Respiratory News and Research

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How SARS-CoV-2 vaccination symptoms differ from early COVID-19 symptoms

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* presents an analysis of the differences between recorded vaccination side effects vs. early COVID-19 symptoms. The researchers focused on four vaccines, namely, Pfizer-BioNTech (PB) mRNA (BNT162b2) vaccine, based on messenger ribonucleic acid encoding the viral spike protein; the Moderna mRNA (mRNA-1273) vaccine; the Oxford-AstraZeneca (O-AZ) adenovirus-vectored vaccine; and the Janssen adenovirus-vectored Ad26.COV2.S).

26 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk: Study

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server explores the presence of immunoglobulin (Ig) antibodies IgA and IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk secreted by women with confirmed infection. The scientists also delineated the specific antigens targeted by the antibodies.

26 Jul 2021

COVID-19 lockdown linked to fall in early childhood vaccination in England, a rise in Scotland

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to numerous and sweeping restrictions in many countries, including the UK, limiting social and economic activity.

26 Jul 2021

Nasal swabs reveal muted antiviral response in patients who developed severe COVID-19

Over the past 18 months, researchers have learned much about COVID-19 and its viral cause, SARS-CoV-2. They know how the virus enters the body, coming in through the nose and mouth and beginning its infection in the mucus layers of the nasal passageway.

26 Jul 2021

Study compares mRNA and adenovirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against variants of concern

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Tada et al. (July 19th, 2021) the neutralizing capacity of antibodies generated by either messenger RNA (mRNA) or adenoviral vector-based vaccines against Beta, Delta, Delta plus, and Lambda variants are investigated, among others, highlighting the importance of continued SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance.

26 Jul 2021

Rosin soap as a potential SARS-CoV-2 disinfectant

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv* by Bell et al. (July 19th, 2021), the potential of rosin soap as a virucide is investigated, finding a ten-thousand-fold drop in infectivity against enveloped viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in particular.

26 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 delta variant associated with several vaccine breakthrough cases in Houston

Their findings reveal that about 58% of all new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases are due to the delta variant and that the prevalence of vaccine breakthrough cases associated with the variant is as high as 20%. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

25 Jul 2021

5.6% seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in England during second wave

A recent study conducted as a part of the Real-Time Assessment of Community Transmission-2 (REACT-2) program has estimated the seroprevalence of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among adult populations in England.

25 Jul 2021

CoVizu: Making visual sense of variation in SARS-CoV-2 genomes

A new study proposes a solution to this problem in the form of a new method that can both evaluate and visually represent high numbers of SARS-CoV-2 genomes.

25 Jul 2021

CD8+ T cells show gene-dependent variation in cross-reactivity to human coronaviruses

A new study discusses how both different responses to the infection itself and to COVID-19 vaccines are likely the result of genetic differences.

25 Jul 2021

Activation of integrins by SARS-CoV-2 may be key to infection

A new study describes the key role of membrane proteins called integrins, which are present in epithelia, in the entry and propagation of SARS-CoV-2.

25 Jul 2021

Variations in human ACE2 genetics associated with coronavirus susceptibility

In a recent study, the researchers sought to understand the genetic variability in ACE2 that may contribute to inconsistent clinical outcomes of COVID-19.

25 Jul 2021

Advantages and challenges of intranasal vaccines to fight against COVID-19 infections

There are many reasons that an intranasal vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus would be helpful in the fight against COVID-19 infections, University of Alabama at Birmingham immunologists Fran Lund, Ph.D., and Troy Randall, Ph.D., write in a viewpoint article in the journal Science.

23 Jul 2021

Blunted antiviral responses in the nasopharynx may underlie severe COVID-19

The body's first encounter with SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, happens in the nose and throat, or nasopharynx. A new study in the journal Cell suggests that the first responses in this battleground help determine who will develop severe disease and who will get through with mild or no illness.

23 Jul 2021