We found coronaviruses in UK bats — so far the danger’s minimal but we need to know more about viruses that can spread to humans: Agami Photo Agency/Shutterstock Most emerging infectious diseases are caused by zoonotic pathogens – viruses and bacteria which circulate in wild and domestic animals but are also capable of infecting humans. …
Some coronaviruses kill, while others cause a common cold. We are getting closer to knowing why: Some human coronaviruses cause seasonal colds or other mild symptoms. Others can be severe and even fatal. Jdidi wassim/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images It’s hard to imagine a time when “coronavirus” wasn’t a household word. But for a long …
Monkeypox may not mutate as fast as coronaviruses, but that doesn’t mean it can’t adapt to its new hosts: The recent outbreak of monkeypox virus has called into question the capabilities of these kinds large DNA viruses to evolve, adapt and change their biology. Compared with small RNA viruses such as coronavirus, monkeypox virus and …
Have hybrid coronaviruses already been made? We simply don’t know for sure, and that’s a problem: At the end of 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quietly added “chimeric viruses” – viruses that contain genetic material derived from two or more distinct viruses – to its list of most dangerous pathogens. …