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Infectious Diseases

Harnessing an innate protection against Ebola
fluorescent microscopic image of two cells being infected with virus

An innate mechanism in human cells may prevent Ebola virus from spreading, according to new Penn Vet-led research. Using powerful confocal microscopy, they tracked the budding of virus-like particles from cells (shown in the filamentous projections in the cell in the upper right) and how autophagy, a “self-eating” cellular process, by which viral proteins are sequestered in vesicles (shown in the cell in the lower left), inhibits virus-like particles from exiting.

(Image: Courtesy of the Harty lab)

Harnessing an innate protection against Ebola

School of Veterinary Medicine researchers have identified a cellular pathway that keeps Ebola virus from exiting human cells, with implications for developing new antivirals.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Five things to know about this year’s ‘tripledemic’
two young people wearing lie under a blanket on a couch, looking sick

Image: iStock/Srdjanns74

Five things to know about this year’s ‘tripledemic’

The Perelman School of Medicine’s E. John Wherry and Scott Hensley discuss the season’s confluence of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV and how our bodies are responding.

Katherine Unger Baillie

How sex differences may influence lung injury
Lung cells with RNA labeled in pink in each cell

AT2 cells, a type of lung cell that produces surfactant and give rise to gas-exchanging cells, can be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Research by Penn Vet scientists showed that differences in gene expression between male and female AT2 cells may help explain why older males have more severe outcomes from COVID-19 and similar diseases. (Image: Courtesy of the Anguera laboratory)

How sex differences may influence lung injury

Comparing lung cells from male and female mice, School of Veterinary Medicine scientists found gene expression differences that may explain why older males are at a higher risk than females for worse outcomes from COVID-19 and similar diseases.

Katherine Unger Baillie

COVID-19 is more widespread in animals than we thought
National Geographic

COVID-19 is more widespread in animals than we thought

Frederic Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that many mammalian ACE-2 receptors are proving susceptible to COVID, even if they aren’t a perfect match.

What’s next for mRNA vaccines
MIT Technology Review

What’s next for mRNA vaccines

Norbert Pardi of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues are developing a universal mRNA flu vaccine, featuring remarks from mRNA pioneer Katalin Karikó.

New COVID variant drives increase in Pa. and N.J. infections
Philadelphia Inquirer

New COVID variant drives increase in Pa. and N.J. infections

Frederic Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the new XBB.1.5 COVID variant is more immune-evasive and is sharply increasing in Pennsylvania as a proportion of all infections.