by Gertrud U. Rey Last month’s post provided an overview of various traditional vaccine technologies. The current post highlights more recent advances in the field. Genetic vaccines introduce nucleic acids (DNA and/or RNA) into a recipient’s cells. Once inside the cells, these genetic instructions are used by the cell’s machinery to produce a specific protein. …
by Gertrud U. Rey During the last 50 years, vaccination efforts have prevented about 154 million deaths worldwide, with the measles vaccine alone responsible for a large portion of this achievement. Childhood vaccinations in particular have not only led to a 40% reduction in global infant deaths throughout the same time period, but they are …
by Gertrud U. Rey There is currently no vaccine that is effective against all viruses and it is unlikely that one will ever exist. But what about a universal antiviral drug? A recent study out of Columbia University suggests that it might be possible to develop effective broad-spectrum antivirals against known, emerging, and unknown viruses. …
by Gertrud U. Rey Rabies virus infection in mammals is nearly 100% fatal if left untreated. The signs and symptoms that precede death – agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, hydrophobia, excessive salivation, and biting – have inspired countless fictional characters and narratives. The recent death of a British woman who was scratched by a rabid stray puppy …
by Fabrício Souza Campos Fabrício Souza Campos is a virologist and professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. He coordinates the Graduate Program in Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology and leads research on virus surveillance in wildlife and domestic animals, with a focus on zoonotic threats and One Health. He has …
H5N1 in U.S. Dairy Cattle: An Unprecedented Event in the History of Virology Read More »
by Gertrud U. Rey The shingles vaccine is highly effective at preventing shingles, a painful rash caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) – the herpes virus that also causes chickenpox. But what if this vaccine also prevented dementia? New data suggest that it just might. The authors of a recent multinational collaborative research study …
