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Blocking folate metabolism could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in infected cells

The novel beta-coronavirus virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and coronaviruses, in general, alter the host's cellular metabolism to support massive production of ~30 kB viral genomes and subgenomic viral RNAs. However, how this is achieved is largely unknown.

21 Mar 2021

A review of the resilience of Chinese hospitals to the COVID-19 pandemic

A new review article, published on the medRxiv* preprint server, deals with several different aspects such as medical response capability, disaster health management, disaster preparedness, and health infrastructure safety, in China, by which they survived the COVID-19 crisis.

21 Mar 2021

Circular RNA vaccine shows neutralizing activity against B.1.351 variant

New preclinical research led by Wensheng Wei from Peking University in China has proposed the development of a circular RNA vaccine. Their findings showed the circular RNA vaccine creates neutralizing antibodies and strong T-cell responses against the receptor-binding domain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein.

21 Mar 2021

Research suggests SARS-CoV-2 vaccine distribution strategy focusing on where virus spreads more easily

The United States is a few days from reaching President Biden's goal of vaccinating 100 million people 100 days since he took office. While the United States leads the world in both the number of COVID-19 cases at over 29.7 million and deaths reaching past 539,000, it has stepped up as a leader in vaccinating its population.

21 Mar 2021

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 offers less protection against South African SARS-CoV-2 variant

The results of a double-blind, randomized, multisite placebo-controlled trial that was conducted in South Africa show that Oxford’s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine has no efficacy against the B.1.351 variant in preventing mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and shows reduced neutralization properties of developed antibodies. The findings are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

21 Mar 2021

Joint project aims to establish automated system for SARS-CoV-2 analysis in wastewater

On March 19, 2021, Hokkaido University, Robotic Biology Institute Inc., iLAC Co., Ltd., and Shionogi & Co., Ltd. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) toward the establishment of an automated system for the analysis of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater.

20 Mar 2021

Study: 8 out of 10 Spanish health professionals are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Approximately 8 out of every 10 health professionals in Spain are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a study led by researchers from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.

20 Mar 2021

Wildlife protection, surveillance of zoonosis are the key to preventing future pandemics

Understanding animal disease is essential if we want to prevent future pandemics, writes Keith Hamilton.

20 Mar 2021

FDA authorizes first machine learning-based COVID-19 non-diagnostic screening device

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the first machine learning-based Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) non-diagnostic screening device that identifies certain biomarkers that are indicative of some types of conditions, such as hypercoagulation (a condition causing blood to clot more easily than normal).

20 Mar 2021

In-school COVID-19 transmission is rare with masking, social distancing and hand-washing

In-school COVID-19 transmission is rare - even among close school contacts of those who test positive for the virus - when schools heed public health precautions such as mandatory masking, social distancing and frequent hand-washing, according to results of a pilot study in Missouri aimed at identifying ways to keep elementary and secondary schools open and safe during the pandemic.

20 Mar 2021

COVID-19 in pregnancy associated with preeclampsia, stillbirth, preterm birth

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in pregnancy is associated with preeclampsia, stillbirth, preterm birth and other adverse outcomes, found new research published in CMAJ.

20 Mar 2021

Developing a COVID-19 vaccine using inactivated E. coli

A team of researchers inactivated whole-cell E.coli with a reduced genome and utilized this to express coronavirus-specific fusion peptides, demonstrating a potent anamnestic response.

19 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 spike stimulates hyperinflammation via Toll-like receptor 2

A new study, released on the bioRxiv* preprint server, describes the mechanism of inflammation in severe COVID-19, besides revealing a potential new therapeutic target to modulate the severity of COVID-19.

19 Mar 2021

DNA spike-ins increase reliability of amplicon-based sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes

In the interests of cost-effectiveness and rapidity, amplicon-based sequencing of the viral genome has been used to provide a sensitive means of genomic surveillance. A new preprint, which was released on the bioRxiv* server, shows how this can be tweaked to make it a reliable source of genomic data by reducing the known potential for contamination.

19 Mar 2021

New variant may not have changed COVID-19 pandemic course in UK, says study

A new study examines the effect of the new "Kent variant" of SARS-CoV-2 on the epidemic course within the UK.

19 Mar 2021

Researchers explore nanotechnology’s potential to deliver synergistic therapeutics for COVID-19

A team of scientists reviewed the nanoencapsulation approaches of synergistic compounds (Lectins, Caffeine, Cocoa, Flavonoids, Quercetin) and the role of nanotechnology in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

19 Mar 2021

Study examines efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine across demographic groups

A new study examines data from Israel's vaccination campaign to assess the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine across different demographics.

19 Mar 2021

Researchers investigate the effect of COVID-19 vaccines on residents of long-term care homes

Long-term care homes have been at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, with 70 percent of COVID-19 deaths having occurred in long-term care or nursing homes.

19 Mar 2021

New proteomics method helps confirm COVID-19 transmission from mother to fetus

Researchers from Skoltech were part of a research consortium studying a case of vertical COVID-19 transmission from mother to her unborn child that resulted in major complications in the pregnancy, premature birth and death of the child.

19 Mar 2021

Study reveals how SARS-CoV-2 spread in Wuhan before the lockdown

Using molecular dating tools and epidemiological simulations, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues at the University of Arizona and Illumina, Inc., estimate that the SARS-CoV-2 virus was likely circulating undetected for at most two months before the first human cases of COVID-19 were described in Wuhan, China in late-December 2019.

19 Mar 2021

SARS News and Research

Blocking folate metabolism could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in infected cells

A review of the resilience of Chinese hospitals to the COVID-19 pandemic

Circular RNA vaccine shows neutralizing activity against B.1.351 variant

Research suggests SARS-CoV-2 vaccine distribution strategy focusing on where virus spreads more easily

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 offers less protection against South African SARS-CoV-2 variant

Joint project aims to establish automated system for SARS-CoV-2 analysis in wastewater

Study: 8 out of 10 Spanish health professionals are willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Wildlife protection, surveillance of zoonosis are the key to preventing future pandemics

FDA authorizes first machine learning-based COVID-19 non-diagnostic screening device

In-school COVID-19 transmission is rare with masking, social distancing and hand-washing

COVID-19 in pregnancy associated with preeclampsia, stillbirth, preterm birth

Developing a COVID-19 vaccine using inactivated E. coli

SARS-CoV-2 spike stimulates hyperinflammation via Toll-like receptor 2

DNA spike-ins increase reliability of amplicon-based sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes

New variant may not have changed COVID-19 pandemic course in UK, says study

Researchers explore nanotechnology’s potential to deliver synergistic therapeutics for COVID-19

Study examines efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine across demographic groups

Researchers investigate the effect of COVID-19 vaccines on residents of long-term care homes

New proteomics method helps confirm COVID-19 transmission from mother to fetus

Study reveals how SARS-CoV-2 spread in Wuhan before the lockdown

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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