Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Health → Diseases

Great leaps forward have been made in the fight against the biggest hidden virus

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
March 18, 2013
in Diseases, Health

cytomegalovirus

A virus that most of us carry, yet which is remarkably obscure both to the immune system and the general public in terms of awareness, is responsible for a number of health hazards in the human body. In time, it tires the immune system which is forced to seek and fight it for a life time, exposing the body to other health hazards, and is the number one infectious cause of congenital birth defects. Researchers  at Cardiff University and the La Jolla Institute, California, have now made great strides forward in killing the virus after they identified the cellular mechanism it uses to infect its host body, thus providing key information that one day might allow an effective vaccine to be developed.

One child in 750 is born with a congenital defect like hearing or brain damage as a result of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection – much more than other well-known congenital problems, such as Down’s syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome. Despite this, few people are aware of its existence or of the fact they carry it.

What makes it so dangerous is its stealthy nature which makes it very difficult for the immune system to identify it. To top things over, the virus belongs to the herpes family of viruses that cause cold sores, chicken pox and other maladies, and like its brethren it never goes away. Also,  the constant struggle and stress the immune system is subjected to as it tries to control the virus tires and weakens it in the process, exposing it to other maladies.

“We have identified a novel trick that this virus uses to hide from immune detection,” says La Jolla Institute scientist Chris Benedict, Ph.D., a CMV expert. “By uncovering this mechanism, we’ve provided an important piece of the CMV puzzle that could enable vaccine counter strategies that flush out and eliminate virus-infected cells.”

A well hidden pest

What the researchers found was  that specific CMV gene (called UL141) blocks the ability of two key immune pathways to kill CMV-infected cells. These are TRAIL “death receptor” 1 and 2, first discovered some 15 years ago that normally work to kill infectious cells. The TRAIL death receptors have been the subject of study for oncologists for many years, interested in targeting them for anti-tumor therapies.

By identifying the UL141 gene as an inhibitor of TRAIL’s ability to carry out its killing function, the researchers hope this new found information will play a pivotal role in developing an effective vaccine against the CMV virus.

“This finding puts on the table the importance of TRAIL signaling in host (our body’s) defense and how the virus works to block these efforts,” says Ed Mocarski, Ph.D., a scientist at the Emory University School of Medicine’s Vaccine Center, whose research focuses on new ways to combat CMV. “This knowledge could set the stage for developing ways to boost the adaptive immune response which could ultimately aid in developing an effective vaccine.”

The findings were reported in the journal Cell Host & Microbe.

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Science in Africa is making steps forward, but it needs leaps
  2. How the praying mantises make their amazing leaps
  3. Enjoy skipping rocks? Try potato-shaped stones for ‘almighty’ leaps out of water
  4. A compound against SARS shows promise against the COVID-19 virus
  5. Antibodies against the first coronavirus strain aren’t very effective against emerging forms of the virus
Tags: cytomegalovirusimmune system

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW