Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Research highlights the need to include diverse populations in immunogenetic studies

Disease and health are the result of a complex interaction between humans and their pathogens. Genetic factors that partly determine host defenses sometimes differ significantly between people and populations.

14 Feb 2022

Structural protein vimentin facilitates SARS-CoV-2 entry into endothelial cells

Researchers suggest that extracellular vimentin may act as a coreceptor to allow for SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells.

14 Feb 2022

SpaceX employee study estimates odds ratio for SARS-CoV-2 reinfection

Researchers evaluate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection over time between April 2020 and February 2021.

14 Feb 2022

How has telemedicine assisted COVID-19 patients?

In acknowledging the urgent need for managing outpatients, especially after hospital discharge, scientists have conducted a pilot telemonitoring program.

14 Feb 2022

Impact of rapid and comprehensive RT-qPCR for detecting SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Researchers reported the development and validation of a two-reaction multiplex reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction genotyping strategy that distinguishes SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

14 Feb 2022

Study analyzes antigenic properties of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages

A new study elucidated the antigenic properties of the sublineages of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 Omicron variant.

14 Feb 2022

Development of multivalent next-generation vaccine strategy against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants

A recent study demonstrated that intranasal (i.n.) delivery of COVID-19 vaccine in murine models elicits greater immune responses against the wildtype SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.

14 Feb 2022

Researchers identify a powerful combination of antivirals to treat COVID-19

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine have identified a powerful combination of antivirals to treat COVID-19.

14 Feb 2022

Variations in the neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants in vaccinated mice and primates

In a new study, researchers demonstrated the variations in the neutralizing antibody responses induced by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in humans, non-human primates, and mice against the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

14 Feb 2022

Study explores the gut microbiome of COVID-19 patients

Researchers investigated the changes in the gut microbiome and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in stool samples of COVID-19 patients.

14 Feb 2022

An alternative strategy targeting furin disrupts SARS-CoV-2 infection cycle

A new study was based on the hypothesis that competitively inhibiting cellular furin and selectively targeting SARS-CoV-2 in the infected viral-producing cells is critical for therapeutic specificity.

14 Feb 2022

Study explores the social impact of COVID-19 symptoms among female long haulers

A new study analyzed the impact of long-COVID on women long haulers with respect to various aspects of their social life.

14 Feb 2022

Study shows expression of viral proteases may be used to quantitate SARS-CoV-2 infected cells

A new study describes a new method to quantify SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is much simpler and faster compared to existing methods.

14 Feb 2022

Covid precautions are part of Hispanic community’s efforts to tend to community good

On a snowy January morning, Luis Portillo stood in line on the side of a busy road in Silver Spring, Maryland — a suburb just north of Washington, D.C. — with about 200 other people, waiting for his turn to get tested for covid-19 at Mary's Center, a federally qualified health center.

14 Feb 2022

mRNA-1273 and mRNA-1273.529 Omicron-specific boosters highly effective in mouse model

In a study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, a team of researchers from the United States evaluated the protective effect of the preclinical version of the current Moderna Omicron-targeted mRNA-1273.529 vaccine against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 Omicron infection in mice.

14 Feb 2022

Nitazoxanide shows promise for COVID-19 treatment in animal model

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* pre-print server, researchers demonstrated that Nitazoxanide (NTZ), an oral drug, broadly inhibits replication of several severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) in preclinical models of infection.

13 Feb 2022

Study shows IgA antibodies play a significant role in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2

A recent paper by researchers from Australia, currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server, shows how Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in individuals who were infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contribute to the neutralization of the virus and its variants, even though this response is heterogeneous and less potent when compared to IgG antibodies.

13 Feb 2022