virology

Tests taken in Western Australia suggest a second bird was also infected, but there is no evidence poultry or agriculture systems are affected Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The deadly H5N1 bird flu strain has arrived on the Australian mainland with test results confirming a migratory seabird found on the Western Australian coast was positive for the disease. The agr…

Scientific Reports, Published online: 20 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-57691-z Differential expression of neuronal function genes follows a tissue-specific temporal dynamic during Deformed Wing Virus infection in honey bees

Tsaoko stripe mosaic virus (TkSMV) has been identified as the predominant viral pathogen of Amomum tsaoko in Yunnan province of China. This virus induced various foliar symptoms including chlorosis, stripe mosaic and necrosis, while some infected A. tsaoko plants remain asymptomatic. Comprehensive investigation​ of the population genetic structure and molecular detection protocols for TkSMV is cr…

Abstract Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly aggressive bone malignancy that predominantly affects children and young adults. There have been no major changes in patient survival in the past four decades. Therefore, new therapeutic interventions are needed. We have developed an enhanced conditionally replicative canine oncolytic adenovirus, CAV2-AU-M3, armed with an anti-PD1 heavy-chain antibody (HcAb)…

ABSTRACT Many currently approved gene therapies use adeno‐associated virus (AAV) to deliver DNA sequences encoding protein(s)‐of‐interest into cells. The AAV viral genome forms stable, circular DNA structures called episomes after entering the nuclei. Therapeutic proteins are then generated in vivo from transcription and translation of these episomes, and long‐term durability thus depends on epis…

Nature Microbiology, Published online: 19 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02401-8 Evolved phage cocktails outsmart biofilm defences

Nature Microbiology, Published online: 19 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02408-1 Deep learning reveals that prion-related proteins contain hidden ‘prionin’ peptides with antibacterial activity, including two candidates that reduced infections in mice.

Nature Microbiology, Published online: 19 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02405-4 Prophage FRφ rewires the flagellar apparatus of its Enterobacter sp. host through RNA-guided repression of native flagellin, favouring its own phage-encoded isoform. This enhances host motility and reduces immune recognition, boosting bacterial fitness in mice.

Nature Communications, Published online: 19 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74490-2 ISG15 regulates antiviral immune responses through protein modification. Here, the authors identify USP24 as a deISGylase that controls MOV10 ISGylation and IFN-β production, revealing a mechanism that fine-tunes innate immunity.

Gram-negative bacteria exhibit higher intrinsic resistance to antimicrobial agents than Gram-positive bacteria, largely attributable to their efficient multidrug efflux pumps. Among these, tripartite pumps spanning the inner membrane, periplasm, and outer membrane are central to both intrinsic and acquired resistance. Periplasmic adaptor proteins (PAPs) serve as the core connectors of these syste…

In the evolutionary arms race between humans and pathogens, our immune system has evolved a clever solution to fight with an unlimited diversity of pathogens

Everyday viral infections may be quietly reshaping the body’s network of molecules that support cells and tissues in ways that can raise cancer risk over time

Nature Communications, Published online: 19 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74212-8 Henipaviruses are a group of emerging human pathogens including the deadly Nipah virus. Here, the authors biochemically, biophysically, and structurally investigate the antigenicity and functionality of their surface glycoproteins.

Abstract Arthrogryposis, Renal dysfunction and Cholestasis (ARC) syndrome is a rare inherited disorder caused by defects in the VPS33B trafficking protein, leading to impaired bile flow, progressive liver disease and early death. No effective treatments are currently available. Gene therapy offers a potential approach by restoring the missing VPS33B protein in liver cells. Here, we show that live…

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors exhibit complex heterogeneity in capsid content. Although a growing array of analytical platforms can interrogate different capsid attributes, no single method provides a comprehensive or unequivocal assessment. Critically, current approaches often fail to evaluate genome integrity, an emerging important quality attribute. Incomplete genomes can c…