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Saliva testing has high accuracy in detecting early cases of SARS-CoV-2

New research finds saliva testing has a high sensitivity for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

7 Mar 2021

Children may transmit SARS-CoV-2 at same level as adults, suggests study

Researchers studied SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in over a thousand individuals, including both adults and children. They found the loads to be comparable, suggesting they may play an equal role in COVID-19 transmission.

5 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 escapes host immune responses by modulating dendritic cell maturation

A team of scientists from Italy and the USA has recently explored the maturation pattern of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

5 Mar 2021

Study explains how the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant is more transmissible

New research led by Thushan I. de Silva from the University of Sheffield proposes that increases in subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) expression cause increased viral transmissibility and subsequent infection. They suggest the ORF9 protein, found in high amounts of sgRNA, could be regulating interferon responses.

4 Mar 2021

COVID-19 swab testing may not be good for people with a history of sinus or skull-base surgery

People who have had major sinus surgery should consult their ENT doctor before undergoing COVID-19 swab testing, new research indicates.

4 Mar 2021

Study reveals a small molecule inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells

Researchers found a small molecule that inhibits different virus proteins and significantly reduces infection in cells. Combined with the antiviral remdesivir, its potency increases significantly, suggesting it may be a potential antiviral candidate for the treatment of COVID-19.

4 Mar 2021

Coronavirus deranges the immune system in complex and deadly ways

There's a reason soldiers go through basic training before heading into combat: Without careful instruction, green recruits armed with powerful weapons could be as dangerous to one another as to the enemy.

4 Mar 2021

Rapid point-of-care test used to diagnose respiratory infections can reduce antibiotic prescribing

A rapid microbiological point-of-care test to diagnose respiratory infections has proved popular with GPs and could reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care, according to a National Institute for Health Research funded study by researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol.

4 Mar 2021

Quantifying SARS-CoV-2 viral load in hospitalized patients

A new paper, published on the medRxiv preprint server, investigates the role of subgenomic RNA transcripts in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Earlier, scientists believed that subgenomic RNA could be traceable infective markers to monitor infectivity.

2 Mar 2021

Researchers develop a genetic patch to prevent hereditary deafness

They can hear well up to about forty years old, but then suddenly deafness strikes people with DFNA9. The cells of the inner ear can no longer reverse the damage caused by a genetic defect in their DNA.

2 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 UK variant shows low virulence and high shedding in hamster model

A new study compares the pathogenicity and infectiousness of one such variant, the VOC 202012/01 (B.1.1.7 lineage) from the United Kingdom, with the globally dominant D614G mutation-carrying strains.

2 Mar 2021

Learning to live again: A Lazarus tale from the Covid front lines

The twinkle in his eyes, the delight in his smile, the joyous way he moved his disease-withered frame. They all proclaimed a single, resounding message: Grateful to be alive!

26 Feb 2021

Inhalable nanobody shows potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vivo

Researchers have developed a stable and ultrapotent homotrimeric Pittsburgh inhalable Nanobody 21 (PiN-21) against SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian hamsters. They demonstrated the high therapeutic efficacy of this homotrimeric Nb, leveraging both intranasal and aerosol delivery.

26 Feb 2021

FDA approval provides targeted treatment option for patients with rare DMD mutation

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Amondys 45 (casimersen) injection for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients who have a confirmed mutation of the DMD gene that is amenable to exon 45 skipping (Exons are pieces of DNA that provide information for making proteins in a person's genome).

25 Feb 2021

COVID-19 hospitalizations still high in England despite recent decline in cases, says study

Results from the latest round of the real-time assessment of community transmission study (REACT-1) study in England indicate that although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases have decreased, the number of hospitalizations remains high.

24 Feb 2021

Study profiles the nose to predict immune response during COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 resides in mucous membranes, making it easy to detect viral load in the nasal cavities. An international group of researchers has characterized the immunological and diagnosis characteristics of patients who may have or are confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The team found a distinct nasal cytokine profile that could help identify patients at risk for high inflammatory responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

22 Feb 2021

Organ transplant patient dies after receiving Covid-infected lungs

Doctors say a woman in Michigan contracted covid-19 and died last fall two months after receiving a tainted double-lung transplant from a donor who turned out to harbor the virus that causes the disease — despite showing no signs of illness and initially testing negative.

22 Feb 2021