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Study explores relative reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant in South Africa

A new study, focused on the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, presented a modeling result from an analysis of genome surveillance data in Gauteng province, South Africa, using an existing estimation technique.

30 Dec 2021

Orphanhood decreases with the availability of antiretroviral therapy and male circumcision

Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found marked decreases in orphanhood particularly double orphanhood, among adolescents in Rakai, Uganda, corresponding with the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) beginning in 2004 and of male medical circumcision in 2007.

30 Dec 2021

Once-a-day antiretroviral medicine for children proven to be more effective at suppressing HIV

A once-a-day antiretroviral medicine that is low-cost and easy for children to take is also more effective at suppressing HIV than standard treatments, according to a global trial led by researchers at UCL.

30 Dec 2021

At least 3 exposures to vaccine or virus needed for minimum protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

Researchers determine the serum neutralizing and binding activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in individuals with different levels of immunity.

29 Dec 2021

BNT162b2 booster restores protection following waning of the 2-dose vaccine

Researchers assess the real-world effectiveness of a third booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine against the initial two-dose regimen.

29 Dec 2021

Researchers suggest hybrid convalescent plasma therapy neutralizes the omicron variant

New research suggests convalescent plasma from unvaccinated donors is not effective against the Omicron variant, however, “hybrid” convalescent plasma from donors who recovered from COVID-19 infection and are vaccinated provides considerable antibody protection.

29 Dec 2021

Animal study suggests Omicron is less infectious than previous SARS-CoV-2 strains

A new study suggests the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant is not as infectious as scientists initially assumed.

29 Dec 2021

Study shows fully vaccinated individuals preserve cross-neutralizing memory B-cells against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

A new study found increases in resting memory B cell subsets showed strong cross-reactivity against several variants, including Omicron.

29 Dec 2021

Impact of an omicron outbreak at a private gathering in the Faroe Islands

New findings suggest that the Omicron variant has potent immune-escape capabilities, putting even newly boosted patients at risk of infection.

29 Dec 2021

3-dose vaccines deemed ultrapotent against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and other variants

A new study found that the presence of a subset of antibodies with broad neutralizing activities against all circulating variants of concern in the three-dose vaccines' memory B-derived antibody repertoire suggests that the Omicron/future variants infection may elicit selective and rapid recall of humoral responses, conferring secondary protection directed by memory etched in the immune system.

29 Dec 2021

Booster dose of mRNA vaccines found crucial in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants

A new study shows that Omicron is more infectious than any of the other variants and that booster vaccines, especially mRNA vaccines, are capable of neutralizing Omicron variants of pseudoviruses.

29 Dec 2021

Study demonstrates increased effectiveness of third BNT162b2 dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization

Researchers assess vaccine effectiveness of two and three doses of BNT162b2 against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related hospital admission.

28 Dec 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant neutralized by third BNT162b2 booster shot

A new preprint* research paper under consideration at Nature Portfolio Journal assesses the susceptibility of the Omicron variant to neutralizing antibody response after booster immunization.

28 Dec 2021

Pre-existing immunity against influenza can lower SARS-CoV-2 infection burden and spread

A recent study by a team of European researchers demonstrated how antibodies induced by currently circulating influenza A H1N1 strains can cross-react with the important part of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein that interacts with the human cell receptor. Their paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while it undergoes peer review.

28 Dec 2021

Double-dose mRNA COVID vaccines effective among dialysis patients

Researchers assess the impact of lesser initial vaccine response and subsequent waning antibody levels on clinical outcomes among maintenance dialysis.

28 Dec 2021

Cancer patients who had breakthrough COVID-19 remain at high risk for hospitalization, death

The first study to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of fully vaccinated patients with cancer who had breakthrough COVID-19 infections indicates they remained at high risk for hospitalization and death.

26 Dec 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant mutated to evade the immune system

The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant mutated to evade our 'innate immune system', helping establish it as the world's first 'Variant of Concern', finds a new study led by researchers at UCL and the Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California San Francisco.

24 Dec 2021

Study helps explain why mRNA vaccines have been successful at preventing severe COVID-19

Washington University in St. Louis student Julian McCall receives a dose of Pfizer's mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.

24 Dec 2021

Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 manifests striking antibody evasion

A new study from Columbia researchers, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Hong Kong, adds more evidence that the omicron variant can evade the immune protection conferred by vaccines and natural infection and suggests the need for new vaccines and treatments that anticipate how the virus may soon evolve.

24 Dec 2021

Study hints subtle differences in the quality of immune response based on COVID-19 severity

Infection-fighting B cells retain better memory of the coronavirus spike protein in University Hospital patients who recover from less-severe cases of COVID-19 than in those recovering from severe COVID-19, a new study suggests.

24 Dec 2021

immunity News and Research

Study explores relative reproduction of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant in South Africa

Orphanhood decreases with the availability of antiretroviral therapy and male circumcision

Once-a-day antiretroviral medicine for children proven to be more effective at suppressing HIV

At least 3 exposures to vaccine or virus needed for minimum protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

BNT162b2 booster restores protection following waning of the 2-dose vaccine

Researchers suggest hybrid convalescent plasma therapy neutralizes the omicron variant

Animal study suggests Omicron is less infectious than previous SARS-CoV-2 strains

Study shows fully vaccinated individuals preserve cross-neutralizing memory B-cells against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

Impact of an omicron outbreak at a private gathering in the Faroe Islands

3-dose vaccines deemed ultrapotent against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and other variants

Booster dose of mRNA vaccines found crucial in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants

Study demonstrates increased effectiveness of third BNT162b2 dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant neutralized by third BNT162b2 booster shot

Pre-existing immunity against influenza can lower SARS-CoV-2 infection burden and spread

Double-dose mRNA COVID vaccines effective among dialysis patients

Cancer patients who had breakthrough COVID-19 remain at high risk for hospitalization, death

SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant mutated to evade the immune system

Study helps explain why mRNA vaccines have been successful at preventing severe COVID-19

Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 manifests striking antibody evasion

Study hints subtle differences in the quality of immune response based on COVID-19 severity

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