Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Biologists reveal unusual structure of coronavirus protein linked to immune evasion

A team of HIV researchers, cellular biologists, and biophysicists who banded together to support COVID-19 science determined the atomic structure of a coronavirus protein thought to help the pathogen evade and dampen response from human immune cells.

13 Jan 2021

Study shows how neurons can become a target of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Using both mouse and human brain tissue, researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect the central nervous system and have begun to unravel some of the virus's effects on brain cells.

13 Jan 2021

Researchers identify a simple way to eliminate sequencing errors produced by portable DNA sequencer

Researchers have found a simple way to eliminate almost all sequencing errors produced by a widely used portable DNA sequencer, potentially enabling scientists working outside the lab to study and track microorganisms like the SARS-CoV-2 virus more efficiently.

13 Jan 2021

Scientists identify sensor in human lungs that detects SARS-CoV-2

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified the sensor in human lungs that detects SARS-CoV-2 and signals that it's time to mount an antiviral response.

13 Jan 2021

Study: Testing policies should vary based on demand to catch the most COVID-19 cases

With months to go in the mass rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, testing is still critical to control the surging pandemic.

13 Jan 2021

Antibody-Fc-mediated innate immunity shapes COVID-19 severity

A short paper that appeared recently on the preprint bioRxiv server pointed to a link between specific characteristics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies associated with the severity of COVID-19.

12 Jan 2021

Intranasal vaccination effectively reduces viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in monkeys

A new preprint that appeared on the bioRxiv server reports that intranasal vaccination with the D614G variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in rhesus monkeys reduces viral shedding. This is an experiment in non-human primates (NHP), and its extrapolation to humans is unclear as yet.

12 Jan 2021

Structure of SARS-CoV-2 cytoplasmic tail uncovered

The virus's cytosolic tail also interacts with the host cell to promote its entry into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). A new study appearing on the bioRxiv preprint server elucidates the conformation of this region of the virus, which will help understand how its form is related to its function in viral entry.

12 Jan 2021

Effect of mutations in the South African SARS-CoV-2 variant on transmission and neutralization

One such strain is the South African 501.V2 and UK B1.1.7 strains, which have been isolated from many countries and seem to spread faster than the ancestral strain. A preprint that recently appeared on the bioRxiv server reports the computational structure of this strain and the possible effect of the mutations on infectivity and neutralization.

12 Jan 2021

Bleeding disorder linked to poor clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the pathogen responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Approximately 20-55% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are reported to have deranged hemostatic laboratory parameters, which suggests coagulopathy.

12 Jan 2021

Antigenic "supersite" could improve design of COVID-19 vaccines

Researchers in the United States have defined an antigenic “supersite” within the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that could have important implications for the design of vaccines to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

12 Jan 2021

Study reveals rising risk of mental health problems among COVID-19 health care professionals

The daily toll of COVID-19, as measured by new cases and the growing number of deaths, overlooks a shadowy set of casualties: the rising risk of mental health problems among health care professionals working on the frontlines of the pandemic.

12 Jan 2021

Scientists determine ideal dose of stem cells to control HIV

Scientists have determined the optimal conditions following a stem cell transplant that could control HIV without the need of an everyday pill, according to a study published today in eLife.

12 Jan 2021

Hypoxia signaling pathway could lead to COVID-19 treatments

Researchers in Spain have demonstrated that studying the hypoxia signaling pathway could provide opportunities for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

12 Jan 2021

Poor gut health may adversely affect COVID-19 prognosis

People infected with COVID-19 experience a wide range of symptoms and severities, the most commonly reported including high fevers and respiratory problems.

12 Jan 2021

Nanobodies have potential to be developed into a treatment for COVID-19

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed, in collaboration with researchers in Germany and the U.S., new small antibodies, also known as nanobodies, which prevent the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from entering human cells.

12 Jan 2021

Atmospheric particulate matter may influence the transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2

A recent study conducted at the University of Malta Medical School, Malta, has revealed that a drop in the level of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), which are airborne pollutant particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometer, in the atmosphere due to lockdown is associated with the arrival of a newer variant of SARS-CoV-2, which has eventually displaced the original virus after lockdown.

12 Jan 2021

California budget reflects ‘pandemic-induced reality,’ governor says

The coronavirus pandemic doomed Gov. Gavin Newsom's ambitious plans last year to combat homelessness, expand behavioral health services and create a state agency to control soaring health care costs.

12 Jan 2021

Will the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine be effective against the new N501Y SARS-CoV-2 variant?

Researchers from Pfizer and the University of Texas, USA, have presented evidence showing that people in a previously reported trial of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2 – commonly known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine – had equivalent neutralizing titers to the N501 and Y501 viruses.

12 Jan 2021

Researchers develop saliva testing method for SARS-CoV-2 using robotic RNA extraction

Researchers have developed an automated method of RNA extraction from saliva samples to allow faster processing times and high test sensitivity. Saliva testing could be used as an alternative to swab testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance.

12 Jan 2021

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Biologists reveal unusual structure of coronavirus protein linked to immune evasion

Study shows how neurons can become a target of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers identify a simple way to eliminate sequencing errors produced by portable DNA sequencer

Scientists identify sensor in human lungs that detects SARS-CoV-2

Study: Testing policies should vary based on demand to catch the most COVID-19 cases

Antibody-Fc-mediated innate immunity shapes COVID-19 severity

Intranasal vaccination effectively reduces viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in monkeys

Structure of SARS-CoV-2 cytoplasmic tail uncovered

Effect of mutations in the South African SARS-CoV-2 variant on transmission and neutralization

Bleeding disorder linked to poor clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients

Antigenic "supersite" could improve design of COVID-19 vaccines

Study reveals rising risk of mental health problems among COVID-19 health care professionals

Scientists determine ideal dose of stem cells to control HIV

Hypoxia signaling pathway could lead to COVID-19 treatments

Poor gut health may adversely affect COVID-19 prognosis

Nanobodies have potential to be developed into a treatment for COVID-19

Atmospheric particulate matter may influence the transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2

California budget reflects ‘pandemic-induced reality,’ governor says

Will the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine be effective against the new N501Y SARS-CoV-2 variant?

Researchers develop saliva testing method for SARS-CoV-2 using robotic RNA extraction

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

PhD researcher at LifeArc

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

PhD researcher at LifeArc

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

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