The University of Florida’s Pepper, the pet cat who made headlines last year for discovering the first jeilongvirus found in the U.S., has done it again. This time, his keen senses have led researchers to a new strain of orthoreovirus, which is known to infect humans, white-tailed deer, bats, and other mammals.

John Lednicky, Ph.D., Pepper’s owner and a University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions virologist, was testing a specimen from an Everglades short-tailed shrew when he stumbled upon the new virus. The discovery came as part of his ongoing work to understand transmission of the mule deerpox virus.

Lednicky’s team published the complete genomic coding sequences for the virus they named “Gainesville shrew mammalian orthoreovirus type 3 strain UF-1” in the journal Microbiology Resource Announcements. The researchers note that while there have been rare reports of orthoreoviruses being associated with cases of encephalitis, meningitis, and gastroenteritis in children, more research is needed to understand their effects on humans.

“We need to pay attention to orthoreoviruses and know how to rapidly detect them,” Lednicky said. “There are many different mammalian orthoreoviruses, and not enough is known about this recently identified virus to be concerned.”

Pepper’s contributions to scientific discovery continue unabated. His specimen collection has led researchers to the identification of two other novel viruses found in farmed white-tailed deer, highlighting the importance of continued research into the ever-evolving world of viruses.

The discovery of new viruses is not surprising, given their propensity to constantly evolve and the sophisticated lab techniques used by researchers like Lednicky. “If you look, you’ll find,” he said. “And that’s why we keep finding all these new viruses.”

Lednicky and his team plan to conduct further research into the new virus, including serology and immunology studies to understand its potential threat to humans, wildlife, and pets.

Meanwhile, Pepper remains healthy and continues to contribute to scientific discovery through his outdoor adventures. As Lednicky said, “If you come across a dead animal, why not test it instead of just burying it? There is a lot of information that can be gained.”

The study of lemurs has long fascinated scientists, and a recent research breakthrough by biological anthropologist Elaine Guevara is shedding new light on the primate’s remarkable ability to age without inflammation. This phenomenon, known as “inflammaging,” is a widespread issue in humans, leading to health problems such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Guevara’s research focused on ring-tailed and sifaka lemurs, two species that differ in their life pacing and lifespan. By studying these primates, Guevara aimed to understand why they avoid the inevitability of inflammaging observed in humans. Her findings were surprising: neither species showed age-related changes in markers of oxidative stress or inflammation. In fact, ring-tailed lemurs even exhibited marginal declines in inflammation with age.

This discovery, consistent with recent studies on other non-human primates, suggests that inflamaging is not a universal feature of primates, and perhaps not even a universal feature of humans. Christine Drea, a professor of evolutionary anthropology who worked alongside Guevara, notes that this study points to differences in aging between humans and lemurs.

As we grow older, low-grade chronic inflammation sets in, causing a range of health problems. Understanding why inflamaging increases with age in humans, what causes it, and how it can be prevented is critical information for unlocking ways to help humans live longer and healthier lives. Guevara’s study serves as the first step in unraveling these questions.

The next step for Guevara and her team is to conduct similar research on lemurs in their natural habitat. This will provide valuable insights into how aging can differ between captivity and the wild, and whether inflamaging is intrinsic or environmental.

With a rapidly aging global population, these findings are essential for mitigating disability and improving quality of life in later years. Guevara’s breakthrough study offers new hope that we may be able to learn from lemurs’ remarkable ability to age without inflammation, leading to better health outcomes for humans worldwide.

Creatine is well-known for its role in building muscle mass, but it also plays a crucial part in energy production in cells throughout the body – including those in the brain. A research team at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute is working on a groundbreaking technique to deliver creatine directly to the brain using focused ultrasound. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of creatine deficiency disorders.

Creatine is essential for energy production in cells, and it also influences neurotransmitter systems in the brain. It interacts with phosphoric acid to create adenosine triphosphate, a molecule vital for energy production in living cells. However, a growing body of research suggests that creatine may itself function as a neurotransmitter, delivering signals between neurons.

The brain’s protective blood-brain barrier can prevent beneficial compounds like creatine from reaching the brain when levels are low. This selective shield blocks harmful substances like toxins and pathogens, but it also hinders the delivery of essential nutrients to brain tissue. The research team is using focused ultrasound to temporarily open access to the brain, allowing drugs to reach diseased tissue without harming surrounding healthy cells.

The Focused Ultrasound Foundation has recognized Virginia Tech and Children’s National Hospital as Centers of Excellence, bringing together clinical specialists, trial experts, and research scientists who can design experiments that inform future clinical trials. The early stages of the project will focus on using focused ultrasound to deliver creatine across the blood-brain barrier and restore normal brain mass in models of creatine deficiency.

This pioneering work has the potential to improve brain development, learning, memory, and seizure control in individuals with creatine deficiency disorders. With further research and development, this technique could become a game-changer for patients struggling with neurodevelopmental challenges.