New defence against dengue and emerging mosquito-borne viruses

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

Science

New treatments to cut the global death rate from dengue, Zika and West Nile viruses could result from research led by The University of Queensland. Associate Professor Daniel Watterson from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said Read more about New defence against dengue and emerging mosquito-borne viruses

COVID-19 likely lingered longer than reported in Wuhan

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

COVID-19 likely lingered longer in Wuhan than what was reported, according to international researchers who tested more than 60,000 healthy people in China for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The researchers tested for two kinds of antibodies: IgG, which Read more about COVID-19 likely lingered longer than reported in Wuhan

If COVID vaccines just shortened the infectious period they'd save millions of lives and billions of dollars

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0600 AEDT | 0800 NZDT

PLOS Computational Biology

A vaccine or medication which shortened the infectious period of COVID-19 could potentially prevent millions of cases and save billions of dollars, according to US computer modelling. The researchers created a computer model that simulates the Read more about If COVID vaccines just shortened the infectious period they'd save millions of lives and billions of dollars

NEWS BRIEFING: BOM Annual Climate Statement 2020 - Australia's 4th-warmest year on record

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0500 AEDT | 0700 NZDT

BRIEFING RECORDING AVAILABLE The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) Annual Climate Statement summarises the previous year, providing information on temperature, rainfall and significant weather in Australia. Bureau scientists say 2020 was Australia's Read more about NEWS BRIEFING: BOM Annual Climate Statement 2020 - Australia's 4th-warmest year on record

Feeding wolves scraps may be why you have a pupper now

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Scientific Reports

Handing over leftover meat to wolves during harsh winters may have led to the early domestication of dogs around the end of the last ice age - 29,000 to 14,000 years ago - say European researchers. The team suggests that, where we would usually have Read more about Feeding wolves scraps may be why you have a pupper now

Identical twins no longer genetically identical early in development

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

Nature Genetics

Identical twins have genetic differences that begin in the early stages of embryonic development, according to international research. Identical twins come from a single sperm and egg but cell division during embryonic growth can lead to genetic Read more about Identical twins no longer genetically identical early in development

More than half of all COVID-19 is spread by people without symptoms

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0300 AEDT | 0500 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

More than half of all transmission of COVID-19 is from people without COVID-19 symptoms, according to US modelling. The modelling suggests that 59 per cent of all transmission came from people without symptoms comprising 35 per cent from people Read more about More than half of all COVID-19 is spread by people without symptoms

CMRI expands gene therapy research partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics

Publicly released: Fri 8 Jan 2021 at 0001 AEDT | 0201 NZDT

Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is pleased to announce that its partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics to develop the next generation of viral vectors for gene therapy applications has been extended for another two years and two new Read more about CMRI expands gene therapy research partnership with LogicBio Therapeutics

Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 2100 AEDT | 2300 NZDT

Communications Earth & Environment

The 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires are a “wake up call” demonstrating the extreme effects of climate change in Australia, according to a group of experts who’ve published a new study examining the factors that caused the disaster. The 2019/20 Read more about Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call

Breatharian bacteria breakdown greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants

Publicly released: Thu 7 Jan 2021 at 1630 AEDT | 1830 NZDT

Nature Microbiology

Soil bacteria play a much greater role in regulating our atmosphere than previously thought. A recent study led by Monash University has revealed diverse bacteria in soils can breakdown trace gases, such as the toxic pollutant carbon monoxide and Read more about Breatharian bacteria breakdown greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants