John Williams

  • Vanderbilt University

    Natural killer cells don’t clear HMPV

    Understanding how the immune system responds to the respiratory virus HMPV is crucial for developing vaccines and anti-viral treatments. Read More

    Jul 23, 2014

  • lungs

    Study identifies antibody that may fight MPV, RSV

    New Vanderbilt-led research published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases has identified an antibody that shows promise in preventing and treating human metapneumovirus (MPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — the two leading causes of respiratory infections in young children. Read More

    Jul 17, 2014

  • Vanderbilt University

    Respiratory virus vaccine candidate

    Virus-like particles containing a protein from human metapneumovirus are a promising vaccine candidate for this respiratory virus. Read More

    May 27, 2014

  • Vanderbilt University

    Research reveals clues to childhood respiratory virus

    New Vanderbilt-led research published in the Feb. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine has identified the relatively unknown human metapneumovirus (MPV) as the second most common cause of severe bronchiolitis in young children. Read More

    Feb 14, 2013

  • Vanderbilt University

    Cell entry ports for cold virus

    The respiratory virus HMPV uses its fusion (F) protein – which interacts with cellular receptors called integrins – to bind to and enter target cells. Read More

    Sep 25, 2012

  • lungs

    New therapeutic target for cold, flu viruses identified

    Viruses that cause acute respiratory infections — such as human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and flu — impair a set of immune system cells that should clear the virus from the lungs. Now, Vanderbilt University investigators have discovered the signaling pathway that disables these immune cells. Read More

    Aug 9, 2012

  • lungs

    Researchers spot Achilles’ heel in respiratory virus

    A new viral protein structure could jump-start vaccine development for two leading causes of lower respiratory disease in children and elderly adults. Read More

    Apr 13, 2012

  • Interview with mother and child

    Grant aids pediatric pneumonia study in Peru

    Carlos Grijalva, M.D., MPH, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine, will go to the rural areas of the Peruvian Andes through a $500,000 grant from the Thrasher Foundation to examine pneumonia in children in the hopes of describing the association between common respiratory viral infections and bacterial infection. Read More

    Jun 8, 2011