Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Scientists develop a cell-free assay to screen SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors

Scientists have developed and validated a cell-free fluorescence assay for the rapid screening of protein inhibitors.

7 Oct 2021

Study suggests continued delta variant outbreaks unless vaccination reaches high coverage levels in adults and children

Researchers have conducted a mathematical modeling study to understand how expanding vaccination to younger age groups may reduce the increasing case numbers.

7 Oct 2021

After 5 months, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine remains highly protective against hospitalization and death

The study "Effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine up to 6 months in a large integrated health system in the USA: a retrospective cohort study" is published in the journal The Lancet.

7 Oct 2021

SARS-CoV-2 evolution promoted by long-term infection in patient with B cell depletion

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server focused on a patient with a persistent symptomatic viral infection for over a year. Researchers amplified sub-genomic transcripts for the E gene (sgE) using nasopharyngeal samples of the patient infected with SARS-CoV-2 over the course of 335 days.

6 Oct 2021

Study shows new antibody resistant variants can emerge in patients treated with monoclonal antibodies

A new study, published on the medRxiv* preprint server, suggested that selective pressures induced by the administration of monoclonal antibodies (Bamlanivimab) may require increased genomic surveillance to identify and control the spread of therapy-induced variants.

6 Oct 2021

Graphene biosensor in a portable and wireless device for rapid SARS-CoV-2 detection

A new study posted to the medRxiv* server and led by Dr. Mattia D'Agostino, Dr. Eleonora Pavoni and Dr. Alice Romagnoli from the Polytechnic University of Marche in Ancona (Italy), a gFET biosensor that uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a bioreceptor has been put forth as a viable solution.

6 Oct 2021

Does vaccination prevent long COVID?

In a recent study, researchers evaluate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on a large ongoing prospective cohort of patients with long COVID.

6 Oct 2021

Moderna COVID vaccine booster dose results in immune memory

A recent study presents evidence that a booster dose of the Moderna vaccine can induce a robust memory immune response against COVID-19.

6 Oct 2021

Research on twins indicates strong genetic influences in COVID-19

A new study discusses the strong possibility of multifactorial causation for SARS-CoV-2 infection using data from twin studies.

6 Oct 2021

COVID-19 pandemic may have promoted unhealthy eating in the U.K.

A new study discusses dietary changes as a result of the pandemic.

6 Oct 2021

Durability of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 reinfection

The current study used data on the durability of immunity among evolutionarily close coronavirus relatives of SARS-CoV-2 to estimate times to reinfection.

6 Oct 2021

Characteristics of unvaccinated individuals from the University of Southern California

A recent study examines the characteristics of university staff and faculty who remained unvaccinated against COVID-19.

6 Oct 2021

Gene expression changes during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection may decide long-COVID symptoms

A team of US-based scientists has recently revealed the changes in gene expression profiles associated with the long-term consequences of COVID-19.

6 Oct 2021

Study shows strong protective effect of IgG3 antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers published a study on the expression and functional analyses of a neutralizing mAb with identical variable domains but different constant HCs, representing IgG1-4.

6 Oct 2021

Rapid molecular assay to detect SARS-CoV-2-specific RNA sequences

The study reported rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 with high sensitivity and specificity in clinical samples.

6 Oct 2021

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during a 2-hour domestic flight

A new study investigated a cluster of COVID-19 infections among travelers who were likely exposed to an index patient in an airplane.

6 Oct 2021

Comparative analysis between the SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 mPro systems

To better understand the biophysical changes that occur due to mutations, the mechanisms of multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins have been studied and compared with SARS-CoV-1.

6 Oct 2021

SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants display enhanced syncytia formation

Researchers compared the replication and syncytia forming potential of Alpha, Beta, and D614G strains in human cell lines and primary airway cells.

6 Oct 2021

Study shows lower SARS-CoV-2 infection rates in smokers

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily infects the lungs, later spreading through the bloodstream. The worst prognoses are mostly seen in ‘at-risk’ groups, such as the immunocompromised, elderly, or those suffering from respiratory conditions.

6 Oct 2021

What is the frequency of COVID testing to prevent Delta variant transmission?

In a new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server, scientists have used available data on the Delta variant’s viral load to infer its infectiousness and, subsequently, estimate the reduction in its transmission brought about by surveillance testing. The testing, done at different frequencies, was performed on a susceptible population. The cases of both the original Wuhan strain and the Delta variant were considered.

6 Oct 2021