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Could genetic variants in host cell receptors (ACE2) explain COVID-19 susceptibility among certain ethnic groups?

Led by Ioannis Karakikes of Stanford University, a new study suggests some hospitalized patients with COVID-19 contain ACE2 genetic variants that increase ACE2 expression. Some variants that altered ACE2 protein expression and binding affinity were more prevalent in people with European backgrounds.

30 Aug 2021

Does SARS-CoV-2 natural infection immunity better protect against the Delta variant than vaccination?

A new study from Israel suggests immunity gained after recovering from a previous COVID-19 infection is more protective against the new Delta variant than vaccine-induced immunity. Natural immunity was estimated to be about 13 times stronger than having two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

30 Aug 2021

Study reveals how SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern modulate receptor and antibody binding

In a trailblazing engineering effort, Canadian and US researchers indicate that the emergence of novel variants of SARS-CoV-2 stems from the mutations of spike glycoprotein that confer either increased affinity for the host cell receptor or increased antibody evasion.

30 Aug 2021

CoronaVac elicits lower antibody response than natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, study suggests

A recent study from Thailand highlights a rather low degree of neutralization-afforded protection mounted by the inactivated whole-virus CoronaVac vaccine compared to natural infection with SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19.

30 Aug 2021

New study maps the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 delta and delta plus variants

The SARS-CoV-2 delta variant bears the D164G mutation, which is known to enhance viral fitness. However, a number of additional mutations are known to be common to the delta and delta plus lineages, at least 25 as identified in a study recently published in the Journal of Autoimmunity, mainly located on the spike protein of the virus.

30 Aug 2021

Researchers conduct an international study of vaccine hesitancy

The health beliefs model is one method of quantifying health behaviors. In a study recently published in the journal Vaccine, this method is utilized to specifically study COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, bearing in mind that hesitancy is highly variable not only between individuals and location but also in regards to the specific medicine in question.

30 Aug 2021

New study analyzes altered gene expression in severe COVID-19

In a paper recently uploaded to the bioRxiv* preprint server, the genetic link between COVID-19 severity and gene expression is investigated, hoping to allow early identification of otherwise healthy individuals that will likely require hospitalization if infected.

30 Aug 2021

Antisense oligonucleotides engineered to inhibit SARS-CoV-2

In a paper recently uploaded to the bioRxiv* preprint server, structure-based ASOs are developed against SARS-CoV-2, intended to bond with RNA in its structured in situ form, rather than the more rarely encountered linear section, achieving greater affinity and specificity than linear ASOs, and demonstrating inhibition of virus replication in human cells.

30 Aug 2021

The impact of mild SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal-fetal immunity

Recently, a new study published on the pre-print server bioRxiv* examined the effect that maternal asymptomatic COVID-19 had on decidual and peripheral immune cells during the later stage of pregnancy.

30 Aug 2021

Polymeric and lipid nanoparticles in self-amplifying RNA vaccines result in higher protein expression and immunogenicity

Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) is an advanced platform for nucleic acid vaccine development. The backbone is typically derived from an alphaviral genome and encodes a gene of interest (GOI) and a viral replicase that can amplify the genomic and subgenomic RNA.

30 Aug 2021

Large Israeli study offers detailed look at safety profile of mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

A deep look into a nationwide mass vaccination setting in Israel revealed that the BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech) vaccine is not linked with an elevated risk of a majority of the adverse events under study, with the exception of myocarditis. However, even that potentially severe adverse event is much more pervasive following the infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), found a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

30 Aug 2021

Next-gen COVID vaccine to make persistent neutralizing antibodies

Presently, there is a need to develop improved versions of COVID-19 vaccines that are effective against the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) and can confer long-term protection. Considering the need of the hour, scientists from the University of Sydney in Australia have generated a new COVID-19 vaccine CoVac-II and evaluated its effect against COVID-19 strains. The findings from this study are published on the bioRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

30 Aug 2021

Can molecular mimicry impact fertility in female COVID-19 patients?

There exists a possibility that COVID-19 can also affect the reproductive function in the body, which can lead to infertility in infected patients. A study published in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology explored the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on reproductive functions and fertility.

30 Aug 2021

Modeling of COVID-19 seroprevalence and resurgence in Canada

Despite increased vaccine distribution and a significant decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in Canada, the future of the pandemic is still a major concern, based on the possibility of a resurgence in the short term as well as long term and an understanding of the future of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunity. It is not clear if the Canadian population will reach herd immunity or if there is a risk of future resurgence of the virus in the Fall or Winter.

30 Aug 2021

COVID-19 in Virginia: Beliefs drive behavior

A new paper examines this phenomenon as it relates to the state of Virginia to outline lessons to be learned from this debacle of pandemic management.

29 Aug 2021

Have SARS-CoV-2 symptoms changed in the UK population over time?

A new paper compares changes in the symptoms due to COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic.

29 Aug 2021

What might the third wave of COVID-19 in India look like?

A new study applies mathematical modeling to understand what the third wave of the pandemic might look like in India.

29 Aug 2021

Assessing the risks of thrombotic events post vaccination with ChAdOx1 and BNT162b2 vaccines in England

Researchers aim to better understand the population-level thrombotic risks post COVID-19 vaccination with both the ChAdOx1-S and BNT162b2 vaccines.

29 Aug 2021

Researchers analyze dynamic changes in chest CT images over 167 days in 11 COVID-19 patients

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. In this article the authors Jianqin Liang, Guizeng Liu, Shuzhuang Yu, Yang Yang, Yanchun Li, Hongli Tian, Zhe Chen and Wenping Gong The Eighth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China and Nanpi County People's Hospital, Hebei, China discuss dynamic changes in chest CT images over 167 days in 11 patients with COVID-19.

28 Aug 2021

Study reveals measures to tackle musical COVID-19 transmission

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe in 2020, musicians around the world were desperate for the answers to two pressing questions: Can playing musical instruments transmit COVID-19? And if so, what can be done?

28 Aug 2021

Disease/Infection News

Could genetic variants in host cell receptors (ACE2) explain COVID-19 susceptibility among certain ethnic groups?

Does SARS-CoV-2 natural infection immunity better protect against the Delta variant than vaccination?

Study reveals how SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern modulate receptor and antibody binding

CoronaVac elicits lower antibody response than natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, study suggests

New study maps the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 delta and delta plus variants

Researchers conduct an international study of vaccine hesitancy

New study analyzes altered gene expression in severe COVID-19

Antisense oligonucleotides engineered to inhibit SARS-CoV-2

The impact of mild SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal-fetal immunity

Polymeric and lipid nanoparticles in self-amplifying RNA vaccines result in higher protein expression and immunogenicity

Large Israeli study offers detailed look at safety profile of mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

Next-gen COVID vaccine to make persistent neutralizing antibodies

Can molecular mimicry impact fertility in female COVID-19 patients?

Modeling of COVID-19 seroprevalence and resurgence in Canada

COVID-19 in Virginia: Beliefs drive behavior

Have SARS-CoV-2 symptoms changed in the UK population over time?

What might the third wave of COVID-19 in India look like?

Assessing the risks of thrombotic events post vaccination with ChAdOx1 and BNT162b2 vaccines in England

Researchers analyze dynamic changes in chest CT images over 167 days in 11 COVID-19 patients

Study reveals measures to tackle musical COVID-19 transmission

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

PhD researcher at LifeArc

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

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