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25 million people in the UK have had COVID-19 top up jab

More than 25 million people in the UK have had a COVID-19 top up jab, as the vaccination programme is turbocharged to get all eligible adults boosted as soon as possible.

16 Dec 2021

G7 health ministers issue statement on the global threat of Omicron variant

G7 health ministers today held their final meeting of the UK's G7 Presidency, focusing particularly on the very worrying developments on Omicron.

16 Dec 2021

Antibody-like proteins derived from sharks may be used to combat future SARS outbreaks

Small, unique antibody-like proteins known as VNARs -; derived from the immune systems of sharks -; can prevent the virus that causes COVID-19, its variants, and related coronaviruses from infecting human cells, according to a new study published Dec. 16.

16 Dec 2021

The mental health impact of COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. healthcare workers, first-responders

Researchers at UW Medicine and the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System worked with emergency medicine physicians at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic among U.S. healthcare workers and first-responders.

16 Dec 2021

NIH scientists highlight the urgent need for universal coronavirus vaccines

A growing body of scientific evidence, considered together with ecological reality, strongly suggest that novel coronaviruses will continue to infect bats and other animal reservoirs and potentially emerge to pose a pandemic threat to humans.

16 Dec 2021

New study demonstrates SARS-CoV-2 Omicron antibody escape

A new study examined the neutralization of virus variants using three sets of antibodies: serum from individuals vaccinated or infected with earlier variants of the virus; concentrated human antibodies from plasma donors; and approved monoclonal antibodies.

16 Dec 2021

Moderna booster vaccination overcomes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant antibody escape

A new study reports the results of a study focused on immune evasion characteristics, specifically the ability to escape neutralization by antibodies to the earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants or to the spike antigen used in COVID-19 vaccines.

16 Dec 2021

ACTG announces the launch of clinical trial to evaluate new CMV vaccine in adults

The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), the largest global HIV research network, today announced the launch of A5355, a clinical trial studying a new cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine in adults with both HIV and CMV.

16 Dec 2021

Study suggests convalescent plasma appears safe but does not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study assesses the safety and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma containing high titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies as PEP.

16 Dec 2021

WHO and Sanofi sign new agreement to sustain specific efforts to eliminate NTDs

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Sanofi – one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies – have signed a new agreement for donations of medicines to sustain specific efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

16 Dec 2021

Using fungal vaccine to train stem cells and enhance immune response to infections

The research group Immunology of Fungal Infections at the University of Valencia (UV) has investigated a fungal vaccine with which to train stem cells and hematopoietic progenitors (which produce all the cells of the blood and lifelong immune system) to improve the immune response to infections. The work has been published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.

16 Dec 2021

Study details the effectiveness of face masks to reduce the spread of respiratory infections

Findings from a new study published today provide guidance for increasing the effectiveness of face masks to reduce the spread of respiratory infectious pathogens including SARS-CoV-2. T

16 Dec 2021

Researchers map how the HTLV-1 virus causes a rare leukemia in some people

An international team have mapped how the HTLV-1 virus causes a rare leukemia in some people, providing clues on how to stop it happening.

16 Dec 2021

Therapeutic antibodies deemed ineffective against Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

A new study found that the Omicron S protein evades antibodies with a 44-fold higher efficiency than the Delta variant's spike, rendering therapeutic antibodies ineffective and likely negatively impacting antibody protection induced by infection or double vaccination.

16 Dec 2021

Capability of BNT162b2 vaccine given in 2 or 3 doses to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

The team observed that three doses of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) mRNA vaccine are required to mount an effective antibody response against the Omicron variant.

16 Dec 2021

Experimental and computational synergy considered a promising approach in COVID-19 patients

Thanks to the large amount of -omics data becoming increasingly available, sophisticated computational models are developed for new fields such as immunology and the predictions they generate will help identify key molecules in inflammatory processes.

16 Dec 2021

T cell responses remain broadly robust against Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

A new study highlights the significance of robust T cell responses in preventing severe omicron infections.

16 Dec 2021

Neutralization potency of COVID-19 vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 variant pseudoviruses

A new study has used this assay to evaluate sera, obtained from 239 individuals vaccinated via any of the above-stated vaccines against SARS-CoV-2’s original strain, the Delta, and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses.

16 Dec 2021

Risk of cardiovascular disease increases with stress and adverse life events, finds study

The risk of cardiovascular disease rises with an increasing burden of perceived stress, financial problems and adverse life events, a major international study with University of Gothenburg researchers as main authors shows. They were able to link the risk of both heart attack and stroke with high stress levels.

16 Dec 2021

Study illustrates the impact of COVID-19 on breastfeeding

The percentage of infants fully breastfed at 1,3, and 6 months significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic among participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Southern California.

16 Dec 2021

Disease/Infection News

25 million people in the UK have had COVID-19 top up jab

G7 health ministers issue statement on the global threat of Omicron variant

Antibody-like proteins derived from sharks may be used to combat future SARS outbreaks

The mental health impact of COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. healthcare workers, first-responders

NIH scientists highlight the urgent need for universal coronavirus vaccines

New study demonstrates SARS-CoV-2 Omicron antibody escape

Moderna booster vaccination overcomes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant antibody escape

ACTG announces the launch of clinical trial to evaluate new CMV vaccine in adults

Study suggests convalescent plasma appears safe but does not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection

WHO and Sanofi sign new agreement to sustain specific efforts to eliminate NTDs

Using fungal vaccine to train stem cells and enhance immune response to infections

Study details the effectiveness of face masks to reduce the spread of respiratory infections

Researchers map how the HTLV-1 virus causes a rare leukemia in some people

Therapeutic antibodies deemed ineffective against Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

Capability of BNT162b2 vaccine given in 2 or 3 doses to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

Experimental and computational synergy considered a promising approach in COVID-19 patients

T cell responses remain broadly robust against Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

Neutralization potency of COVID-19 vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 variant pseudoviruses

Risk of cardiovascular disease increases with stress and adverse life events, finds study

Study illustrates the impact of COVID-19 on breastfeeding

Decoding Cannabis: Differentiating Hemp and Marijuana

Deciphering the Microbiome with The Microsetta Initiative

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

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