Syndicated to: Pathogenresearch.wisc.edu
H5N1 virus isolated from infected dairy worker is 100% lethal in ferrets, but does not appear to be circulating in nature anymore
The findings highlight the risks posed by a virus that continues to spread among dairy cattle and occasionally to farm workers, and the study's lead scientist says he was surprised by the ease with which this particular strain was able to kill ferrets.
Raw milk containing H5N1 can infect mice, while lab-based heat treatments greatly reduce the virus
According to new research from UW–Madison, consuming raw cow's milk that contains H5N1 avian influenza virus poses an infection risk, but a laboratory process that simulates high-temperature pasteurization reduces the virus in infected milk by more than 99.99%.
Powerful new genetic screening tool uses pathogens to probe infectious process
Using the gene editing technology CRISPR-Cas9, a team at UW has developed a new tool for ferreting out obscured human genes exploited by the influenza A virus.
UW–Madison researchers reveal how key protein might help influenza A infect its hosts
Scientists have found that a key viral protein produced by influenza A can shred a host cell's genetic materials while leaving the virus unharmed.
UW–Madison responds to USA Today opinion piece about lab safety
Steve Ackerman is Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education at UW–Madison. (Note: UW–Madison has been engaged in ongoing discussion with members of Wisconsin’s Congressional…
New funding to protect bats from fungal epidemic hinges on UW–Madison discoveries
Researchers will investigate a multi-pronged approach to protecting wild bats against Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome.
Sewer sleuthing, air vacuuming scientists keep tabs on COVID-19
Neighboring pathology labs at UW Madison team up to trace viruses in the air and in the sewers.
Most preprint studies of COVID-19 hold up through peer-review
Quantifying the differences typically seen after studies cross the peer-review finish line can help consumers of the freshest science consider how much weight they give preprint results as they report on discoveries or issue public health guidance.
Avian influenza persists as migration peaks
The persistence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild and domestic birds through the summer months points to a likely rise in cases this fall, according to Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Director Keith Poulsen.
Decoding how bacteria talk with each other
UW–Madison researchers have learned that a drastically scaled-down model of a microbial community makes it possible to observe some of the complex interactions.
COVID-19 subvariant BA.2 does not cause more severe illness than BA.1
The researchers are now testing the newest sub-variants of omicron, including BA.2.12.1, which recently began spreading quickly in New York state.
Wisconsin fox kits test positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza
It’s likely the foxes contracted the virus after eating or coming into contact with infected birds. Humans remain at low risk for developing HPAI infection, but should refrain from approaching sick or dead wildlife.
UW Veterinary Care offers rabbit vaccine against highly contagious, fatal disease
The clinic is one of about a dozen animal hospitals in the state to offer the vaccine and part of a growing effort nationally to encourage rabbit owners to seek vaccination.
Understanding the human-animal interplay of COVID-19 and other diseases
Most human diseases don’t start — or end — with our species. Only by looking at the whole picture can scientists like UW–Madison's Tony Goldberg uncover the full story of viruses on Earth.
UW–Madison works to protect Wisconsin poultry from avian flu
The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is prepared to assist with a surge of testing that will help prevent the spread of the virus as birds and eggs are moved around the state, and researchers are also developing a vaccine to prevent future outbreaks.
Omicron causes less severe illness in animal models than previous variants
The findings, published in the journal Nature, align with preliminary data from studies of people infected with the variant and offer insight into the nature of the disease with omicron.
Breaking down fungal biofilm defenses provides potential path to treating sticky infections
While more work is necessary, the newly identified proteins provide potential drug targets to impair a pathogen’s antimicrobial defenses.
UW scientists decipher the mysteries of enigmatic fungi
“There are very few places on the globe where you have the collection of expertise with fungi that we have at UW–Madison,” says Anne Pringle, a professor of botany.
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, partner labs serve state during pandemic
WSLH coordinates the Wisconsin Clinical Lab Network, with more than 130 hospital and clinical labs across the state, and was able to quickly pull together collaborations to increase COVID-19 testing capacity.