Viral infections may play a role in Alzheimer's disease.

A recent study by researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo reveals the pivotal role of tristetraprolin (TTP), an RNA-binding protein, in regulating inflammatory responses in basophils, immune cells central to allergic reactions. The research shows that TTP controls the stability of mRNAs for inflammatory molecules, preventing their overproduction. Using TTP-deficient mice, the team found heightened allergic inflammation, suggesting TTP as a promising therapeutic target for treating allergic and inflammatory diseases.

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1) remains a low risk to the general public, and public health experts in the United States believe that available treatments and vaccines, as well as those in development, are sufficient to prevent severe disease. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its federal partners remain focused on monitoring the virus and evaluating changes, according to leading officials at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the NIH.