Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

A host of mutations could compromise COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapies

Researchers in the United States have identified 95 high-frequency mutations in the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that threaten to compromise the efficacy of current and future vaccines and antibody therapies for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

13 Apr 2021

Alpaca nanobodies effective against South African SARS-CoV-2 variant

Researchers in South Africa and the UK have identified alpaca-derived nanoantibodies that potently neutralize variants of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

13 Apr 2021

Could cow's milk provide some passive immunity against COVID-19?

Researchers at the Department of Animal Health, University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain, speculate that bovine milk consumption – specifically from cows with resistance to bovine coronaviruses – may potentially provide at least some degree of protection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The article is available to read in full on the Frontiers in Immunology website.

13 Apr 2021

Researchers develop broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 RBD-based vaccine

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint, the large team of researchers evaluated a SARS-CoV-2 Spike receptor-binding domain ferritin nanoparticle protein vaccine (RFN) in a nonhuman primate challenge model. This study addresses the need for a next-generation, efficacious vaccine with an increased pan-SARS breadth of coverage.

13 Apr 2021

Researchers identify SARS-CoV-2 antiviral compounds using protein assay

During the process of SARS-CoV-2 infection, once the virus penetrates the host cell, two open reading frames, ORF1a and ORF1ab, are translated. ORF1ab is responsible for the production of 16 nonstructural proteins (nsp). Several viral proteases such as 3CLpro and PLpro (papain-like protease) produce 1-16 nsps. A new study has been published in bioRxiv* preprint server, which deals with identifying drugs that are effective as PLpro inhibitors.

13 Apr 2021

Measurable antibody response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in elderly care home residents

A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv* server explores the antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines in elderly residents of nursing homes in the USA. As of March 2021, there have been over 1.4 million infections from SARS-CoV-2 and over 175,000 deaths related to the pandemic among nursing home residents in the country.

13 Apr 2021

ACE2 homology in laboratory and wild animals

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server describes the conservation of an important receptor gene for the virus among several animal species that live in close contact or proximity to humans.

13 Apr 2021

Zipper motif mediates SARS-CoV-2 spike trimerization within host cell membrane

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv* server describes the results of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study to determine the structure of the S protein transmembrane domain (TMD) and its membrane-proximal regions.

13 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 viable 21 days in blood, mucus, semen, urine, but just 24 hours in breast milk

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), spreads through respiratory droplets and aerosols expelled when infected individuals cough, sneeze, breathe or sing.

13 Apr 2021

Monitoring CO2 to assess risk of indoor airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission

In the study, which appeared on the pre-print server medRxiv, the team developed a general mathematical theory to predict airborne transmission risk from carbon dioxide (CO2) time series in real-time and clarify different estimates that steer the guideline. The study findings were based on the assessment of transmission risk and implementing the guideline by CO2 monitoring in university classrooms and office spaces.

13 Apr 2021

CityMD experience during the coronavirus pandemic in New York City

Limiting SARS-CoV-2 transmission requires an infected person to quarantine themselves for at least two weeks. New research published on the medRxiv* server highlights the vital role urgent care centers play during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York.

13 Apr 2021

Inhibition of nsp14 methyltransferase as a potential antiviral target for SARS-CoV-2

Beyond vaccination, the broad-spectrum antiviral medication remdesivir has robust clinical evidence and is known as the best antiviral treatment to reduce severe COVID-19 infection in hospitalized patients. Research led by John F.X. Diffley of the Chromosome Replication Laboratory suggests a potential therapeutic target for treatment development is the viral RNA cap methyltransferases, essential for viral protein translation and immune evasion.

13 Apr 2021

Could Zebrafish larvae be a novel animal model for SARS-CoV-2?

Researchers based in Paris, France, have explored the potential use of zebrafish larvae as animal models for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These larvae are small and cheap, so could prove a suitable medium for rapid mass testing of the disease.

13 Apr 2021

Children less likely to spread SARS-CoV-2 than adults

A study conducted by researchers in Canada suggests that children may be less likely than adults to spread the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

12 Apr 2021

High SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectiveness in California, even with variants

Researchers in the United States and the UK have conducted a study showing that the rollout of vaccines to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is proving effective among California's general population.

12 Apr 2021

Real-world evidence from Israel on VOCs and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine protection

A new study by Israeli researchers tested the hypothesis that certain SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern can overcome protection conferred by Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccine and found evidence of increased breakthrough rates in vaccinated individuals. The research paper is currently available on the medRxiv preprint server.

12 Apr 2021