Disease/Infection News

RSS

Could 3D printed swabs be used to collect COVID-19 test samples?

Researchers have evaluated 3D printed sample collection swabs made in-house and found them to be a reliable alternative to commercial swabs.

2 Jun 2021

A newly developed electronic ‘nose’ could identify COVID-19-infection

Developing rapid diagnostic tools is key to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and a new electronic-based ‘nose’ detector could identify cases in 80 seconds.

2 Jun 2021

“Cognitive clock” emerges as a new way to measure brain health

Researchers have developed a novel method to monitor the brain health of patients to improve the early diagnosis and treatment of certain diseases.

2 Jun 2021

How antibody production in the lungs can determine severe respiratory infections

Recent findings describe how the presence of certain antibodies within the lungs can induce an immune response to minimize the effects of these infections.

2 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can be neutralized by UV-A and UV-B

Since the end of the 1800s, Ultra-violet (UV) light has been widely documented for its germicidal properties. The UV-C light produced by low-pressure mercury tubes is widely used for disinfecting wastewater, closed environments, and biological products and is well-established, safe, and economical. UV light can have a germicidal effect on bacteria and viruses.

2 Jun 2021

Positive COVID-19 screening test helps monitor respiration rate, blood-oxygen saturation at home

Two easily measurable signs of health -; respiration rate and blood-oxygen saturation -; are distinctly predictive of higher mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study examining the cases of inpatients with COVID-19 at Rush University Medical Center and University of Washington Medicine hospitals.

2 Jun 2021

Scientists test antibody-based therapy to treat Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

Army scientists working as part of an international consortium have developed and tested an antibody-based therapy to treat Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), which is carried by ticks and kills up to 60 percent of those infected.

2 Jun 2021

Right-wing voices set out strong but misleading arguments to justify inaction during COVID-19 pandemic

Right-wing voices set out powerful but misleading arguments to justify inaction by the Trump administration during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study of the rhetoric used by high-level government officials and influential commentators in the US during the first half of 2020.

2 Jun 2021

Novel antibody engineering approach

Scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA, have recently developed an Antibody Display technology by grafting the second extracellular domain of tetraspanin12 (Tspan12EC2) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein on the heavy chain complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3).

2 Jun 2021

Study shows how NPIs can prevent spikes in COVID-19 cases

Research published by JAMA Network Open shows how non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) like mask wearing and physical distancing can help prevent spikes in COVID-19 cases as populations continue to get vaccinated.

2 Jun 2021

Global land-use changes are creating "hot spots" for potential emergence of new coronaviruses

Global land-use changes -- including forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion and concentrated livestock production -- are creating "hot spots" favorable for bats that carry coronaviruses and where conditions are ripe for the diseases to jump from bats to humans, finds an analysis published this week by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) and Massey University of New Zealand.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

They have identified a group of kite-shaped compounds that are highly specific to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. These compounds demonstrate high potency in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection at early entry steps. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

2 Jun 2021

Old vaccines can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases

Inoculation with live attenuated vaccines (LAV) such as those used against TB, polio or measles can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases, including COVID-19, says a new study.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers find natural metabolites help SARS-CoV-2 escape antibodies

An international team of scientists has identified a human molecule — biliverdin — as a potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) target. The binding of the heme metabolite to the N-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the virus’s ability to dodge the immune system by suppressing antibody binding to the spike protein.

2 Jun 2021

New study on swine influenza virus may be relevant to influenza, coronavirus infection in humans

A new study carried out in pig cells suggests previous infection with swine influenza virus (SIV) can protect against the development of porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCoV) if there is a zero- or three-day interval between infections.

2 Jun 2021

CDC study finds contact tracing helps prevent further cases of COVID-19

The study “Estimates of cases and hospitalizations averted by COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing in 14 health jurisdictions in the United States” is available as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

1 Jun 2021

Direct action of SARS-CoV-2 on organs may lead to exacerbated inflammatory response in pediatric patients

Besides common symptoms such as fever, cough and respiratory distress, some children have an atypical form of COVID-19 known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), characterized by persistent fever and inflammation of several organs, such as the heart and intestines, as well as the lungs to a lesser extent.

1 Jun 2021

Is COVID-19 vaccination in California equitable yet?

Researchers from the University of California, Davis recently conducted a short investigation to examine current vaccine equity and forecasts of vaccine coverage in California by June 15, 2020, in various scenarios.

1 Jun 2021

NIH launches first-in-human, Phase 1 trial assessing investigational nanoparticle influenza vaccine

A first-in-human, Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and immunogenicity of an investigational nanoparticle influenza vaccine designed to provide long-lasting protection against multiple flu virus strains has begun at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

1 Jun 2021

Study confirms poor immunogenicity in hemodialysis patients receiving single dose BNT162b2 vaccine

Researchers from Ontario, Canada, recently conducted a prospective observational study to determine the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in chronic hemodialysis patients following one vs. two doses of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. The results were compared to health care worker controls and convalescent serum.

1 Jun 2021

Disease/Infection News

Could 3D printed swabs be used to collect COVID-19 test samples?

A newly developed electronic ‘nose’ could identify COVID-19-infection

“Cognitive clock” emerges as a new way to measure brain health

How antibody production in the lungs can determine severe respiratory infections

SARS-CoV-2 can be neutralized by UV-A and UV-B

Positive COVID-19 screening test helps monitor respiration rate, blood-oxygen saturation at home

Scientists test antibody-based therapy to treat Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

Right-wing voices set out strong but misleading arguments to justify inaction during COVID-19 pandemic

Novel antibody engineering approach

Study shows how NPIs can prevent spikes in COVID-19 cases

Global land-use changes are creating "hot spots" for potential emergence of new coronaviruses

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

Old vaccines can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases

Researchers find natural metabolites help SARS-CoV-2 escape antibodies

New study on swine influenza virus may be relevant to influenza, coronavirus infection in humans

CDC study finds contact tracing helps prevent further cases of COVID-19

Direct action of SARS-CoV-2 on organs may lead to exacerbated inflammatory response in pediatric patients

Is COVID-19 vaccination in California equitable yet?

NIH launches first-in-human, Phase 1 trial assessing investigational nanoparticle influenza vaccine

Study confirms poor immunogenicity in hemodialysis patients receiving single dose BNT162b2 vaccine

Decoding Cannabis: Differentiating Hemp and Marijuana

Deciphering the Microbiome with The Microsetta Initiative

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Latest News