Omicron News and Research

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Higher COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality rates in MS patients despite vaccination

New real-world research being presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April) reveals that people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) face a much higher risk of being hospitalised and dying from COVID-19 than the general population.

28 Mar 2024

WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria prevention in children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a new vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, for the prevention of malaria in children.

27 Mar 2024

Molnupiravir influences SARS-CoV-2 evolution in immunocompromised patients

Study found that the antiviral molnupiravir affects the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised patients, suggesting its use modifies viral mutation patterns and may impact viral evolution.

25 Mar 2024

Severity of current SARS-CoV-2 variants is not linked to the number of mutations

New research from UNC Charlotte's Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER) has found that the two most prevalent strains of the virus that cause COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 variants BA.2.86 and JN.1, are not significantly better than their predecessor Omicron at evading immune responses and causing infections despite having a high number of mutations compared to previous variants.

19 Mar 2024

Long COVID manifests as a post-viral syndrome indistinguishable from other respiratory illnesses

Long COVID appears to manifest as a post-viral syndrome indistinguishable from seasonal influenza and other respiratory illnesses, with no evidence of increased moderate-to-severe functional limitations a year after infection, according to new research being presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April).

14 Mar 2024

Research highlights the need for continued surveillance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccines

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at UCLH have highlighted the importance of continued surveillance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccine performance as the virus continues to evolve.

11 Mar 2024

COVID-19 transmission from mothers to newborns is low, study reveals

A study by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National University Hospital (NUH) has revealed that COVID-19 transmission from mothers to their newborns is low.

11 Mar 2024

AI framework can identify and track new and concerning COVID-19 variants

Scientists at The Universities of Manchester and Oxford have developed an AI framework that can identify and track new and concerning COVID-19 variants and could help with other infections in the future.

11 Mar 2024

Man takes 217 COVID vaccines with no ill effects, shows immune boost

A case report of a 62-year-old man receiving 217 SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations over 29 months reveals no adverse effects, increased T-cells, and spike-specific antibodies, providing unique insights into the effects of hyper-vaccination on immune responses.

7 Mar 2024

COVID-19 linked to long-lasting cognitive deficits, study finds

Study in England suggests that COVID-19 may lead to long-term cognitive deficits, with more severe impacts observed in individuals infected early in the pandemic or with prolonged symptoms.

4 Mar 2024

Broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody mAb-39 targets conserved S2 epitope in SARS-CoV-2

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has caused serious damage to public health and the global economy, and one strategy to combat COVID-19 has been the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies for prophylactic and therapeutic use.

1 Mar 2024

Study shows the benefits of locally administered intranasal live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Rocketvax AG, together with the German Research Foundation (DFG), has financially supported a study carried out as part of a joint project of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, National Research Program "Covid-19," NRP 78) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) "Recoding the SARS-CoV-2 Genome - A Multidisciplinary Approach to Generate Live-Attenuated Coronavirus Vaccines."

27 Feb 2024

SARS-CoV-2-infection and vaccine-induced antibodies wane initially but stabilize for lasting protection

A study published in Immunity shows that antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination are long-lasting, with an initial decline followed by stabilization after seven to nine months, highlighting the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines and the importance of hybrid immunity.

25 Feb 2024

Neonates of booster-vaccinated mothers have lower COVID-19 risk and better outcomes

An international study of COVID-19 in pregnancy, which included Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, found that neonates of booster-vaccinated mothers had less risk of being infected with COVID-19 compared to those of unvaccinated mothers.

23 Feb 2024

Increased paxlovid use could lead to significant hospitalization reductions and cost savings

Increased use of Paxlovid, the antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, could prevent hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and save tens of billions of dollars a year, according to a new epidemiological model published by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

23 Feb 2024

Study reveals high prevalence of persistent COVID-19 infections in general population

A new study led by the University of Oxford has found that a high proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the general population lead to persistent infections lasting a month or more.

21 Feb 2024

Understanding the varied impact of COVID-19 in Shanghai and Hong Kong: A comparative analysis

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Shanghai and Hong Kong, China, experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2022.

15 Feb 2024

Study shows ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir remains effective against new omicron variants in the U.S

The effectiveness of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (NMV-r) against Omicron variants.

13 Feb 2024

COVID-19's lasting impact on smell and brain health unveiled

Study reviews the impact of COVID-19 on olfactory dysfunction and its link to neurocognitive disorders, highlighting MRI findings and potential treatments for smell loss.

12 Feb 2024

Long COVID in children: A closer look reveals lasting impacts

A comprehensive review in Pediatrics highlights the significant impact of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) in children, revealing a wide range of long-term symptoms and the need for further research on its prevalence, risk factors, and mechanisms.

11 Feb 2024

Omicron News and Research

Higher COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality rates in MS patients despite vaccination

WHO recommends R21/Matrix-M vaccine for malaria prevention in children

Molnupiravir influences SARS-CoV-2 evolution in immunocompromised patients

Severity of current SARS-CoV-2 variants is not linked to the number of mutations

Long COVID manifests as a post-viral syndrome indistinguishable from other respiratory illnesses

Research highlights the need for continued surveillance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccines

COVID-19 transmission from mothers to newborns is low, study reveals

AI framework can identify and track new and concerning COVID-19 variants

Man takes 217 COVID vaccines with no ill effects, shows immune boost

COVID-19 linked to long-lasting cognitive deficits, study finds

Broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody mAb-39 targets conserved S2 epitope in SARS-CoV-2

Study shows the benefits of locally administered intranasal live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

SARS-CoV-2-infection and vaccine-induced antibodies wane initially but stabilize for lasting protection

Neonates of booster-vaccinated mothers have lower COVID-19 risk and better outcomes

Increased paxlovid use could lead to significant hospitalization reductions and cost savings

Study reveals high prevalence of persistent COVID-19 infections in general population

Understanding the varied impact of COVID-19 in Shanghai and Hong Kong: A comparative analysis

Study shows ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir remains effective against new omicron variants in the U.S

COVID-19's lasting impact on smell and brain health unveiled

Long COVID in children: A closer look reveals lasting impacts

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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