Category: Science and Tech
Gene-Swaps Could Let Influenza Jump Species
Scientific American Influenza viruses like bird flu can mix and match their genomes, and this has played a role in at least three of the last four flu pandemics. Influenza viruses are shifty entities. They accumulate small genetic changes on a regular basis, necessitating yearly updates to the flu vaccines because the prior year’s strain may not […]
Jul 30, 2025
This Boise lab used to ship bird flu samples to CO. Now it gets results in hours
Idaho Statesman Since bird flu was first detected in Idaho cattle over a year ago, officials at the State Department of Agriculture have had to ship milk samples from dairies around the Gem State to laboratories in Utah, Colorado and Washington state for testing. The shipments delayed test results and response times to the highly […]
Jul 30, 2025
FDA Rapid Antigen COVID Tests Hold Up After Approval—But Oversight Still Lacking
Global Biodefense Systematic review reveals most FDA-authorized SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests maintain high accuracy after approval—though some underperform, highlighting need for continued oversight. A newly published analysis in Clinical Microbiology and Infection provides critical insights into the diagnostic accuracy of FDA-authorized SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests. Conducted by researchers from Cochrane Denmark and the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO), this […]
Jul 23, 2025
Long COVID Gene Variants: A Step Toward a Diagnostic Test?
Medscape A large-scale global study has identified genetic variants that are risk factors for long COVID, a discovery that helps researchers better understand the biological systems involving the disease and one small, early step toward the elusive goal of developing a long COVID diagnostic test. International researchers with the Long COVID Host Genetics Initiative used […]
Jul 23, 2025
Scientists discover compounds that help cells fight a wide range of viruses
MIT News The molecules trigger a built-in cellular stress response and show promise as broad-spectrum antivirals against Zika, herpes, RSV, and more. Researchers at MIT and other institutions have identified compounds that can fight off viral infection by activating a defense pathway inside host cells. These compounds, they believe, could be used as antiviral drugs […]
Jul 16, 2025
Confronting the AI-Accelerated Threat of Bioterrorism
Global Biodefense How artificial intelligence is changing the risk landscape for bioterrorism—and what global health security stakeholders must do next. As artificial intelligence (AI) systems rapidly integrate into everyday life and scientific enterprise, a new frontier of biosecurity risk has emerged—one where malicious actors may exploit generative AI to design, synthesize, and deploy bioweapons. A […]
Jul 9, 2025
Mapping global risk of bat and rodent borne disease outbreaks to anticipate emerging threats
Nature Future epidemics and/or pandemics may likely arise from zoonotic viruses with bat- and rodent-borne pathogens being among the prime candidates. To improve preparedness and prevention strategies, we predicted the global distribution of bat- and rodent-borne viral infectious disease outbreaks using geospatial modeling. We developed species distribution models based on published outbreak occurrence data, applying […]
Jul 2, 2025
Are Pesticides Breeding the Next Pandemic? Experts Warn of Fungal Superbugs
Science Tech Daily Fungicides used in agriculture have been linked to an increase in resistance to antifungal drugs in both humans and animals. Fungal infections are on the rise, and two UC Davis infectious disease experts, Dr. George Thompson and Dr. Angel Desai, are sounding the alarm. In a recent commentary published in the New England Journal of […]
Jun 17, 2025
Bat Cave Footage Offers Clues to How Viruses Leap Between Species
NYT Video from a national park in Uganda depicted a parade of predatory species feeding on and dispersing fruit bats that are known natural reservoirs of infectious diseases. Bats carry an assortment of viruses, including infectious diseases that have jumped into humans in a process known as zoonotic spillover. In some cases, the aerial mammals […]
Jun 17, 2025
Hundreds of Mysterious Giant Viruses Discovered Lurking in The Ocean
Science Alert Scientists have just discovered hundreds of new giant viruses, in a comprehensive study covering oceans across the globe. The team behind the study, marine biologist Benjamin Minch and virologist Mohammad Moniruzzaman from the University of Miami, used bespoke computer software to identify the genomes of microbes in seawater samples – including 230 giant viruses previously unknown […]
Jun 17, 2025