Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Why have COVID-19 caseloads been comparatively low in Africa?

A new study has been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health that highlights the potential lessons that the world can draw from Africa on assumptions concerning viral pandemics. This is particularly important, given Africa’s long experience with dangerous infectious diseases.

18 Aug 2021

Study examines prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to HCoV-NL63 in healthy adults in Australia

A new study has been published in the MPDI journal Viruses, which focuses on determining the seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies against HCoV-NL63, in healthy adults, in a cross-sectional study.

18 Aug 2021

How do glycans affect SARS-CoV-2 spike protein openings?

In a paper recently uploaded to the bioRxiv* preprint server, the role of glycan coating on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is further investigated by molecular dynamics simulations of the glycosylated and non-glycosylated protein, identifying several key glycans that play a role in stabilizing and protecting the RBD, and also encourage bonding with the ACE2 receptor.

18 Aug 2021

Study examines the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Geneva, Switzerland

In a paper uploaded to the preprint server medRxiv*, antibodies against both the spike protein and nucleocapsid proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are measured in over 3,000 volunteers, six months following the initiation of the vaccination scheme in Geneva, Switzerland.

18 Aug 2021

Study suggests Harmony COVID-19 assay is superior to laboratory-based tests

A new study suggests a new coronavirus test developed by scientists from the University of Washington and the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine produces faster and more sensitive results than conventional PCR tests to measure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA.

18 Aug 2021

A spike-derived epitope YLQ induces robust polyfunctional cytotoxic T cell responses in COVID-19 recovered individuals

The findings reveal that the dominant spike-derived epitope induces polyfunctional CD8+ T cell response in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovered individuals. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

18 Aug 2021

Increased chemosensory dysfunction with D614G mutation of SARS-CoV-2

A study, available on the pre-print server medRxiv, has determined the underlying molecular mechanisms of how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), especially the G614 strain, leads to olfactory dysfunction causing anosmia.

18 Aug 2021

Specificity of serological assays against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with parasitic infections

A new study available on the pre-print server medRxiv* aims to assess the specificity of the serological assays of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among patients known to have a tissue-borne parasitic infection or those who reside in areas where the virus is endemic.

18 Aug 2021

P681R spike mutation enhances replication efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

A team of scientists from the University of Texas, USA, has recently revealed that the P681R spike mutation is responsible for increased infectivity of the delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The P681R spike mutation increases the replication of the delta variant by increasing the dissociation of S1 and S2 subunits at the furin cleavage site. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

18 Aug 2021

Making the nanobody big again for Cryo-EM

Researchers describe the method that allows high-resolution structure determination of small proteins by single-particle cryo-EM using a Legobody.

17 Aug 2021

Data reinforces SAB-185’s potential to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants

A study, available on the pre-print server bioRxiv*, evaluated the neutralizing capacity of a fully human polyclonal antibody (SAB-185) against the Delta, Kappa, and Lambda variants using a lentiviral-based pseudovirus assay.

17 Aug 2021

How delta and kappa variants of SARS-CoV-2 evade the immune system

A new study, available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, describes the neutralizing ability of the monoclonal antibodies against the variants and the difference of the ACE2 binding affinity found in the variants.

17 Aug 2021

In Southeast Asia, robust immunity found up to 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Now, a new study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server focuses on functional immune memory to SARS-CoV-2, up to nine months in a Southeast Asian cohort, in the absence of re-infection.

16 Aug 2021

Vaccinating previously infected induces more potent antibodies less susceptible to escape from SARS-CoV-2 variants

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causal agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has claimed more than 4.3 million lives worldwide. Even after implementing various measures, such as vaccination and social restrictions, SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern (VoC) leave the world's public health systems and economies in turmoil.

16 Aug 2021

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine safe and efficacious in adolescents according to a new study

The safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the vaccines in adolescents are largely unknown. Now, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine evaluates the safety and efficacy of the mRNA-1273 vaccine in adolescents (12-17 years of age).

16 Aug 2021

Tool for defining new SARS-CoV-2 spike nucleotide sequences to Pango lineage sets

In a recent study, a group of researchers determined the degree to which Pango lineages are distinguishable using spike-only nucleotide sequences.

16 Aug 2021

Real-time genomics to track SARS-CoV-2 help contain transmission in New Zealand

A recent study discusses how New Zealand rapidly employed real-time genomics to contain new COVID-19 cases.

16 Aug 2021

Obtained SARS-CoV-2 immunity, naturally or via vaccination persists 12 months

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server medRxiv* by Havervall et al. (August 12th, 2021), neutralizing antibody titers towards wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and several variants of concern in individuals having either been vaccinated or infected with mild COVID-19 one year earlier are assessed, finding a reduced neutralization capacity against some strains.

16 Aug 2021

Primate study shows benefit of mRNA vaccine booster shot against SARS-CoV-2 variants

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint research paper, a large group of US scientists demonstrate how a booster dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine can substantially improve both the potency and range of neutralizing antibody responses and mediate protection against upper and lower airway infection by a range of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern – even those relatively resistant to in vitro neutralization.

16 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Spike may trigger production of antibodies that cross-react with human thrombopoietin to induce thrombocytopenia

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected individuals often suffer from thrombocytopenia, a condition associated with low platelet counts. The cytokine thrombopoietin regulates platelet count. Previous studies have reported that thrombocytopenia can increase the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality rate by about five times.

16 Aug 2021

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Why have COVID-19 caseloads been comparatively low in Africa?

Study examines prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to HCoV-NL63 in healthy adults in Australia

How do glycans affect SARS-CoV-2 spike protein openings?

Study examines the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Geneva, Switzerland

Study suggests Harmony COVID-19 assay is superior to laboratory-based tests

A spike-derived epitope YLQ induces robust polyfunctional cytotoxic T cell responses in COVID-19 recovered individuals

Increased chemosensory dysfunction with D614G mutation of SARS-CoV-2

Specificity of serological assays against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with parasitic infections

P681R spike mutation enhances replication efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

Making the nanobody big again for Cryo-EM

Data reinforces SAB-185’s potential to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants

How delta and kappa variants of SARS-CoV-2 evade the immune system

In Southeast Asia, robust immunity found up to 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Vaccinating previously infected induces more potent antibodies less susceptible to escape from SARS-CoV-2 variants

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine safe and efficacious in adolescents according to a new study

Tool for defining new SARS-CoV-2 spike nucleotide sequences to Pango lineage sets

Real-time genomics to track SARS-CoV-2 help contain transmission in New Zealand

Obtained SARS-CoV-2 immunity, naturally or via vaccination persists 12 months

Primate study shows benefit of mRNA vaccine booster shot against SARS-CoV-2 variants

SARS-CoV-2 Spike may trigger production of antibodies that cross-react with human thrombopoietin to induce thrombocytopenia

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

Newsletters you may be interested in