Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Indonesia needs faster vaccination rollout to battle against COVID-19 spike

Emergency oxygen supplies and a faster vaccination rollout are desperately needed in Indonesia, health experts say, amid a spike in cases and the emergence of the highly infectious Kappa variant.

13 Jul 2021

Blood test could be a simple and effective method for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection

A blood test that quantifies the protein ACE2, the cellular protein which allows entry of the coronavirus into cells, as well as ACE2 fragments, produced as a result of interaction with the virus, could be a simple and effective method for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to a study led by Javier Sáez-Valero, from the UMH-CSIC Neurosciences Institute in Alicante, published in FASEB Journal.

13 Jul 2021

Researchers develop new model to assess infection risks for supermarket customers

A Skoltech team has developed a model for assessing infection risks for supermarket customers. The researchers believe that their model will help formulate scientifically backed rules for safe shopping during the pandemic. The paper was published in PLOS One.

13 Jul 2021

Scientists develop mouse-specific SARS-CoV-2 strains that efficiently replicate in standard laboratory mice

A team of scientists in France recently developed a mouse-adapted strain of SARS-CoV-2 that efficiently replicates in the lungs of standard laboratory mice and induces mild to moderate disease. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

13 Jul 2021

Study examines asymptomatic, presymptomatic and symptomatic transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2

A new preprint, available on the medRxiv* server, describes how researchers found at least a third of infected individuals to be asymptomatic, but that a fifth of them successfully passed on the virus to others. In comparison, about a quarter of symptomatic cases did so, especially when the symptoms included fever, cough and shortness of breath. In these circumstances, up to 30% of them transmitted the virus.

13 Jul 2021

Colonization by SARS-CoV-2 not synonymous with infection, screening study highlights

A new study released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server throws cold water on this notion, however, by demonstrating that in a set of asymptomatic cases, less than a tenth actually had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This finding has serious implications for the practices mentioned above, since they may be neither justifiable nor cost-effective as means to break the chain of viral transmission.

13 Jul 2021

“React and inject”: synthetic peptide-modified nanodiamonds as emergency pan-coronavirus vaccines

A recent study published in the MDPI journal, Pathogens, describes a coronavirus peptide vaccine antigen in the form of nanodiamond-based formulations, that demonstrated a robust and long-lasting immune response. The nanodiamonds proved to be a powerful and versatile platform for antigen conjugation. This could make it a safe and effective strategy for the production of off-the-shelf vaccines against multiple coronaviruses.

13 Jul 2021

Study reports low risk for COVID-19 in Emergency Medical Service personnel exposed to aerosol-generating procedures

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that emergency medical service personnel exposed to aerosol-generating procedures (AGP) on COVID-19 patients are generally at low risk of infection. The findings, published in CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases, support clinical strategies that maintain established and evidence-based practices for emergency conditions.

13 Jul 2021

3D printing a way out of COVID-19

In a recent review published in the journal, Advanced Functional Materials, researchers K. P. A. Kumar and Martin Pumera focused on the contributions of 3D printing technology towards the health sector in the wake of this deadly pandemic.

13 Jul 2021

Review details clinical signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection in domestic and wild cats

Now, a new systematic review has been published in the journal Animals that focuses on the clinical symptoms in felines diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 worldwide.

13 Jul 2021

Natural compound 'pheophorbide a' demonstrates robust antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

A team of scientists from France has recently demonstrated photosensitive antiviral activity of the natural compound pheophorbide a (Pba) against a broad range of enveloped viruses, including coronaviruses.

12 Jul 2021

Study: 57.8% of healthcare professionals suffered mental disorders during COVID-19 first wave

A study on 149 healthcare professionals in Spain and Mexico reveals that, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, 57.8% of them suffered from mental disorders such as anxiety, acute stress and depression.

12 Jul 2021

Study evaluates the prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms more than seven months after diagnosis

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for the COVID-19 disease, can cause symptoms that last for several weeks to months. The most common are persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, cardiac symptoms, neurologic symptoms and psychiatric manifestations.

12 Jul 2021

New research examines the elimination of the B.1.362 + L452R variant in Israel

Is it possible to completely get rid of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants? New research led by Neta S. Zuckerman of Sheba Medical Center in Israel suggests it’s possible. Their report details the upsurge of a B.1.362 variant harboring the L452R mutation that eventually disappeared due to vaccination efforts and the presence of more robust variants.

12 Jul 2021

Novel method of gene therapy promises to transform the treatment of rare genetic disorder

A novel method of gene therapy is helping children born with a rare genetic disorder called AADC deficiency that causes severe physical and developmental disabilities.

12 Jul 2021

The progressive increase in transmissibility and virulence of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants could lead to a significantly more deadly pandemic

Researchers from Toronto University, Canada, recently showed that these emerging VOCs were linked to increased virulence, as determined by hospitalization risk, ICU admission, and mortality. This study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

12 Jul 2021

Review of scientific evidence supports zoonotic origin for SARS-CoV-2 with zero biological evidence for laboratory leak scenario

Recently, an international team of biologists, led by professors from the University of Sydney and the University of Edinburgh, critically reviewed currently available scientific evidence that may throw some light on the origin of the virus that causes COVID-19.

12 Jul 2021

mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine CV07050101 demonstrates limited immunogenicity in non-human primates

Scientists from the US and Germany have recently evaluated the efficacy of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate, CV07050101, in inducing humoral and cellular immune responses in non-human primates. The study reveals that prime-boost immunization with the vaccine candidate induces only limited immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

12 Jul 2021

Curbing COVID-19 through border controls and restricted entry

In our latest interview, we spoke to Dr. Sheng-Chia Chung about her latest research that investigated curbing COVID-19 transmission through border controls.

12 Jul 2021

Composition and structure of nasopharyngeal microbiome relate to COVID-19 disease severity

Breathing treatments are provided to hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In this study, the researchers examined the community composition in relation to three attributes - COVID-19 status, breathing assistance, and antibiotic use. This study is published in the journal, Applied Microbiology.

12 Jul 2021

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Indonesia needs faster vaccination rollout to battle against COVID-19 spike

Blood test could be a simple and effective method for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers develop new model to assess infection risks for supermarket customers

Scientists develop mouse-specific SARS-CoV-2 strains that efficiently replicate in standard laboratory mice

Study examines asymptomatic, presymptomatic and symptomatic transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2

Colonization by SARS-CoV-2 not synonymous with infection, screening study highlights

“React and inject”: synthetic peptide-modified nanodiamonds as emergency pan-coronavirus vaccines

Study reports low risk for COVID-19 in Emergency Medical Service personnel exposed to aerosol-generating procedures

3D printing a way out of COVID-19

Review details clinical signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection in domestic and wild cats

Natural compound 'pheophorbide a' demonstrates robust antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Study: 57.8% of healthcare professionals suffered mental disorders during COVID-19 first wave

Study evaluates the prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms more than seven months after diagnosis

New research examines the elimination of the B.1.362 + L452R variant in Israel

Novel method of gene therapy promises to transform the treatment of rare genetic disorder

The progressive increase in transmissibility and virulence of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants could lead to a significantly more deadly pandemic

Review of scientific evidence supports zoonotic origin for SARS-CoV-2 with zero biological evidence for laboratory leak scenario

mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine CV07050101 demonstrates limited immunogenicity in non-human primates

Curbing COVID-19 through border controls and restricted entry

Composition and structure of nasopharyngeal microbiome relate to COVID-19 disease severity

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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