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Key variants help explain the differences between viruses that cause COVID-19 and SARS

An effort led by Lin Li, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics at The University of Texas at El Paso, in collaboration with students and faculty from Howard University, has identified key variants that help explain the differences between the viruses that cause COVID-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

3 Feb 2021

One dose of VSV-vectored vaccine prevents SARS-CoV-2 replication in hamsters

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server describes a viral vector vaccine candidate's efficacy to protect against SARS-CoV-2 replication in a hamster model.

3 Feb 2021

Study could help understand mechanisms of drug molecules to mitigate COVID-19 infection

As the scientific community continues researching the novel coronavirus, experts are developing new drugs and repurposing existing ones in hopes of identifying promising candidates for treating symptoms of COVID-19.

3 Feb 2021

J&J SARS-CoV-2 vaccine shows immunity in non-human primates 6 months after vaccination

A new preprint research paper released on the bioRxiv server discusses the findings from a model that assesses the association between the immunogenicity and protection conferred by a set of adenovirus- (Ad26)-vectored vaccines that express stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

3 Feb 2021

Two-dose regimen of adenovirus-based vaccine offers 91.6% efficacy against COVID-19

An interim analysis of data from the phase 3 trial of the COVID-19 vaccine from Russia (Gam-COVID-Vac) suggests that a two-dose regimen of the adenovirus-based vaccine offers 91.6% efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19.

2 Feb 2021

Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test improved with silver amplification

A new preprint posted to the medRxiv server describes the use of silver amplification technology to develop a sensitive, rapid antigen test for COVID-19.

2 Feb 2021

Prone positioning associated with lower mortality and intubation in COVID-19 patients

In the absence of specific antivirals to combat the pandemic, supportive care is paramount. In this context, a new preprint posted to the medRxiv server describes the observed efficacy of prone positioning to reduce mortality and the risk of intubation in COVID-19 patients with respiratory insufficiency.

2 Feb 2021

Single-dose vaccination effective for healthcare workers with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

The findings reveal that healthcare workers previously infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) develop significantly higher antibody titers in response to a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine, as compared to healthcare workers without prior SARS-CoV-s infection. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

2 Feb 2021

Highly conserved neutralizing epitope identified on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

A recent study conducted at the University of Texas at Austin, USA, has identified a highly conserved neutralizing antibody binding site on the spike S2 domain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The study findings might help develop novel spike-targeting antibodies for widespread protection. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server.

2 Feb 2021

Lysosomal-immune axis associated with COVID-19 severity

New research suggests the modulation of lysosomal-immune pathways may present a novel drug-targeting strategy to attenuate SARS-CoV-2 infections.

2 Feb 2021

Immune profiling shows differences in COVID-19 and influenza pathologic pathways

A study conducted at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore has revealed distinct differences in the immune pathways that are activated by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and those that are activated by influenza.

2 Feb 2021

ECMO life-support therapy can increase odds of survival for critically-ill COVID-19 patients

COVID-19 has caused more than 2 million deaths worldwide since the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic in March 2020.

2 Feb 2021

Study finds link between lack of ICU beds and patient mortality during COVID-19 pandemic

A new study by Yale researchers found a significant association between the availability of hospital resources -- particularly ICU beds -- and patient mortality during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2 Feb 2021

Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection may negate need for two vaccine doses

Researchers in the United States have shown that two doses of vaccine may not be necessary to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among people who have already been infected with the causative agent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

2 Feb 2021

Study shows link between periodontitis and COVID-19 complications

COVID-19 patients are at least three times more likely to experience complications if they also have gum disease, according to research published today in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, the official publication of the European Federation of Periodontology.

2 Feb 2021

What is the structure and function of SARS-CoV-2’s D614G spike mutation?

A team of researchers use a computational approach to integrate available data D614G SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation, exploring its structure and molecular mechanisms.

2 Feb 2021

Zinc supplementation bolsters repurposed antivirals against SARS-CoV-2

A new preprint reports the efficacy of two repurposed drugs that could be useful against SARS-CoV-2 when supplemented with zinc.

2 Feb 2021

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shows promise against new SARS-CoV-2 variants

A team of researchers in the U.S. studied the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine candidate - currently being rolled out in many parts of the world to high-risk individuals - to see if it still holds up against mutant strains of the virus and yielded encouraging results.

2 Feb 2021

ACE2 agonist C21 relieves respiratory difficulty in COVID-19

A new study describes a pilot study on the efficacy of a molecule called C21, which enhances the activity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the host cell receptor that facilitates viral entry.

2 Feb 2021

Antiviral compound GC-376 shows efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

Over the past months, many potential antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 have been identified as deserving further development to target several viral proteins. A new study deals with one such molecule, the viral main protease (Mpro) inhibitor GC-376, and describes its efficacy in inhibiting virus-host interaction.

2 Feb 2021

Disease/Infection News

Key variants help explain the differences between viruses that cause COVID-19 and SARS

One dose of VSV-vectored vaccine prevents SARS-CoV-2 replication in hamsters

Study could help understand mechanisms of drug molecules to mitigate COVID-19 infection

J&J SARS-CoV-2 vaccine shows immunity in non-human primates 6 months after vaccination

Two-dose regimen of adenovirus-based vaccine offers 91.6% efficacy against COVID-19

Rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test improved with silver amplification

Prone positioning associated with lower mortality and intubation in COVID-19 patients

Single-dose vaccination effective for healthcare workers with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

Highly conserved neutralizing epitope identified on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

Lysosomal-immune axis associated with COVID-19 severity

Immune profiling shows differences in COVID-19 and influenza pathologic pathways

ECMO life-support therapy can increase odds of survival for critically-ill COVID-19 patients

Study finds link between lack of ICU beds and patient mortality during COVID-19 pandemic

Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection may negate need for two vaccine doses

Study shows link between periodontitis and COVID-19 complications

What is the structure and function of SARS-CoV-2’s D614G spike mutation?

Zinc supplementation bolsters repurposed antivirals against SARS-CoV-2

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shows promise against new SARS-CoV-2 variants

ACE2 agonist C21 relieves respiratory difficulty in COVID-19

Antiviral compound GC-376 shows efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

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