Virology
The Deadliest Virus
By Gertrud U. Rey
by Gertrud U. Rey Rabies virus has a characteristic bullet-shaped virion structure. 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 ...
A Pill to Prevent Gastroenteritis
By Gertrud U. Rey
by Gertrud U. Rey Norovirus is the most common food-borne virus and the leading cause of gastroenteritis globally. Despite an urgent need, there are currently no licensed vaccines to prevent norovirus-induced illness. Nevertheless, recent developments in this field have led to remarkable and promising new advances. A phase 1b clinical ...
H5N1 in U.S. Dairy Cattle: An Unprecedented Event in the History of Virology
By Gertrud U. Rey
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 ...
A Vaccine Against Dementia
By Gertrud U. Rey
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 ...
Vitamin A, Cod Liver Oil, and Measles
By Gertrud U. Rey
by Gertrud U. Rey The number of measles cases is steadily increasing across the United States, especially in areas with low vaccination rates. Instead of recommending that children be vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to ...
