Tag Archives: viruses

Viruses hijack cellular microRNAs for their own advantage

Post by Andras Donaszi-Ivanov, University of East Anglia Researchers have found that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can manipulate levels of regulatory genetic material, called microRNAs, in host cells, helping the virus suppress the immune response to aid its survival. This … Continue reading

Posted in Clinical & medical microbiology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The evolution of a diarrhoeal viral genome

Post by Rebecca Gladstone, University of Southampton Two billion cases of severe diarrhoea occur globally each year, representing the second leading cause of death in children under five years old, according to the World Health Organization. Diarrhoeal disease is both … Continue reading

Posted in Epidemiology, Microbial evolution and diversity | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bats and their viral tenants

Post by Sruthi Raghavan, Freelance science writer Bats are an important natural reservoir of gammaretroviruses, a type of retrovirus.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 We all know that bats roost in trees, caves and even houses. But they seem to be oblivious to, and … Continue reading

Posted in Microbial evolution and diversity | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment