Serious infections with influenza A viruses are characterized by an excessive immune response, known as cytokine storm. It was previously unclear why some virus strains trigger these storms, while ...

The _Aedes_ mosquito is a vector of several viral diseases, including eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, and West Nile fever. Lee Haines, CC BY-ND Humans have an exceptional ability to deal with ...

Why does the COVID-19 virus make some people sicker than others? For years, scientists have looked to a critical piece of immune system machinery—known as the interferon pathway—for answers. There, ...

Key takeaways UCLA scientists discovered how certain mosquito-borne viruses breach the brain’s defenses, showing that ...

Why do some fit and healthy people get flattened by COVID while others recover quickly? We asked a virologist what really ...

New research out this month showcases the ever-present danger posed by coronaviruses, the family of viruses that gave rise to the covid-19 pandemic. Scientists in China have reportedly found a new ...

Helen Branswell covers issues broadly related to infectious diseases, including outbreaks, preparedness, research, and vaccine development. Follow her on Mastodon and Bluesky. You can reach Helen on ...

Humans have an exceptional ability to deal with viruses. In most cases, your immune system is able to fight an infection. On ...