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A genetically-engineered cold sore virus is the new hope to beat cancer after scientists found it could eradicate or shrink tumours in terminally ill patients. Patients were injected with the weakened form of the herpes simplex virus that has been modified to kill cancer cells in an early trial at the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) in London. The injection is given directly into the tumour, attacking it in two ways — by invading the cells and making them burst and boosting the immune system. RP2 was tested on 39 patients with cancers including people suffering from skin, oesophageal and...

Teeth from long-dead people and animals are divulging the history of modern-day pathogens.Ancient DNA extracted from the teeth of humans who lived long ago is yielding new information about pathogens past and present. In one of the latest studies, researchers uncovered and sequenced ancient herpes genomes for the first time, from the teeth of long-dead Europeans. The strain of herpes virus that causes lip sores in people today — called HSV-1 — was once thought to have emerged in Africa more than 50,000 years ago. But the new data, published in Science Advances on 27 July1, indicate that its origin...

The authors of the study, published in the journal Science Advances, say the Neolithic flourishing of facial herpes detected in the ancient DNA may have coincided with the advent of a new cultural practice imported from the east: romantic and sexual kissing...Two further samples were local to Cambridge, UK. One a female from an early Anglo-Saxon cemetery a few miles south of the city, dating from 6-7th centuries AD. The other a young adult male from the late 14th century, buried in the grounds of medieval Cambridge’s charitable hospital (later to become St. John’s College), who had suffered appalling dental...

Singer Sheryl Crow reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court overruling Roe v. Wade on Friday, proclaiming, “I do not recognize my country.” “Don’t know what to even say. I do not recognize my country,” Crow said in an Instagram post. “We fight to hang on to our military grade weapons. We battle over the smallest of steps toward protecting our families from being shot in grocery stores or at concerts. We suggest arming our teachers rather than facing down the political power of the NRA,” the singer continued. “And now, we take away the right of a woman to have...

[H/T LilFarmer]ransomnote: the video and transcript below feature Dr. Ryan Cole, a board-certified pathologist and owner/operator of a diagnostics lab, reporting to the public in a video produced by Idaho state government’s “Capitol Clarity” project.https://twitter.com/i/status/1430589141344034816Begin Transcript:Dr. Cole: "But what we’re seeing in the laboratory after people get these shots, we’re seeing a very concerning locked in low-profile of these important killer T-cells that you want in your body. It’s almost a reverse HIV.In HIV you’ll lose your Helper T Cells (i.e., CD4 cells).In this virus, post vaccine, what we’re seeing is is a drop in your Killer T cells (i.e.,...

The doctor performed Caesareans on both the women in 2018. The families, who were told there were no connections between the deaths, are calling for inquests to be opened. The East Kent Hospitals Trust says it could not identify the source of the infection, and the surgeon had no history of the virus. Deaths caused by HSV-1 - one of two strains of the herpes simplex virus - are almost unheard of in healthy people. It is a common infection that can cause sores around the mouth or genitals. Yet, in May and July 2018, two young mothers died from...

Research indicating Lysine, which is used to treat herpes (a virus), can be beneficial in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

In addition to antibodies and white blood cells, the immune system deploys peptides to fight viruses and other pathogens. Synthetic peptides could reinforce this defense but don't last long in the body, so researchers are developing stable peptide mimics. Today, scientists report success in using mimics known as peptoids to treat animals with herpes virus infections. These small synthetic molecules could one day cure or prevent many kinds of infections, including COVID-19. The researchers will present their results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall 2021 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually and in-person...

Experts in Israel found that patients with certain autoimmune diseases who received the Pfizer/BioNTech jab were more likely to develop the rash than those without the condition. Side effects can occur with any medication, including vaccines. They are always listed on the product information leaflet which comes with the medication. Most people who have a Covid jab won’t suffer any side effects but for those who have experienced them, the most common include pain at the site of injection and fatigue. Medics at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Carmel Medical Center in Haifa found that shingles was five...

Herpes infections may be a side effect of a COVID-19 vaccine, experts have revealed. Scientists in Israel identified six cases in a new study of patients developing a skin rash known as herpes zoster — or shingles — after receiving the Pfizer vaccine, according to a study in the Rheumatology journal. Herpes zoster starts off as a small, itchy skin rash, but if left untreated, it could cause nerve damage and pain, the Jerusalem Post reported. This can include a prolonged burning sensation on the skin even after the rash disappears.

"The act of participating in our country's election process is our civic responsibility and instrumental to our country's foundation. We should promote increasing voter turnout as opposed to any measures that adversely impact the ability to cast a ballot. In November, the Marlins proudly set out to promote the vote with our Election Day Feed the Polls initiative, providing meals to voters as our local election officials conducted free and fair elections. We support the Commissioner's decision to stand up for the values of our game and not hold this year's All-Star Game in the state of Georgia."

In the 1950s and '60s as scientists began to obtain high resolution images of viruses, they discovered the detailed structure of the capsid—an outer protective layer composed of multiple copies of the same protein—which protects the virus' genetic material. The majority of viruses have capsids that are typically quasi-spherical and display icosahedral symmetry—like a 20-sided dice for instance. The capsid shell is what protects them, and as scientists discovered their structure, they proposed that capsids could have different sizes and hold different amounts of genome, and therefore could infect hosts differently. [M]any viruses have essentially been misclassified for 60 years,...

On MTV’s newest series, ’Lip Locked,’ the premise is simple: Can the chemistry between couples be tested by seeing if they can identify a loved one from a lineup based solely on a kiss..?"Whether they’re dating, besties, or even in the friend zone, this test won’t be easy for ANYONE!"-blares the show's carnival-barking promoters. Meh, simple enough, not really evil from just that, maybe. But there's more: The male contestant to be tested is GAY, and not just a faint whiff of Liberace, either. And the unknown ringer girls (?) to be kissed are all from different ethnicities. The kisses?...

The website HerpAlert, which tracks, diagnoses and treats herpes, says there has been a spike in the disease after the Coachella Music Festival, which wrapped up its two-weekend run last Sunday. New cases were reported in the communities of the Coachella Valley, in Los Angeles and San Diego. The site says a record 250 herpes cases per day were reported between the two weekends of Coachella.

While living in space weakens astronauts' bodies, microbes can thrive in the zero-gravity environment, growing stronger and even developing resistance to antibiotics. To help minimize the spread of germs on the International Space Station, researchers have developed a new type of antimicrobial coating made of silver and ruthenium and tested it on one of the yuckiest surfaces inside the space station — the toilet door. Having coated the door to the space toilet with the new substance, known as "AgXX," the space station astronauts tested the surface for bacterial growth three times over the course of 19 months. After the...

Tests show that dormant herpes viruses reactivate in more than half the astronauts who travel on the Space Shuttle and International Space station, according to new NASA research - a phenomenon the space agency says could pose problems for deep space missions. ..."In keeping with this, we find that astronaut's immune cells - particularly those that normally suppress and eliminate viruses - become less effective during spaceflight and sometimes for up to 60 days after."

"NASA astronauts endure weeks or even months exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation—not to mention the extreme G forces of take-off and re-entry," says senior author Dr. Satish K. Mehta of KBR Wyle at the Johnson Space Center. "This physical challenge is compounded by more familiar stressors like social separation, confinement and an altered sleep-wake cycle." "During spaceflight there is a rise in secretion of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which are known to suppress the immune system. In keeping with this, we find that astronaut's immune cells—particularly those that normally suppress and eliminate viruses—become less effective during spaceflight...

[R] researchers found that people with high genetic risk of schizophrenia and who also presented high levels of Epstein-Barr virus antibibodies had an increased probability to pertain to the schizophrenia group — more than eight times higher, to be precise. Also, among participants with schizophrenia, around 10 percent had both high levels of antibodies against this type of herpes virus and a higher genetic risk for schizophrenia, compared with only a little over 1 percent of the participants in the control group. The study did not seek to establish cause and effect relationships, but the researchers suggest that preventing infection...

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a Canadian audience Tuesday evening that President Trump’s confidence in his “gut” instincts sends her head “spinning.” The two-time failed presidential candidate’s remarks about the commander in chief came as she kicked off a 13-city speaking tour with former President Bill Clinton. “You know Trump governs, well he said today, that, you know, his gut, in his opinion, is a lot smarter than most people’s brains,” she told a Toronto audience. “So, I mean, literally you can’t make this stuff up. I mean it’s like a dozen times a day your head is...

Fox News on Thursday issued an apology to its viewers after a guest said on air that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was like "herpes." Turning Points USA Director of Spanish Engagement Anna Paulina made the comments as a panel discussed the scandal surrounding the former Democratic presidential candidate's use of a private email server. During the segment, Fox News host Rick Leventhal mentioned that he was "amazed" that Clinton is still making headlines. "She won't go away, she's like herpes," Paulina said.