Tiny Nanobody Discovery Offers Hope Against Deadly Nipah and Hendra Viruses
A University of Queensland team has discovered the first nanobody capable of neutralizing Nipah and Hendra viruses, two deadly zoonotic pathogens without approved treatments. The nanobody, DS90, blocks viral entry and prevents mutation, offering a new strategy for future outbreaks in Australia and Asia. Findings published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology highlight the promise of nanobodies as next-generation antiviral therapies.
Economic growth alone is not enough to eliminate rabies
Researchers found no relationship between death rates caused by rabies and the GDP of a country and no significant association between health expenditure (% GDP) and rabies incidence. Interestingly, no association was found to occur between health expenditure and the probability of receiving PEP indicating that economic growth alone may not be sufficient in ensuring health care access.