Innately Immune
New data suggest that children are less susceptible to severe COVID-19 because they have a stronger innate immune response than adults.
New data suggest that children are less susceptible to severe COVID-19 because they have a stronger innate immune response than adults.
During viral replication, defective genomes may arise that lack essential sequences. These so-called defective genomes cannot replicate unless they are in the same cell as a helper virus. Defective genomes play a role in modulating pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus in humans. Copy-back defective viral genomes (cbDVGs) of RSV arise when the viral RNA polymerase …
Defective genomes modulate respiratory syncytial virus pathogenesis Read More »
Viruses that replicate in the male or female reproductive tract are considered to be potential causes of human infertility. Several herpesviruses have been implicated in male infertility, and now human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) has been found in endometrial cells of women with unexplained infertility (paper link). HHV-6 was only recently discovered (1986) and is now known …
A herpesvirus associated with female infertility Read More »
On episode #214 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent, Alan, and Kathy discuss how coagulation factor X binding to adenovirus activates the innate immune system, and a novel polyomavirus associated with brain tumors in raccoons. You can find TWiV #214 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.
During the earliest stages of a virus infection, cytokines are produced when innate immune defenses are activated. The rapid release of cytokines at the site of infection initiates new responses with far-reaching consequences that include inflammation. One of the earliest cytokines produced is tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which is synthesized by activated monocytes and …