Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Wildfire smoke drives people in low-vaccinated areas indoors, raising outbreak fears

Missoula's new downtown library was teeming with people who might typically spend a Saturday afternoon hiking, biking or otherwise making the most of Montana's abundant outdoor recreation. One look at the soupy haze blanketing the city and it was clear why.

22 Jul 2021

Epstein-Barr virus reactivation may play a role in long COVID and severe COVID-19 cases

Two recently published studies available on the National Institutes of Health website indicate Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation may play a role both in the development of long COVID symptoms, as well as severe COVID-19 cases.

22 Jul 2021

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations L452R & Y453F evade cellular immunity

The study, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, also showed emerging mutations L452R and Y453F in the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding motif evade (HLA) A24-restricted cellular immunity. Meanwhile, the L452R enhances spike stability, viral fusogenicity, and viral infectivity. Hence, the findings suggest that HLA-restricted cellular immunity potentially affects the evolution of viral phenotypes.

22 Jul 2021

Scientist explore conserved RNA elements as potential targets for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs

The study, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, identified many small molecules that bind to certain parts of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that are less likely altered by mutations using dedicated substance libraries. The scientists derived key functional units and groups in ligands for effective and safe targeting of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

22 Jul 2021

Two-dose regimen of mRNA vaccines provides protection against Alpha and Beta variants in France

Over the past six months, the World Health Organization has categorized four SARS-CoV-2 variants as being "of concern" because they are more transmissible or may escape the immune response.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 proteins manipulate autophagy

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has claimed more than 4.1 million lives worldwide. This pandemic is caused by a novel single-stranded RNA virus, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that was first reported in 2019 in Wuhan, China. The rapid spread of this virus is attributed to its high infectiousness and its ability to escape and counteract host immune responses, e.g., autophagy.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance identifies intricacies of stabilizing vs. destabilizing mutations

Some of these variants, known as variants of concern (VoC), have a much higher rate of transmission and increased mortality than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the efficacy of the available vaccines against the circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains. In addition, tracking the continuously evolving genetic variants is also vital to prevent future outbreaks.

22 Jul 2021

New method predicts if COVID-19 clinical trials will be completed or suspended

In order to win the battle against COVID-19, studies to develop vaccines, drugs, devices and re-purposed drugs are urgently needed.

21 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by cats

Researchers in The Netherlands have warned that domestic cats may play a role in the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Jul 2021

Study evaluates ICU workers' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

A high proportion of staff working in intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic have experienced mental health conditions, according to a new study.

21 Jul 2021

Traditional Japanese dish may hold an answer to COVID-19

Natto, a fermented soybean dish often served for breakfast in Japan, originated at the turn of the last millennium but may hold an answer to a modern problem: COVID-19, according to a new study based on cell cultures.

21 Jul 2021

Combination antibody therapies retain potency against SARS-CoV-2 variants, FDA / HHS research

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study showing that while variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can compromise the effectiveness of single therapeutic antibodies at preventing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many combination antibody products remain potent against the variants.

21 Jul 2021

Older people appear to have diminished antibody response after COVID-19 vaccination

Older people appear to have fewer antibodies against the novel coronavirus, a new laboratory study from Oregon Health & Science University suggests.

21 Jul 2021

Existing drug may be effective in treating COVID-19

A new University of Chicago study has found that the drug masitinib may be effective in treating COVID-19.

21 Jul 2021

Global consortium publishes findings on all-cause mortality during COVID-19 pandemic in 22 countries

A global consortium representing 27 institutions has published findings comparing mortality in the previous five years to deaths between January and August 2020 in the first wave of the pandemic.

21 Jul 2021

Intestinal organoids demonstrate variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility

Three-dimensional organoid structures grown in the lab allow deeper, almost in situ investigation of a biological system, without the use of living animals. In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv*, organoids generated from human specimens are utilized to investigate the way in which SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the numerous cells of the intestinal epithelium, finding great heterogeneity in the susceptibility of the organoids and the cells within to infection.

21 Jul 2021

Study examines the host and viral factors that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution

In a new paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv*, two clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 are monitored by whole genome sequencing as they are passaged through several generations of Vero cells or human-derived primary nasal epithelial cells (PNEC), allowing direct observation of the occurrence of virus enhancing mutations and the way in which host cell factors shape virus evolution.

21 Jul 2021

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Wildfire smoke drives people in low-vaccinated areas indoors, raising outbreak fears

Epstein-Barr virus reactivation may play a role in long COVID and severe COVID-19 cases

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations L452R & Y453F evade cellular immunity

Scientist explore conserved RNA elements as potential targets for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs

Two-dose regimen of mRNA vaccines provides protection against Alpha and Beta variants in France

SARS-CoV-2 proteins manipulate autophagy

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance identifies intricacies of stabilizing vs. destabilizing mutations

New method predicts if COVID-19 clinical trials will be completed or suspended

SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by cats

Study evaluates ICU workers' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

Traditional Japanese dish may hold an answer to COVID-19

Combination antibody therapies retain potency against SARS-CoV-2 variants, FDA / HHS research

Older people appear to have diminished antibody response after COVID-19 vaccination

Existing drug may be effective in treating COVID-19

Global consortium publishes findings on all-cause mortality during COVID-19 pandemic in 22 countries

Intestinal organoids demonstrate variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility

Study examines the host and viral factors that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution

How to run a COVID-19 vaccination campaign: lessons from other infectious outbreaks

COVIDcast API: An open repository of real-time COVID-19 indicators

The delta variant thrives in a state of political and public health discord

A new way of characterising biomolecules eBook

Innovating for impact: Jordi Labs on aligning methodologies with FDA expectation

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

A new way of characterising biomolecules eBook

Innovating for impact: Jordi Labs on aligning methodologies with FDA expectation

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

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