Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a skin condition that mostly shows up in older people. It's often seen together with other health issues like heart problems and autoimmune diseases. But here's something interesting: scientists are now looking into how a process called ferroptosis might play a role in BP. Ferroptosis is a type of cell death that involves iron. It's differ...
Duck plague virus (DPV) is a nasty piece of work. It belongs to the herpesvirus family and can cause serious sickness and even death in ducks. It's known for causing a severe blood infection that affects many organs. One part of the virus, called gG, is a protein that doesn't help the virus reproduce but plays a big role in making the virus so dangerous. The gG prot...
The human body's blood vessels are incredibly complex. They can suffer from a wide range of diseases. Understanding how these diseases develop is crucial. This is especially true when it comes to the role of immune cells. These cells often cause inflammation, which can lead to serious problems. While past studies have looked at how immune cells contribute to blood ve...
In October 2024, the scientific community said goodbye to Diane E. Griffin, a remarkable physician-scientist. She was known for her deep dive into how viruses cause disease. Griffin was not just a top virologist, but also a champion for the scientific community. She put in countless hours to support journals, scientific groups, and academies. Her work left a lasting ...
Alzheimer's disease, or AD, is a tough nut to crack. It's a brain disorder that slowly chips away at a person's memory and thinking skills. It's tricky because it affects different people in different ways. But here's where things get interesting. Scientists have been using something called single-cell sequencing. This tech is like a super-powered microscope that let...
PNH, or Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, is a unique condition. It's not cancerous, but it's a problem with your blood cells. It all starts with a genetic glitch. There's a specific gene, PIGA, that can have a mutation. This mutation creates a mutant stem cell, which is the first step in the process. This mutation isn't the whole story. The mutant stem c...
The plague, caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, has struck humanity three times in history. It's surprising that some strains, like biovar microtus, don't affect humans as much. This bacteria has a clever trick up its sleeve. It can survive and grow inside the immune cells of warm-blooded animals. This is crucial for its early stages of infection. A recent disco...
Living longer is great, but it also brings new challenges. People with HIV are now facing a higher chance of a painful hip condition called femoral head necrosis. This happens when the ball part of the hip bone dies due to lack of blood. It's not just HIV that's to blame, though. Medicines used to treat HIV and sometimes hormone use can also play a role. People with...
Necrotizing Enterocolitis, or NEC, is a serious health issue that mainly affects premature babies. It's like a fire in the belly, causing severe inflammation in the gut. Scientists are trying to understand how this happens by looking at it from different angles. They're combining insights from doctors, microbiologists, and molecular scientists to get a full picture. ...
Gammaherpesviruses are known for causing cancer and lifelong infections in humans. Unfortunately, there are no approved vaccines for major types like Epstein-Barr virus or Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. Scientists often use a virus called murine gammaherpesvirus-68 (MHV68) to study these infections in mice and test potential vaccines. Researchers created a vaccine usin...