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System to auto-detect new variants will inform better response to future infectious disease outbreaks

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

Researchers have come up with a new way to identify more infectious variants of viruses or bacteria that start spreading in humans -- including those causing flu, COVID, whooping cough and tuberculosis.

Virus 357
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New insights on how bird flu crosses the species barrier

Science Daily: Pharmacology News

The avian influenza virus needs to mutate to cross the species barrier and to infect and replicate within mammalian cells. Scientists have now deciphered the structure of the avian influenza virus's polymerase when it interacts with a human protein essential for the virus to replicate within the cell.

Virus 293
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Local Rates of Flu, RSV Show Up in a City's Wastewater

Drugs.com

“Just one flush can hold a lot of information," said Kristine. WEDNESDAY, Oct. 11, 2023 -- Toilet bowls reveal much about the health of a community, alerting scientists to coming outbreaks of flu and other seasonal viruses, researchers say.

Virus 264
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Gene editing extends lifespan in mouse model of prion disease

Broad Institute

We are hopeful the results might inform the future development of a one-time treatment for this important class of diseases. We realized it was this golden opportunity to use human genetics to inform base editing, Minikel said. But the researchers needed to deliver the base editors to the brain.

Disease 144
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Coronavirus: Missing school is worse than virus for children – Whitty

The Pharma Data

But this rare interview reveals a lot more about his own views on how the virus is developing. More parents going back to work with schools reopening will probably, he believes, increase virus transmission and that may require restrictions in other areas. Will children spread the virus to grandparents? Are school staff at risk?

Virus 69
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An ancient RNA-guided system could simplify delivery of gene editing therapies

Broad Institute

They have determined the molecular structure of one of the Tas proteins they found to work in human cells, and will use that information to guide their efforts to make it more efficient. These were the TIGR-Tas systems. Zhangs team discovered more than 20,000 different Tas proteins, mostly occurring in bacteria-infecting viruses.

RNA 66
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NIH releases strategic plan for research on herpes simplex virus 1 and 2

SCIENMAG: Medicine & Health

WHAT: In response to the persistent health challenges of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, today the National Institutes of Health released the Strategic Plan for Herpes Simplex Virus Research.

Virus 52