A gene that cured a man of HIV a decade ago has been successfully added to developing monkey embryos in an effort to study more potential treatments for the disease.
State & Global
Early mutation in SARS-CoV-2 virus in Europe led to its domination worldwide
A study shows that the mutant virus is more easily transmitted and grows better within hosts, likely aiding its dominance. The mutation, researchers say, should not interfere with the effectiveness of vaccines against the virus.
First relatives of rubella virus discovered in bats in Uganda and mice in Germany
Neither of the new viruses is known to infect people, but the findings reinforce the important work scientists are undertaking to study the effects of a changing environment on human and animal diseases.
New vaccine strategy harnesses ‘foot soldier’ T-cells to provide protection against influenza
Researchers believe the same approach can be applied to several other respiratory pathogens, including the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
New COVID-19 clinical trials at UW–Madison and UW Health will study antibody approach
The trials center around an “antibody cocktail” called REGN-COV2, which was created by the New York-based pharmaceutical company Regeneron.
Hamsters develop protective immunity to COVID-19 and are protected by convalescent sera
The animals are useful to researchers trying to understand SARS-CoV-2 and in the evaluation of vaccines, treatments and drugs against the disease it causes.
Study confirms cats can become infected with and may transmit COVID-19 to other cats
Researchers advise that people with symptoms avoid contact with cats, and cat owners should keep their pets indoors to limit contact with other people and animals.
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene works with campus partners to test for COVID-19
Although the global surge in demand has made it more difficult in many places, WSLH’s colleagues at the university have pitched in to keep testing available in Wisconsin.
UW–Madison, FluGen, Bharat Biotech to develop CoroFlu, a coronavirus vaccine
Refinement of the CoroFlu vaccine concept and testing in laboratory animal models at UW–Madison is expected to take three to six months. CoroFlu could be in human clinical trials by fall, 2020.
UW–Madison researchers lead efforts to understand, thwart new coronavirus
Within the next few weeks, an interdisciplinary team of UW scientists hopes to begin studies of 2019-nCoV to “erect more barriers to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future.”