virology

Nature Communications, Published online: 05 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-72791-0 Pre-existing hypoglycemia weakens the host’s interferon-based immune defense by downregulating the antiviral protein TRIM5 in the lung, thereby increasing the susceptibility to influenza infection.

Duck adenovirus 3 (DAdV-3) was firstly identified in Muscovy ducklings exhibiting slight pericardial effusion, swelling, and hemorrhaging in the kidneys, which is a poorly characterized duck virus. This study established a CRISPR/Cas12a coupled with a Lateral flow dipstick (RAA-CRISPR/Cas12a-LFD) detection platform for DAdV-3. The core mechanism of this platform involves a three-step cascade reac…

Nature, Published online: 04 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01450-7 The group of rodent viruses can cause disease in humans, but cases are rare.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 04 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-51716-3 SARS-CoV-2 spike protein exerts an anti-cancer effect in A549 cells in association with MEG3 and BCYRN1 regulation

Scientific Reports, Published online: 03 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-50646-4 Meteorin-like protein may be a mediator of exercise-related reproductive disorders in female rats

Scientific Reports, Published online: 02 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-47632-1 First evidence of allexiviruses in allium plants in Ukraine and molecular characterization of their isolates

Nature Microbiology, Published online: 01 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02351-1 Assessment of the metagenome and bile acid profiles of two paediatric sepsis cohorts combined with extensive in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experiments revealed that a gut microbe, Enterococcus raffinosus, is a primary producer of deoxycholic acid 3-sulfate, which has a protective role against sepsis in mouse models.

L-arginine helps protein droplets stay stable and prevents fibril formation linked to Alzheimer’s. This process occurs at droplet surfaces, offering a potential therapeutic target. Inside living cells, tiny liquid-like droplets quietly keep essential processes running. But in disorders like Alzheimer’s, these dynamic structures can take a dangerous turn, hardening into fiber-like fibrils that dis…

Nature Communications, Published online: 01 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-71951-6 Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) is more pathogenic than closely related HHV-6A. Here the authors show that APOBEC3 enzymes restrict HHV-6A replication, while the U28 protein of HHV-6B counteracts APOBEC3 activity resulting in higher virus replication.

Porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD), caused by pathogenic porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), remains one of the most economically devastating diseases in the global swine industry, and the continued emergence and predominance of the PCV2d genotype have raised concerns regarding the efficacy of currently available vaccine. In this study, a virus-like particle (VLP) subunit vaccine based o…

During early stages of an epidemic, a host's genetics and sex influence how a virus evolves, according to new  research. Using lab mice, University of Utah biologists found the influenza virus can gain virulence more quickly as it passes through females that generate a stronger immune response.

How and where viruses gain virulence April 30, 2026 Above: Stock photo of a research mouse by Pixabay via Pexels. In mice, viruses gain virulence in some individuals, depending on genetics and sex. During the early stages of a pandemic, viruses tend to evolve in ways that enhance their ability to reproduce and spread, rather than to evade the host’s immune system. The genetics and sex of the host…

Nature Microbiology, Published online: 30 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02337-z Capsular polysaccharides are central to Escherichia coli virulence, but the scarcity of molecular typing has hindered research and development of drug or vaccine candidates. Two studies redefine the diversity, epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of E. coli capsules by providing tools to integrate modern genomi…

BackgroundLycium barbarum glycopeptide (LbGp) has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects, yet its role in chronic ocular hypertension (COH) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated whether LbGp protects against COH-induced retinal damage by inhibiting pyroptosis.MethodsA COH rat model was established, and the animals were randomly assigned to model, LbGp, VX-7…

BackgroundThe research on human microbiota-associated (HMA) animal models is an important tool for studying the human microbiome and holds great potential for elucidating disease mechanisms and microbe-based therapeutic interactions. However, a systematic bibliometric assessment of this field has been limited.MethodsThis study employed bibliometric methods, retrieving relevant publications publis…

IntroductionDengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) is a major driver of severe dengue outbreaks globally, yet its evolutionary history and transmission dynamics across Africa remain incompletely understood.MethodsTo clarify its origins, introduction pathways, and patterns of regional spread, we compiled all available full-length DENV-2 genomes up to 16 July 2025, prioritizing African sequences while re…