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SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater may pose risks to marine mammals

Endangered marine mammals — seals, dolphins, whales, and otters — are almost as vulnerable as humans in becoming infected from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Researchers from the Dalhousie University in Canada published a study in Science of The Total Environment that found human wastewater as a potential mode of coronavirus transmission to animals.

16 Mar 2021

Cross-national study associates low vitamin D levels with higher COVID-19-related mortality

A new study by an international team of researchers – from New York University, Abu Dhabi, the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, and Barts Cancer Institute, London – showed that there are lower COVID-19 mortality rates in countries with the most insufficient annual sun exposure, but highest mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) or vitamin D (25)-HD levels.

16 Mar 2021

Business Risk Index quantifies the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission

Just one year after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a global pandemic, three COVID-19 vaccines are available in the United States, and more than 2 million Americans are receiving shots each day.

16 Mar 2021

Study highlights the importance of ensuring newborns have close contact with parents during COVID-19

New research from WHO and partners shows that the COVID-19 pandemic is severely affecting the quality of care given to small and sick newborns, resulting in unnecessary suffering and deaths.

16 Mar 2021

Janssen’s vaccine added to list of safe, effective tools against COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) today listed the COVID-19 vaccine Ad26.COV2.S, developed by Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), for emergency use in all countries and for COVAX roll-out. The decision comes on the back of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorization, which was announced yesterday.

16 Mar 2021

WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund appeals for continued support

One year ago WHO created the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to respond to the unprecedented show of support by individuals and companies to help WHO in the fight against COVID-19.

16 Mar 2021

Study: Slow walkers have higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19

SLOW walkers are almost four times more likely to die from COVID-19, and have over twice the risk of contracting a severe version of the virus, according to a team of researchers from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre led by Professor Tom Yates at the University of Leicester.

16 Mar 2021

New strategy may change the course of evolving COVID-19 pandemic

Launched in April 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), European Commission, France and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the ACT Accelerator is a partnership of leading public health agencies with equity at its heart.

16 Mar 2021

Study explores how SARS-CoV-2 mutations produce antibody resistance and enhanced transmissibility

An interesting new study deals with the effects of the natural mutations in the spike antigen of the SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen that is responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic.

16 Mar 2021

Backtracking occurs within SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex

Researchers continue to achieve a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. One such effort has been reported in a new preprint on the bioRxiv server, dealing with the phenomenon of backtracking.

16 Mar 2021

The role of RNA capping of SARS-CoV-2 in immunity evasion

The SARS-CoV-2 pathogen successfully uses multiple immune evasion mechanisms to achieve infection within its host. An intriguing new study describes one such process, which may help develop drugs to counteract the virus more effectively.

16 Mar 2021

New study tests how mutations in SARS-CoV-2 affect antibody neutralization

Using pseudoviruses with single amino acid substitutions, researchers found that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 reduce monoclonal antibody neutralization differently. However, convalescent sera samples did not lose neutralization potency many and were also effective against the B.1.1.7 (UK-derived) strain.

16 Mar 2021

Use of artificial intelligence to tackle coronavirus must go through ethical checks, say experts

Rapid deployment of artificial intelligence and machine learning to tackle coronavirus must still go through ethical checks and balances, or we risk harming already disadvantaged communities in the rush to defeat the disease.

16 Mar 2021

COVID-19 pandemic is affecting quality of care given to small and sick newborn babies

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the quality of care given to small and sick newborn babies in all regions of the world and threatening implementation of life-saving interventions, suggests new research published in BMJ Global Health.

16 Mar 2021

Non-invasive skin swab samples can rapidly detect COVID-19

Researchers at the University of Surrey have found that non-invasive skin swab samples may be enough to detect COVID-19.

16 Mar 2021

Study suggests daily testing instead of self-isolation for contacts of SARS-CoV-2 cases

In the study, which appeared in the pre-print server medRxiv*, the researchers aimed to evaluate the acceptability and engagement with the daily testing as an alternative to self-isolation. They found that daily testing is acceptable and may help promote adherence to self-isolation.

16 Mar 2021

An increase in the risk of clinical sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new piece of research, published on the medRxiv preprint server, focused on the role of factors such as gender, age, hospitalization, etc., in understanding the risks of clinical sequelae in the post-acute phase of COVID-19, in adults aged between 18 and 65 years.

15 Mar 2021

Study of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection shows persistent symptoms 8 months

Researchers from the US recently studied the prevalence of PASC in a well-characterized cohort of patients to gain insights into the period following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research is posted online to the preprint server medRxiv.

15 Mar 2021

New SARS-CoV-2 lineage has spread across many Brazilian states

Researchers in Brazil have identified the emergence of a new lineage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Brazil that has spread across multiple states in the country.

15 Mar 2021

Chimeric vaccines may provide universal protection against viruses like SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States have developed “chimeric” vaccines that provided cross-protection against different strains of sarbecovirus in mice, including the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

15 Mar 2021

Disease/Infection News

SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater may pose risks to marine mammals

Cross-national study associates low vitamin D levels with higher COVID-19-related mortality

Business Risk Index quantifies the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission

Study highlights the importance of ensuring newborns have close contact with parents during COVID-19

Janssen’s vaccine added to list of safe, effective tools against COVID-19

WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund appeals for continued support

Study: Slow walkers have higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19

New strategy may change the course of evolving COVID-19 pandemic

Study explores how SARS-CoV-2 mutations produce antibody resistance and enhanced transmissibility

Backtracking occurs within SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex

The role of RNA capping of SARS-CoV-2 in immunity evasion

New study tests how mutations in SARS-CoV-2 affect antibody neutralization

Use of artificial intelligence to tackle coronavirus must go through ethical checks, say experts

COVID-19 pandemic is affecting quality of care given to small and sick newborn babies

Non-invasive skin swab samples can rapidly detect COVID-19

Study suggests daily testing instead of self-isolation for contacts of SARS-CoV-2 cases

An increase in the risk of clinical sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Study of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection shows persistent symptoms 8 months

New SARS-CoV-2 lineage has spread across many Brazilian states

Chimeric vaccines may provide universal protection against viruses like SARS-CoV-2

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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