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What is a protective neutralizing antibody titer against SARS-CoV-2 infection?

A new study describes a predictive model of protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection that could help evolve optimal vaccination strategies to maintain protection and reduce the death rate.

15 Mar 2021

Dual-action monoclonal antibodies from an original SARS survivor show promise against COVID-19

A recent study, currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server, indicates that a pair of dual-action monoclonal antibodies derived from an original 2003 SARS survivors could play an important role in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to their broadly neutralizing activity and the engagement of the immune system via effector function capabilities.

14 Mar 2021

Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and RBD detected in saliva of mRNA-vaccine recipients

A team of researchers from the US and the Netherlands recently reported that antibodies to the spike protein and the RBD are detected in saliva samples from healthcare workers vaccinated with mRNA vaccines.

12 Mar 2021

Could an “ACE2 Triple Decoy” be an alternative approach to neutralizing SARS-CoV-2?

A team of scientists from the USA recently developed a recombinant “Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) Triple Decoy” that can trap SARS-CoV-2 and prevent its propagation inside the host cell.

11 Mar 2021

Promega launches XpressAmp™ Direct Amplification Reagents

Promega Corporation has released XpressAmp™ Direct Amplification Reagents that facilitate RNA extraction-free sample preparation that is automation-friendly.

From Promega Corporation 11 Mar 2021

Researchers develop assay for qualitative assessment of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies

To address the need for a high-quality neutralization assay against SARS-CoV-2, researchers from the NIAID modified and optimized a previously established fluorescence reduction neutralization assay (FRNA) to provide a quantitative assessment of a large number of infected cells through the use of a high-content imaging system.

11 Mar 2021

Whole genome sequencing may guide blood cancer treatment

For certain blood cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), deciding whether patients need an aggressive treatment typically hinges on a set of lab tests to identify genetic changes.

11 Mar 2021

South African SARS-CoV-2 variant most problematic for BNT-162b2 vaccine

Researchers from Germany and the US investigated the efficacy of neutralizing antibodies against newer variants using serum and saliva samples obtained from groups of infected, vaccinated (with Pfizer BNT-162b2), and uninfected individuals. The researchers started this study to uncover vaccine-induced immune response and show the efficiency of antibody binding and neutralization in SARS-CoV-2 variants.

10 Mar 2021

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine elicits antibodies in blood and breastmilk simultaneously, finds study

A new study adds to the sum of knowledge around this issue, showing a highly synchronized and rapid development of an antibody response in breast milk and serum, which reached stable levels around two weeks after the second dose of the vaccine was administered.

10 Mar 2021

Research demonstrates multivalent nanobodies overcome SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint paper, researchers isolated anti-RBD nanobodies from llamas and “nanomice” (they engineered to produce VHHs cloned from alpacas, dromedaries and camels).

10 Mar 2021

Rapid increase of UK SARS-CoV-2 variant found in sewage in England between October 2020 to January 2021

A new study confirms the utility of wastewater surveillance as an important new tool in this regard by showing the presence of the UK SARS-CoV-2 variant in wastewater samples from London early in November, with increasing frequency thereafter.

9 Mar 2021

Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induce humoral protection against U.K. and S.A. variants

Researchers at the Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, Paris, France determined that in BNT162b2-vaccinated participants who received two doses, their sera harbored at least a neutralizing titer against the three SARS-CoV-2 variants.

8 Mar 2021

Narrowing down on small molecular inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 key protease

A recent methodological study by researchers from the University of Luxembourg shows that the combination of virtual screening approaches, molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning can substantially facilitate small molecule screening investigations targeted at key SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins.

8 Mar 2021

Monoclonal antibodies can be an effective tool in the global fight against malaria

Scientists at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, in collaboration the Duke University, have confirmed that monoclonal antibodies can be an effective tool in the global fight against malaria.

8 Mar 2021

One dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate boosts neutralizing antibody response in COVID-19 convalescents

A new study details the results from a single dose of the FINLAY FR 1A recombinant dimeric receptor-binding domain (RBD) base vaccine during a phase I clinical trial with 30 COVID-19 convalescents to test its capacity for boosting natural immunity.

5 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 proteins are potent suppressors of innate immunity

A new study describes the strong immune-suppressing activity of SARS-CoV-2 genes, among other coronavirus genes.

5 Mar 2021

Identification of neutralizing IFNL3 autoantibodies in severe COVID-19 cases

Scientists have recently developed a novel alternative molecular display technology called Molecular Indexing of Proteins by Self Assembly (MIPSA). Their research explains how this technology overcomes the critical disadvantages of PLATO and other full-length protein array technologies.

5 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2-derived mutant peptides hamper T cells' ability to recognize and destroy infected cells

A deep sequencing study of 747 SARS-CoV-2 virus isolates has revealed mutant peptides derived from the virus that cannot effectively bind to critical proteins on the surface of infected cells and, in turn, hamper activation of CD8+ killer T cells that recognize and destroy these infected cells.

4 Mar 2021

Combining terpenes and cannabidiol may be highly active against human coronaviruses

A group of researchers from a well-known technology company in Israel showed a significant antiviral effect of a combination of terpenes and cannabidiol against a human coronavirus strain 229E. This exciting and first-of-its-kind report is currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server.

4 Mar 2021

Results from phase 2 trial of Novavax recombinant nanoparticle SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Novavax, Inc., the American vaccine development company, has been developing a recombinant protein nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine currently termed NVX-CoV2373. The full-length spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is created in a baculovirus vector, which is then inserted into a lipid nanoparticle around 50 nm in diameter.

3 Mar 2021

Assay News and Research

What is a protective neutralizing antibody titer against SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Dual-action monoclonal antibodies from an original SARS survivor show promise against COVID-19

Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and RBD detected in saliva of mRNA-vaccine recipients

Could an “ACE2 Triple Decoy” be an alternative approach to neutralizing SARS-CoV-2?

Promega launches XpressAmp™ Direct Amplification Reagents

Researchers develop assay for qualitative assessment of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies

Whole genome sequencing may guide blood cancer treatment

South African SARS-CoV-2 variant most problematic for BNT-162b2 vaccine

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine elicits antibodies in blood and breastmilk simultaneously, finds study

Research demonstrates multivalent nanobodies overcome SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations

Rapid increase of UK SARS-CoV-2 variant found in sewage in England between October 2020 to January 2021

Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induce humoral protection against U.K. and S.A. variants

Narrowing down on small molecular inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 key protease

Monoclonal antibodies can be an effective tool in the global fight against malaria

One dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate boosts neutralizing antibody response in COVID-19 convalescents

SARS-CoV-2 proteins are potent suppressors of innate immunity

Identification of neutralizing IFNL3 autoantibodies in severe COVID-19 cases

SARS-CoV-2-derived mutant peptides hamper T cells' ability to recognize and destroy infected cells

Combining terpenes and cannabidiol may be highly active against human coronaviruses

Results from phase 2 trial of Novavax recombinant nanoparticle SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Pioneering Live Cell Imaging - Yokogawa's Impact and Innovations

Revolutionizing Life Science: An Interview with SCIEX on ASMS, the SCIEX 7500+ System, and AI-Driven Quantitation

From Discovery Biology to ELRIG Chair

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