Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

To the bat cave: In search of covid’s origins, scientists reignite polarizing debate on Wuhan ‘lab leak’

Once dismissed as a conspiracy theory, the idea that the covid virus escaped from a Chinese lab is gaining high-profile attention. As it does, reputations of renowned scientists are at risk — and so is their personal safety.

19 May 2021

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) detects the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein and generates inflammatory cytokines

Researchers at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital found that toll-like receptor 2 detects the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein-producing inflammatory cytokines.

19 May 2021

The spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 and B.1.618 variants identified in India provide partial resistance to vaccine-elicited and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

India’s surge in SARS-CoV-2 infections are linked to the new variants B.1.617 and B.1.618, with mutated spike proteins.

19 May 2021

Presence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after 13 months of infection

A new study has been published on the medRxiv* preprint server which focuses on validating the serological assays using a large cohort of healthcare workers.

19 May 2021

How SARS-CoV-2 evolved from a bat-to a human-adapted virus

New research published on the preprint server bioRxiv* performed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomic simulations to understand the evolutionary transition from a bat-adapted SARS-CoV-2 to a human-adapted virus.

19 May 2021

Animal and insect invasions could shed light on COVID-19 transmission

Invasions by alien insect and animal species have much in common with outbreaks of infectious diseases and could tell us a great deal about how pandemics spread, according to a research paper published today.

19 May 2021

Study investigates mental health consequences of COVID-19 geriatric care in nursing homes

No matter one's age, race, gender, socioeconomic status or political party, COVID-19 has impacted everyone at some level. That impact has been especially palpable for the approximately 1.3 million elderly Americans who reside in the country's 15,600 nursing homes.

19 May 2021

Pandemic protocols in workplace resulted in less "sickness presenteeism"

Employer COVID-19 safety measures influenced worker precautions even when they were not on the clock, according to a new study out of Washington State University.

19 May 2021

Researchers found disparities for COVID-19 testing and positivity rates in West Virginia

In studying COVID-19 testing and positivity rates in West Virginia between March and September 2020, West Virginia University researchers found disparities among Black residents and residents experiencing food insecurity.

19 May 2021

New study will help investigate innate immune responses to viral infections

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) report the formation of human cells containing a green fluorescent protein or GFP (one of the most important proteins in biology and fluorescence imaging) genetically fused with two interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), namely Viperin and ISG15.

19 May 2021

Antibody response following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine is greater than natural infection

Researchers in the United States have provided the first evidence that messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines against severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induce a broader array of antibody subtypes against the viral spike protein than natural infection does.

19 May 2021

Methotrexate impairs immunogenicity of BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Researchers from Germany and the USA recently investigated the cellular and humoral immune responses of patients with IMIDs on immunomodulatory treatment to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The research is published on the medRxiv* preprint server.

19 May 2021

Despite sufficient information on COVID-19, Central PA residents worry about mixed messages

Residents of central Pennsylvania had the information they needed to slow the spread of COVID-19 early on in the pandemic, but were overwhelmed with worries about mixed messages and distrust of some sources, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

19 May 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine PTX-COVID19-B safe and highly immunogenic in preclinical study

COVID-19, the coronavirus disease of 2019, is one of the worst pandemics in human history. It emerged in December 2019 and is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Nearly 164 million SARS-CoV-2 infections and 3.4 million deaths have been reported globally since the beginning of the pandemic, which is still raging in many countries.

18 May 2021

Potent antibody with unique genetic signature and spike recognition mechanism neutralizes SARS-CoV-2

In a new study, researchers used an antibody discovery technology to identify a new potently neutralizing antibody with a unique mode of SARS-CoV-2 recognition. They reported their results on the bioRxiv preprint server.

18 May 2021

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.420 and B.1.617.1 immune escape variants reported in France

Researchers discovered the first N440K variant and the new E484Q and L452R Indian variants isolated in France in a recent study. They presented the genetic mutations in the isolated genomes and the phylogenetic tree, including these strains among different SARS-CoV-2 clades. This work is posted on the bioRxiv preprint server.

18 May 2021

Prior dengue infection considerably increases risk of symptomatic COVID-19

18 May 2021

New coronavirus variants can be effectively eliminated by disinfection, thorough hand washing

The researchers found that the variants have a similar surface stability as the wild type virus under laboratory conditions, but can be effectively eliminated by disinfection and thorough hand washing, heat or alcohol treatment.

18 May 2021

Scientists develop experimental direct-acting antiviral therapy to treat COVID-19

An international team of scientists from the Menzies Health Institute Queensland (MHIQ) at Griffith University and from City of Hope, a research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases in the U.S., have developed an experimental direct-acting antiviral therapy to treat COVID-19.

18 May 2021

New COVID-19 testing technology is a cheaper, faster alternative to tube-based RT-PCR tests

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain shortages of reagents and test kits have limited the rapid expansion of clinical testing needed to contain the virus.

18 May 2021

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

To the bat cave: In search of covid’s origins, scientists reignite polarizing debate on Wuhan ‘lab leak’

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) detects the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein and generates inflammatory cytokines

The spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 and B.1.618 variants identified in India provide partial resistance to vaccine-elicited and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

Presence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after 13 months of infection

How SARS-CoV-2 evolved from a bat-to a human-adapted virus

Animal and insect invasions could shed light on COVID-19 transmission

Study investigates mental health consequences of COVID-19 geriatric care in nursing homes

Pandemic protocols in workplace resulted in less "sickness presenteeism"

Researchers found disparities for COVID-19 testing and positivity rates in West Virginia

New study will help investigate innate immune responses to viral infections

Antibody response following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine is greater than natural infection

Methotrexate impairs immunogenicity of BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Despite sufficient information on COVID-19, Central PA residents worry about mixed messages

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine PTX-COVID19-B safe and highly immunogenic in preclinical study

Potent antibody with unique genetic signature and spike recognition mechanism neutralizes SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.420 and B.1.617.1 immune escape variants reported in France

Prior dengue infection considerably increases risk of symptomatic COVID-19

New coronavirus variants can be effectively eliminated by disinfection, thorough hand washing

Scientists develop experimental direct-acting antiviral therapy to treat COVID-19

New COVID-19 testing technology is a cheaper, faster alternative to tube-based RT-PCR tests

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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