Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Trial of Sanofi/GSK SARS-CoV-2 vaccine boosters against variants in non-human primates

New research discusses the development of soluble prefusion-stabilized spike trimers (CoV2 preS dTM) comprising adjuvant AS03.

27 Sep 2021

A new SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.523) capable of escaping immune protections

A new study describes a new variant that possesses a novel combination of various concerning mutations at the spike region.

27 Sep 2021

Review of COVID-19 clinical and viral characteristics, pathogenesis, and genetics

A new review article investigates the clinical and viral characteristics, pathogenesis, as well as human genetic basis associated with COVID-19.

27 Sep 2021

Hyperbranched polylysine nanopolymer as potential broad-spectrum antiviral against SARS-CoV-2

The findings from this study suggest that HPNs may inhibit viral replication and budding.

27 Sep 2021

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 infections diagnosed after mRNA BNT162b2 vaccination

A team from the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “L. Spallanzani” (INMI) has recently reported their study on 94 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections (47.9% symptomatic, 52.1% asymptomatic) that occurred after the first or second vaccine dose against SARS-CoV-2 in the Lazio region (Central Italy).

27 Sep 2021

These schools use weekly testing to keep kids in class — and covid out

On a recent Monday morning, a group of preschoolers filed into the gymnasium at Hillside School in the west Chicago suburbs. These 4- and 5-year-olds were the first of more than 200 students to get tested for the coronavirus that day — and every Monday — for the foreseeable future.

27 Sep 2021

Firefighters on front lines, no strangers to risk, push back against covid vaccine mandates

Kentucky firefighter Jimmy Adams saw the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic when he served as a medic who helped care for the sick on medical calls amid surging covid cases.

27 Sep 2021

Research reveals new evolutive mechanism of bacteria that expands pathogenic potential

A group of nine researchers has just published new findings on the mechanisms that regulate how bacteria from the Staphylococcus aureus genus transfer genetic material, awarding them greater pathogenic virulence and resistance to antibiotics.

27 Sep 2021

SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors show antiviral activity

A new study used a combination of a computer-aided drug design approach and cell-based in vitro assays to identify five potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors.

27 Sep 2021

Irish meat processing plant COVID-19 outbreak: a retrospective study

A new study involved a retrospective investigation of the outbreak of COVID-19 in an Irish meat plant.

27 Sep 2021

mRNA COVID vaccines prove effective in the elderly

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) proved extremely difficult to control once it entered a country – while there were a few success stories such as New Zealand, most countries ended up resorting to lengthy and economically painful lockdowns, among other restriction measures.

27 Sep 2021

Study shows prior COVID-19 and vaccination protects elderly against variants

In order to qualify the risk posed to the elderly, researchers from MUSE University in France began to investigate data from nursing homes that had faced outbreaks from variants of concern. Their work can be found on the medRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

27 Sep 2021

Global leaders align with the ACT-Accelerator to end COVID-19 pandemic

Global leaders attending the US-hosted Global COVID-19 Summit on 22 September re-affirmed their commitment to ending the acute phase of the pandemic, and the goals of the ACT-Accelerator, by agreeing targets to provide equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.

27 Sep 2021

COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness barely affected by Delta variant, research suggests

Has the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant reduced vaccine effectiveness? If you ask Ian Foster of Argonne National Laboratory and colleagues, the answer is not really. New research published in the preprint medRxiv* server suggests vaccines approved in the United States are stable and well-performing.

27 Sep 2021

Scientists develop 'elite' antibodies capable of defeating coronavirus variants at extremely low dosage

Japanese scientists created "elite" antibodies that defeat various coronavirus variants even at an extremely low dose through a new method that accelerated the months-long process of finding such extraordinary antibody candidates to just ten days.

27 Sep 2021

Study reveals surfaces of SARS-CoV-2 spike most resistant to antibody escape

A team of international scientists has formed a consortium to map the epitope landscape of a range of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies on the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Moreover, the scientists characterized the neutralization potency of these antibodies and have investigated how emerging viral variants with spike mutations can impact antibody-mediated neutralization. They have recently published the consortium findings in the journal Science.

27 Sep 2021