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Colorful cells connected by thin tubes
SARS-CoV-2 Could Use Nanotubes to Infect the Brain
Stressed cells can form hollow actin bridges to neighbors to get help, but the virus may hijack these tiny tunnels for its own purposes, a study suggests.
SARS-CoV-2 Could Use Nanotubes to Infect the Brain
SARS-CoV-2 Could Use Nanotubes to Infect the Brain

Stressed cells can form hollow actin bridges to neighbors to get help, but the virus may hijack these tiny tunnels for its own purposes, a study suggests.

Stressed cells can form hollow actin bridges to neighbors to get help, but the virus may hijack these tiny tunnels for its own purposes, a study suggests.

virus, cell & molecular biology

UPDATED
Ebola, virus, Guinea, West Africa, outbreak
Ebola Outbreak in Guinea Originated from Past Epidemic
Asher Jones | Mar 15, 2021 | 2 min read
Genetic analyses suggest that the virus came from a patient who survived the 2013–2016 West African outbreak.
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, pandemic, vaccine, vaccine trials, combination, mix and match, immunity, antibodies, T cells, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, clinical trials
COVID-19 Vaccine Combos Aim to Boost Immunity
Asher Jones | Mar 9, 2021 | 6 min read
Mix-and-match shots could simplify vaccine rollout and stimulate more-robust immune responses. Ongoing clinical trials will soon give answers.
Investigating the Immune Response Using Advanced Flow Cytometry
The Scientist | 1 min read
Discover how researchers are using flow cytometry to delve into the inner workings of the immune life cycle!
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, research, reverse genetics, toolkit, antibodies, RNA
Q&A: A Molecular Toolkit to Build SARS-CoV-2 Research Capacity
Asher Jones | Mar 3, 2021 | 6 min read
Sam Wilson discusses a user-friendly set of resources that he and his collaborators developed to aid labs pivoting to study COVID-19.
Sex Differences in Immune Responses to Viral Infection
Catherine Offord | Mar 1, 2021 | 10+ min read
Stronger interferon production, greater T cell activation, and increased susceptibility to autoimmunity are just some of the ways that females seem to differ from males.
Infographic: How SARS-CoV-2 Immune Responses May Differ by Sex
Catherine Offord | Mar 1, 2021 | 2 min read
Males and females show differences in gene expression, cell activation, and antibody production in response to some viral infections, but whether these influence COVID-19 outcomes is still unclear.
Common Cold Coronaviruses Tied to Less Severe COVID-19 Cases
Anthony King | Nov 11, 2020 | 5 min read
Outcomes in COVID-19 patients may be better in those recently infected with endemic coronaviruses. 
Alterations in Immune Genes Make Bats Great Viral Hosts
Abby Olena, PhD | Oct 27, 2020 | 3 min read
Bat species use different strategies to dampen immune activation in response to viruses.
SARS-CoV-2 Disables Key Components of Human Cells’ Defense System
Catherine Offord | Oct 22, 2020 | 4 min read
Researchers detail how viral proteins interact with host RNA to disrupt the cell’s ability to fight back against infection.
Gene Splicing Pioneer Dale Kaiser Dies
Ashley Yeager | Jun 29, 2020 | 5 min read
Working with a virus that infects bacteria, the Stanford University biochemist and developmental biologist helped to develop a way to stitch DNA together, a discovery that gave rise to genetic engineering.
Blood Pressure Meds Point the Way to Possible COVID-19 Treatment
Ashley Yeager | Apr 2, 2020 | 7 min read
There is little evidence that antihypertensive drugs worsen COVID-19, and scientists are instead exploring the idea that such medications—or their downstream effects—may actually alleviate symptoms.
Cracking Down on Cancer: A Profile of Owen Witte
Diana Kwon | Apr 1, 2020 | 9 min read
Through his studies on cancer-causing viruses, the University of California, Los Angeles, professor has helped develop lifesaving treatments.
Novel DNA-Sensing Pathway Found in Human Cells, Absent in Mice
Catherine Offord | Jan 24, 2020 | 4 min read
This previously unknown mechanism for spotting foreign genetic material in the cytoplasm launches antiviral defenses even when the well-known immune mediator STING is absent.
The Scientist Infographics: Editor’s Picks of 2019
Jef Akst | Dec 18, 2019 | 3 min read
This year’s most beautiful illustrations covered topics including the molecular underpinnings of Parkinson’s disease and strategies for tracking marine organisms around the world’s oceans.
mouse foot 28 days post chikungunya infection
Image of the Day: Viral Residue
Nicoletta Lanese | Aug 30, 2019 | 1 min read
Genetic material from the chikungunya virus remains in mouse cells after infection and may be linked to later joint pain.
Some Viruses May Infect by Inserting Different Portions of Genetic Material
Emma Yasinski | Mar 18, 2019 | 3 min read
Viruses that infect plants and occasionally insects appear to cause infection with a divide-and-conquer strategy, multiplying separate segments of genetic material in different host cells.
Zika Grabs Neural Stem Cell Protein to Cause Damage
Jef Akst | Jun 1, 2017 | 2 min read
The new findings, obtained from cell culture experiments, could explain the link between infection with the virus during pregnancy and infant microcephaly.
Viral Protein Boosts Muscle Mass in Male Mice
Jef Akst | Sep 14, 2016 | 2 min read
An endogenous retrovirus that supports placenta formation in females also helps male mice build muscle, according to a study.
New Virus Discovered in Human Blood
Jef Akst | Sep 23, 2015 | 2 min read
Researchers identify a novel virus in blood samples taken in the 1970s.
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