Disease/Infection News

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Female reproductive hormones may be protective against COVID-19

In an article recently published in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, Graziano Pinna from the University of Illinois in Chicago outlines some of the evidence suggesting that female reproductive hormones may play a role in the sex bias that has been observed in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

29 Nov 2020

Study exposes human olfactory and brain cells as genuine viral targets of SARS-CoV-2

In a study published in the iScience journal, a research group from Switzerland shows that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptors and entry genes are expressed in the human olfactory neuroepithelial cells and brain by observing key molecular players implicated in the infectious process

29 Nov 2020

MARA project aims to use new DNA based nanotechnology to fight bacteria

Antibiotics are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. They have played a major role in combating infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, typhoid fever, and meningitis in 20th century.

27 Nov 2020

Resveratrol shows potential as SARS-CoV-2 antiviral, study finds

A recent study reveals that resveratrol, a phenolic compound produced by spermatophytes, can inhibit the viral replication SARS-CoV-2.

27 Nov 2020

SARS-CoV-2 launches multipronged attack against host cell protein synthesis, study finds

An interesting new study throws a flood of light on how SARS-CoV-2 accomplishes its mission to infect and replicate within host cells while evading the host immune response.

27 Nov 2020

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein shows slow but stable evolution, study finds

A new preprint published in November 2020 describes the seven different clades into which the virus has diversified.

27 Nov 2020

Monoclonal antibody HB27 shows potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2

A new study reports a very promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody, HB27, that appears to have two distinct mechanisms of action inhibiting the virus-host cell interaction and subsequent infection.

27 Nov 2020

Could beta-blockers be a potential treatment for COVID-19?

News-Medical spoke to researchers about their latest research into beta-blockers, and how they could potentially be used to treat COVID-19.

27 Nov 2020

N439K mutation of SARS-CoV-2 may be more infectious and antibody resistant than Wuhan strain

Researchers from the Harbin Institute of Technology, China, modeled the complexes formed between the RBD and the human ACE2 and monoclonal antibodies.

27 Nov 2020

Asian countries need support to get equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines

As three pharma majors, Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc announced this month the effectiveness of their experimental vaccines in preventing COVID-19, there were no guarantees that developing countries will get their fair share.

27 Nov 2020

Ipom-F inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

An international team of researchers showed the small molecule inhibitor, ipomoeassin F (Ipom-F), blocks the translocation/insertion of the three protein targets for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

27 Nov 2020

COVID-19 studies have neglected to focus on mucosal immunity, researchers argue

Researchers suggest that COVID-19 studies should focus on how mucous membranes in the mouth and nose develop immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

27 Nov 2020

Salient Bio launches robotics driven COVID-19 mass testing platform

UK diagnostics firm Salient Bio has announced the commercial roll out of its robotics driven COVID-19 mass testing platform.

27 Nov 2020

Zonitise launches antimicrobial surface coating that constantly eliminates harmful pathogens

A biotech company has launched an antimicrobial surface treatment proven to kill harmful bacteria and viruses including TGEV coronavirus, the model virus for SARS COV 2, for up to twelve months after one application.

27 Nov 2020

Siemens Healthineers SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test demonstrates ability to detect neutralizing antibodies

Siemens Healthineers has announced its SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Test has proven to measure neutralizing antibodies and has achieved CE Mark. The test is an enhanced version of the assay which became available globally this summer.

From Siemens Healthineers 27 Nov 2020

Immunonutrition may improve COVID-19 patients' recovery

Researchers duo Emma Derbyshire and Joanne Delange from the Nutritional Insight, Surrey, United Kingdom, explore the role of immunonutrition – nutrition that boosts or influences the immune system for those over 65 years of age in COVID-19. Their study titled, “COVID-19: is there a role for immunonutrition, particularly in the over 65s?,” was released in the latest issue of the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health.

26 Nov 2020

Body mass index and severe COVID-19

French researchers led by first author Abdallah Al-Salameh from the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Nutrition, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France, have published findings of their study titled, “The association between body mass index class and coronavirus disease 2019 outcomes,” in the latest issue of the International Journal of Obesity.

26 Nov 2020

Novel early-warning framework for evaluating control and elimination of SARS-CoV-2 in NZ

Researchers from the Imperial College London and the University of Oxford recently proposed a new framework for de-noising inter-wave data, showing how timely introduction of NPIs in New Zealand achieved local epidemic elimination and avoided dangerous resurgence of infection.

26 Nov 2020

HIV alters SARS-CoV-2 immune response without affecting COVID-19 symptoms or outcomes

In a preprint paper published on the medRxiv server, a team of researchers from various institutions in South Africa, the UK, and Europe discuss how they determined the impact of HIV on the COVID-19 immune response in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which is an area with very high HIV prevalence.

26 Nov 2020

Novel cannabis plant extracts could protect against COVID-19

Researchers in Canada have conducted a study suggesting that novel Cannabis sativa extracts may decrease levels of the host cell receptor that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses to gain viral entry to target tissues.

26 Nov 2020