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U.S. sees sharp decrease in life expectancy largely due to COVID-19 pandemic, CDC says

New preliminary data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that average life expectancy in the United States fell by 1.5 years over 2020.

21 Jul 2021

Scientists identify gut microbiota dysbiosis as a potential risk factor for long COVID

A study in Norway has recently highlighted a significant association between gut microbiota alteration and persistent respiratory dysfunction in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

21 Jul 2021

Intestinal organoids demonstrate variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility

Three-dimensional organoid structures grown in the lab allow deeper, almost in situ investigation of a biological system, without the use of living animals. In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv*, organoids generated from human specimens are utilized to investigate the way in which SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the numerous cells of the intestinal epithelium, finding great heterogeneity in the susceptibility of the organoids and the cells within to infection.

21 Jul 2021

Study examines the host and viral factors that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution

In a new paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv*, two clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 are monitored by whole genome sequencing as they are passaged through several generations of Vero cells or human-derived primary nasal epithelial cells (PNEC), allowing direct observation of the occurrence of virus enhancing mutations and the way in which host cell factors shape virus evolution.

21 Jul 2021

Study associates feelings of discrimination and low status with long COVID-19 symptoms

A recent study, released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, examines the correlation of these symptoms with the patient’s socioeconomic status (SES) and perception of social discrimination, along with other social factors. The researchers found that the first two factors are associated strongly with long-term symptoms of COVID-19.

21 Jul 2021

How to run a COVID-19 vaccination campaign: lessons from other infectious outbreaks

A new paper, available on the medRxiv* preprint server, presents lessons learned from the implementation of three adult vaccine programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa and South America.

21 Jul 2021

COVIDcast API: An open repository of real-time COVID-19 indicators

A new preprint available on the medRxiv* server reports the utility of the COVIDcast API, a database of all COVID-19 indicators that are constantly being updated, dating from April 2020.

21 Jul 2021

The delta variant thrives in a state of political and public health discord

The day after Missouri Gov. Mike Parson finished his bicentennial bus tour to drum up tourism to the state in mid-July, Chicago issued a travel advisory warning about visiting Missouri.

21 Jul 2021

World Brain Day 2021: An interview with Professor Alan Thompson

In commemoration of World Brain Day 2021, News-Medical spoke to renowned neurology expert Professor Alan Thompson about his incredible career in brain research.

21 Jul 2021

Study explores COVID-19 transmission risk during school bus transportation

Although in-school transmission of COVID-19 among K-12 students is low when safeguards are in place, the risk of acquiring COVID-19 during school bus transportation is unclear. A study published in the Journal of School Health reports on the bus transport experience of an independent school in Virginia.

21 Jul 2021

Human coronaviruses need organic materials to transfer efficiently between surfaces

This study, published in the journal Viruses, indicated that human coronaviruses do not transfer effectively from contaminated hands to contact surfaces without the presence of any organic material.

21 Jul 2021

Human tissue xenografts in murine models for the study of SARS-CoV-2

Severe COVID-19 is associated with massive dysregulation of the host immune response, resulting in inflammation and the condition known as a cytokine storm. For the most part, however, the virus is barely noticeable or only mild among the young and healthy, suggesting that the route and intensity of an immune response could determine the severity of the disease.

20 Jul 2021

Scientists explore susceptibility of different animals to SARS-CoV-2 infection

A team of researchers at the Institute of Infectious Diseases (IFIK) at the University of Bern and the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) has utilized a unique collection of advanced cell culture models of cells lining the airways from various domesticated and wildlife animals. This way, the team can determine which animals are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

20 Jul 2021

Potent nasal vaccine protects non-human primates from SARS-CoV-2

A team of US-based scientists has recently demonstrated the efficacy of a live attenuated, recombinant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine candidate currently under phase I clinical trial as a single-dose intranasal vaccine.

20 Jul 2021

Study of COVID-19 shutdowns in the U.S. reveals pronounced disparities in air pollution

A new study of COVID-19 shutdowns in the United States reveals pronounced disparities in air pollution -- with disenfranchised, minority neighborhoods still experiencing more exposure to a harmful air pollutant compared to wealthier, white communities.

20 Jul 2021

Structural changes in receptor-binding interface may induce immune fitness of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

Florida International University researchers have investigated the mutation-induced structural changes in the delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that could contribute to its immune evasion abilities.

20 Jul 2021

COVID-19 vaccination remains Australia's best option for a return to normal, say researchers

Researchers in Australia and the United States have advised that the recent decision in Australia to prioritize older vulnerable age groups for vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents the optimal strategy for reducing deaths caused by the disease.

20 Jul 2021

New study disproves suspicion that dengue raises risk of zika-related microcephaly

A pregnant woman infected by zika virus does not face a greater risk of giving birth to a baby with microcephaly if she has previously been exposed to dengue virus, according to a Brazilian study that compared data for pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro and Manaus.

20 Jul 2021

Next-generation COVID-19 vaccine provides robust immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in mice

Researchers in Canada have developed an adenoviral vector-based vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that induced robust immune protection against the ancestral strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in mice.

20 Jul 2021

$40 million multi-year study to examine long-term impacts of COVID-19 and MIS-C

Up to 2,000 children and young adults will be enrolled in a study from Children's National Hospital in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases that will examine the long-term effects of COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after these patients have recovered from a COVID-19 infection.

20 Jul 2021

Disease/Infection News

U.S. sees sharp decrease in life expectancy largely due to COVID-19 pandemic, CDC says

Scientists identify gut microbiota dysbiosis as a potential risk factor for long COVID

Intestinal organoids demonstrate variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility

Study examines the host and viral factors that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution

Study associates feelings of discrimination and low status with long COVID-19 symptoms

How to run a COVID-19 vaccination campaign: lessons from other infectious outbreaks

COVIDcast API: An open repository of real-time COVID-19 indicators

The delta variant thrives in a state of political and public health discord

World Brain Day 2021: An interview with Professor Alan Thompson

Study explores COVID-19 transmission risk during school bus transportation

Human coronaviruses need organic materials to transfer efficiently between surfaces

Human tissue xenografts in murine models for the study of SARS-CoV-2

Scientists explore susceptibility of different animals to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Potent nasal vaccine protects non-human primates from SARS-CoV-2

Study of COVID-19 shutdowns in the U.S. reveals pronounced disparities in air pollution

Structural changes in receptor-binding interface may induce immune fitness of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

COVID-19 vaccination remains Australia's best option for a return to normal, say researchers

New study disproves suspicion that dengue raises risk of zika-related microcephaly

Next-generation COVID-19 vaccine provides robust immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in mice

$40 million multi-year study to examine long-term impacts of COVID-19 and MIS-C

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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