutions

Nipah virus: One more confirmed case in Kerala; total tally rises to 6

The administration has created containment zones in a 5 km radius of the homes of the two men who died of infection on August 30 and September 11

Kerala schools to remain closed in Kozhikode till Sept 16 due to Nipah

Meanwhile, the total number of active cases of the infection has gone up to three with the confirmation of one more positive case of Nipah in Kozhikode on Wednesday

Nipah virus: As Kerala reports another case, here's all you need to know

The Kerala government has formed 19 committees to monitor the outbreak of the Nipah virus in the state

Nipah virus: All you need to know about symptoms, diagnosis and prevention

Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) is a potentially fatal complication of Nipah virus. Patients with breathing complications are more likely to transmit the virus than those without

New Covid-19 variants causing global surges, but severity of infection down

In Southeast Asia, Thailand recorded highest number of fresh infections, followed by India where cases increased 2%

SARS-CoV-2 infection linked with high blood pressure in adults: Study

This is the first study to compare the development and risk factors associated with persistent high blood pressure in people with Covid-19 infection to influenza, a similar respiratory virus

Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine protects against new variants, finds early study

Covid vaccine partners Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE are also developing updated shots, as is Novavax Inc. The drugmakers have been testing and making new updates as the virus has evolved

El Nino's fierce heat carries new risk of resurgent deadly viruses

Mosquitoes that transmit such viruses flourish in the warmer weather that El Niño is set to bring to many parts of the world

Health Minister addresses global vaccine research collaborative discussion

International cooperation is essential to advance vaccine development to combat emerging pathogens, and the G20 forum can serve as a vital platform to facilitate collaboration between governments, research organisations, pharmaceutical companies, and other stakeholders, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday. He was addressing the Global Vaccine Research Collaborative discussion on 'Vaccine Research and Development: Building Consensus for Future Health Emergencies Prevention, Preparedness, and Response', a co-branded event under India's G20 presidency organised by Department of Pharmaceuticals (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers), according to an official release. "The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of global collaboration in vaccine research and development. As we continue to navigate this once-in-a-century public health crisis, we realise the importance of research to accelerate vaccine development, particularly for emerging pathogens," the .

Wild poliovirus detected in environmental samples in Pakistan: Report

Two environmental samples collected from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have tested positive for wild poliovirus, the Health Ministry said.

African swine fever outbreak in Indonesia killed 35,297 pigs, WOAH confirms

African Swine Fever is a contagious disease outbreak in Indonesia that is killing 35,297 pigs so far. The vaccine for ASF has not been developed yet.

Climate change increases risk of new viruses across India: Scientists

Changing climatic conditions, particularly temperature and moisture variations following events such as extreme rainfall in some places and drought in others, will lead to a surge in the spread of vector-borne and infectious diseases across India, say scientists. As concerns mount over the recent increase in respiratory viral infections, including H2N3, adenoviruses and swine flu, in many parts of India, the scientists said it might be too early to attribute it to climate change. But is definitely plausible. The prospect of climate change leading to an increased burden with the spread of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and malaria looms large. According to public health expert Poornima Prabhakaran, steadily rising temperatures affect the pattern of transmission of disease agents like viruses as well their vectors through a number of pathways. These include changes in the incubation period, the transmission potential and the duration of transmission - all of which can impact th

New XBB Covid sub-variants reported in China, says SHINE report

The centre detected 603 cases of variants under strict inspection, including the 12 sub-variants being found for the first time, according to SHINE

New mutation in bird flu virus shows potential for humans outbreak: Report

Scientists have identified new mutations in avian influenza virus H5N1, which recently infected a man in Chile, and may pose risk of spread in humans

Easily spread virus exploits genomic weaknesses, causes cancer: Study

Researchers have described in a study how the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the ubiquitous virus easily spread through bodily fluids, not only exploits genomic weaknesses to cause cancer, but also reduces the body's ability to suppress it. The researchers at the University of California (UC) San Diego, US, said that more than 90 per cent of the world's population has been infected by the EBV, usually during childhood, and that while most of the infections it causes are mild and pass, the virus persists in the body, becoming latent or inactive, sometimes reactivating. The EBV spreads easily through bodily fluids, primarily saliva, through activities such kissing, sharing drinks or using the same eating utensils. The researchers' findings showed "how a virus can induce cleavage of human chromosome 11, initiating a cascade of genomic instability that can potentially activate a leukemia-causing oncogene and inactivate a major tumour suppressor," said senior study author Don Cleveland, ...

Travel advisory issued against Marburg virus in Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania

The disease is passed on to people from fruit bats and is from the same virus family responsible for the deadly Ebola

Molbio's Truenat to now test H3N2 and H1N1 virus amid spurt in cases

Molbio Diagnostics on Monday extended its real-time PCR platform Truenat to test H3N2 and H1N1 viruses, amid the rising cases of the influenza virus in India