A clinical trial for Long COVID found that treating patients with a common antiviral drug for up to 25 days did not improve symptoms, according to NIH Research Matters.
The finding was among several research updates in the September 29, 2026 edition. In other work, lipid nanoparticles that deliver engineered transfer RNA restored proteins in cell and animal models of cystic fibrosis, offering a possible new treatment approach.
Separately, C. difficile bacteria caused lasting changes to cells in the intestines of newborn mice, suggesting the infection may alter the developing gut.
The edition also highlighted popular stories, including scientists identifying a new role for tau protein in brain diseases, GLP-1 plus therapy reducing heavy drinking, depression possibly stalling the development of new neurons, a coating that stops tooth decay in children, and microbiome transplants that may curb food allergies.