Virus

As the US Government invests billions of dollars into COVID-19 antiviral research, scientists are racing to develop a pill that people can take at home to treat the disease in its earliest stages.

A new study has detected cognitive deficits in recovered COVID-19 patients, finding the more severe the case, the greater the persistent cognitive problems, with hospitalized patients put on ventilators showing a decline equivalent to seven IQ points.

Scientists have collected viruses from almost-15,000-year-old ice cores, taken from glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau. Dozens of species were found to be unknown to science, which could provide an intriguing look back at the history of viral evolution.

Researchers in Germany have developed a new method to treat viral infections by making traps. The team folded DNA into nano-capsules with specialized binding points inside them, which could grab hold of viruses and render them inert.

A new heat-tolerant COVID-19 vaccine has delivered strong preclinical results. The vaccine can remain stable for up to 30 days at around 37 °C (98 °F) and researchers are looking to begin human trials later this year.

New studies are beginning to shed light on the lingering condition dubbed long COVID, offering evidence of who is more susceptible and what kind of symptoms are common. But experts say we still don't know what the long-term effects of COVID-19 will be.

When will COVID-19 vaccine booster shots be necessary? Pfizer claims a third booster of its vaccine may be needed six to 12 months after vaccination but not everyone is convinced, with new research finding mRNA vaccines may offer years of protection.

Australian researchers have identified the mechanism that enables some immune cells to outlast others. The findings point to a treatment method that could improve the success of cancer immunotherapy and help patients beat severe viral infections.

A new study in the journal Science Advances presents the latest research demonstrating the potential effectiveness of an inhalable COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is one of several in development designed to be administered through a nasal spray.

Moderna has commenced human trials testing an mRNA influenza vaccine targeting four separate viral strains. Building on its successful mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, the company is planning to develop a single vaccine against multiple respiratory viruses.

A new study from Stanford University researchers has found previous recent exposure to common-cold-causing coronaviruses could help explain why some people infected with SARS-CoV-2 only suffer mild symptoms.

Behind Pfizer and Moderna, CureVac’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was long-anticipated, with hundreds of millions of doses already pre-ordered. But its final large trial data has disappointed with only 48 percent efficacy at preventing symptomatic disease.