Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

E484K mutation may confer immune evasion capability on UK variant of SARS-CoV-2

A new medRxiv* preprint reports the immunomodulatory effect of the E484K mutation newly acquired by the United Kingdom (U.K.) variant.

2 Jun 2021

Low-wage earners could not afford to comply with stay-at-home orders during lockdown

Fine-grained location data gleaned from mobile phones shows that people living in less affluent neighborhoods spent less time at home during the early lockdown and first several months of the coronavirus pandemic.

2 Jun 2021

Large-scale expansion of spike-reactive T cells feasible after COVID-19 vaccination

A new bioRxiv* preprint reports on the successful use of a protocol to expand SARS-CoV-2-reactive T-cells a thousand-fold.

2 Jun 2021

Study reveals how HIV prevents the maturation of myelin-making brain cells

It's long been known that people living with HIV experience a loss of white matter in their brains. As opposed to "gray matter," which is composed of the cell bodies of neurons, white matter is made up of a fatty substance called myelin that coats neurons, offering protection and helping them transmit signals quickly and efficiently.

2 Jun 2021

Gauging the efficacy and ease of use of at-home COVID-19 tests

As the country gets vaccinated and begins to re-open, testing remains a key element of safe interactions. Rapid testing for COVID-19 has become more common and accessible, including over-the-counter (OTC) tests approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

2 Jun 2021

New study sheds light on why many COVID-19 patients suffer from hypoxia

A new study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports by University of Alberta researchers is shedding light on why many COVID-19 patients, even those not in hospital, are suffering from hypoxia--a potentially dangerous condition in which there is decreased oxygenation in the body's tissues.

2 Jun 2021

Novel SARS-CoV-2 variants partially resistant to infection- and vaccine-induced immunity, study finds

A recent study conducted by a team of scientists in the Netherlands has revealed that while severely affected hospitalized COVID-19 patients and vaccinated individuals are capable of neutralizing the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants of SARS-CoV-2, a significant proportion of non-hospitalized patients with less severe COVID-19 remain susceptible to these viral variants.

2 Jun 2021

Could certain genes be associated with a loss of smell in some COVID-19 patients?

Researchers at the 23andMe COVID-19 Team, who help search for genetic links associated with the severity of COVID-19, found that the genes UGT2A1 and UGT2A2 may be associated with the loss of smell in those infected with SARS-CoV-2.

2 Jun 2021

Could semen quality indicate SARS-CoV-2 insult susceptibility in polluted areas?

In a recent review in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Italian researchers focused on “the evidence that correlates the degree and type of pollution with the increased susceptibility of many countries to this pandemic and proposes human semen as an early marker of the environmental health and the general health of individuals.” Their observations are based on a robust body of experimental evidence.

2 Jun 2021

New vaccine candidate with RBD and N protein targets protects against SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical trials

A recent study published in the journal Science Advances, explores the immunization of RBD with the P2 epitope of tetanus toxoid, to enhance its immunogenicity, and also tests the benefit of N protein in the vaccine.

2 Jun 2021

Coronavirus strain associated with dogs found in humans

Coronavirus strain associated with dogs found in swabs taken from pneumonia patients in Malaysia.

2 Jun 2021

Can immunity form and interaction with seasonal coronaviruses influence SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology?

A new study hypothesizes that cross-protection from seasonal epidemics of HCoVs could not only affect SARS-CoV-2 transmission but also protect children from the disease.

2 Jun 2021

Could 3D printed swabs be used to collect COVID-19 test samples?

Researchers have evaluated 3D printed sample collection swabs made in-house and found them to be a reliable alternative to commercial swabs.

2 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can be neutralized by UV-A and UV-B

Since the end of the 1800s, Ultra-violet (UV) light has been widely documented for its germicidal properties. The UV-C light produced by low-pressure mercury tubes is widely used for disinfecting wastewater, closed environments, and biological products and is well-established, safe, and economical. UV light can have a germicidal effect on bacteria and viruses.

2 Jun 2021

Scientists test antibody-based therapy to treat Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

Army scientists working as part of an international consortium have developed and tested an antibody-based therapy to treat Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), which is carried by ticks and kills up to 60 percent of those infected.

2 Jun 2021

Right-wing voices set out strong but misleading arguments to justify inaction during COVID-19 pandemic

Right-wing voices set out powerful but misleading arguments to justify inaction by the Trump administration during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study of the rhetoric used by high-level government officials and influential commentators in the US during the first half of 2020.

2 Jun 2021

Molecular subtype of cancer preferentially affects people with Indigenous ancestry

Oncotarget published "Global DNA hypermethylation pattern and unique gene expression signature in liver cancer from patients with Indigenous American ancestry" which reported that contrasting with this pattern, the age structure of HCC in Andean people displays a bimodal distribution with half of the patients developing HCC in adolescence and early adulthood.

2 Jun 2021

Study shows how scar tissue cells in the injured heart can be converted to heart muscle cells

It is estimated that during a heart attack, one billion cells in the heart are lost. In the wake of the heart attack, the lost tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which can lead to heart failure, arrhythmia and death. In a new study, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have shown how cells in the scar tissue can be converted to heart muscle cells, effectively regenerating the injured heart.

2 Jun 2021

Global land-use changes are creating "hot spots" for potential emergence of new coronaviruses

Global land-use changes -- including forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion and concentrated livestock production -- are creating "hot spots" favorable for bats that carry coronaviruses and where conditions are ripe for the diseases to jump from bats to humans, finds an analysis published this week by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) and Massey University of New Zealand.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

They have identified a group of kite-shaped compounds that are highly specific to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. These compounds demonstrate high potency in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection at early entry steps. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

2 Jun 2021

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

E484K mutation may confer immune evasion capability on UK variant of SARS-CoV-2

Low-wage earners could not afford to comply with stay-at-home orders during lockdown

Large-scale expansion of spike-reactive T cells feasible after COVID-19 vaccination

Study reveals how HIV prevents the maturation of myelin-making brain cells

Gauging the efficacy and ease of use of at-home COVID-19 tests

New study sheds light on why many COVID-19 patients suffer from hypoxia

Novel SARS-CoV-2 variants partially resistant to infection- and vaccine-induced immunity, study finds

Could certain genes be associated with a loss of smell in some COVID-19 patients?

Could semen quality indicate SARS-CoV-2 insult susceptibility in polluted areas?

New vaccine candidate with RBD and N protein targets protects against SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical trials

Coronavirus strain associated with dogs found in humans

Can immunity form and interaction with seasonal coronaviruses influence SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology?

Could 3D printed swabs be used to collect COVID-19 test samples?

SARS-CoV-2 can be neutralized by UV-A and UV-B

Scientists test antibody-based therapy to treat Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus

Right-wing voices set out strong but misleading arguments to justify inaction during COVID-19 pandemic

Molecular subtype of cancer preferentially affects people with Indigenous ancestry

Study shows how scar tissue cells in the injured heart can be converted to heart muscle cells

Global land-use changes are creating "hot spots" for potential emergence of new coronaviruses

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

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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