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Corticosteroids not recommended to treat smell loss due to Covid-19, study shows

Steroids should not be used to treat smell loss caused by Covid-19 according to an international group of smell experts, including Prof Carl Philpott from the University of East Anglia.

27 Apr 2021

Shift workers more likely to test positive for Covid-19 in hospital

People who work shifts appear to be significantly more likely to end up in hospital with Covid-19 than people who have regular work patterns, suggests research published online in the journal Thorax.

27 Apr 2021

First cases of B.1.1.7 variant with E484K mutation in Pennsylvania

The E484K mutation has also been found on the B.1.351 and P.1 variant, contributing to their status as variants of concern. In February 2021, Public Health England published a report of 11 B.1.1.7 genomes that also had the E484K spike mutation. Currently, there are 247 isolates of B.1.1.7 + E484K reported globally, and new research finds the first reports of it in southeastern Pennsylvania.

27 Apr 2021

University-industry partnership leads to a new rapid COVID-19 test

A partnership between UC Davis and Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company, has led to a new rapid COVID-19 test.

27 Apr 2021

Triple mutation in SARS-CoV-2 seen in second wave of COVID-19 in India

Researchers sequenced the viral genome from samples in the state of Maharashtra and found a unique combination of three mutations that suggest the SARS-CoV-2 virus is continually evolving to evade the human immune response.

27 Apr 2021

Nanobodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in pre-clinical model

A team of Australian researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), the Doherty Institute, and the Kirby Institute have identified neutralizing nanobody cocktails that block the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering cells in pre-clinical models.

27 Apr 2021

Research suggests that Ginkgo biloba extract contains naturally occurring inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers at Shihezi University in China found that Gingko Biloba leaves extract contains the most potent SARS-CoV-2 3-Chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro). This virally encoded main proteinase is essential for viral replication in coronaviruses.

27 Apr 2021

Study reveals a hidden role of circulating microRNA as a driver of SARS-CoV-2 infection

In a methodological tour-de-force study, a large group of researchers from the USA and the United Kingdom analyzed patient transcriptomic data in-depth and discovered a circulating microRNA (miR-2392) that is directly implicated in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) machinery during the infection process.

26 Apr 2021

Study finds no evidence to support link between ABO blood group and COVID-19 risk

Researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health in the United States say there is no evidence to support a correlation between ABO blood group and the risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

26 Apr 2021

Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine provide similar immunity

Researchers in Israel have conducted a study showing that the immunity provided against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – is similar following natural infection or immunization with the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine.

26 Apr 2021

Study raises concern about limited immune response of transplant patients after COVID-19 vaccination

A small study from Mayo Clinic researchers raises the concern that some transplant patients may have a limited immune response after being vaccinated for COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine.

26 Apr 2021

Scientists uncover an important clue to the conundrum of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Each year over 150,000 infants worldwide are infected with HIV in the womb, at birth, or through breastfeeding.

26 Apr 2021

Stigma, discrimination impede engagement in HIV prevention and treatment

Stigma and discrimination, such as homophobia and racism, impede engagement in HIV prevention and use of biomedical tools for treatment in both HIV-negative and HIV-positive gay and bisexual men, according to a Rutgers study.

26 Apr 2021

New COVID-19 testing strategy can quicken test results for healthcare workers

Fast turnaround of COVID-19 test results for healthcare workers is critical. Investigators have now developed a COVID-19 testing strategy that maximizes the proportion of negative results after a single round of testing, allowing prompt notification of results.

26 Apr 2021

Study shows over 2% positivity rate for asymptomatic pediatric dental patients tested for COVID-19

A study by a University of Illinois Chicago pediatric dentist has shown a novel way to track potential COVID-19 cases -- testing children who visit the dentist. The study also showed an over 2% positivity rate for the asymptomatic children tested.

26 Apr 2021

Commonly-prescribed drug for IBD blunts COVID-19 vaccine response

People who take a commonly-prescribed drug for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) should not assume they are protected after a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, after a large-scale study found many had poor antibody responses.

26 Apr 2021

Ultraviolet C radiation is effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on glass surfaces, a study finds

A team of scientists from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and UV Innovators, Inc., USA, recently developed an ultraviolet C radiation emitting device called NuvaWave, which is capable of inactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on glass surfaces within seconds.

26 Apr 2021

Researchers characterize India’s devastating second wave of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a heavy toll on human health worldwide. The second wave in India has caught everyone by surprise, showing up the total lack of foresight or precautions. With well over 0.2 million deaths in India, and infections raging out of control, a new study predicts 0.35 million daily cases at the peak of the second wave.

26 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response robust in nursing home residents after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

However, with the waning of the immune response, it is not clear if these older people respond to the vaccine as well as younger individuals do. A recent study explored this question and found that though the antibody levels were somewhat lower in this group, they were still robust. This is a promising observation.

26 Apr 2021

Host cell transmembrane protein MARCH8 targets lysine residues to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses

A new study deals with the inhibitory activity of a membrane protein that has broad-spectrum activity against multiple viruses, showing that this is due to its effect on cytoplasmic lysine residue incorporation into replicating virions.

26 Apr 2021

Disease/Infection News

Corticosteroids not recommended to treat smell loss due to Covid-19, study shows

Shift workers more likely to test positive for Covid-19 in hospital

First cases of B.1.1.7 variant with E484K mutation in Pennsylvania

University-industry partnership leads to a new rapid COVID-19 test

Triple mutation in SARS-CoV-2 seen in second wave of COVID-19 in India

Nanobodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in pre-clinical model

Research suggests that Ginkgo biloba extract contains naturally occurring inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2

Study reveals a hidden role of circulating microRNA as a driver of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Study finds no evidence to support link between ABO blood group and COVID-19 risk

Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine provide similar immunity

Study raises concern about limited immune response of transplant patients after COVID-19 vaccination

Scientists uncover an important clue to the conundrum of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Stigma, discrimination impede engagement in HIV prevention and treatment

New COVID-19 testing strategy can quicken test results for healthcare workers

Study shows over 2% positivity rate for asymptomatic pediatric dental patients tested for COVID-19

Commonly-prescribed drug for IBD blunts COVID-19 vaccine response

Ultraviolet C radiation is effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on glass surfaces, a study finds

Researchers characterize India’s devastating second wave of COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response robust in nursing home residents after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Host cell transmembrane protein MARCH8 targets lysine residues to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses

Deciphering the Microbiome with The Microsetta Initiative

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

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