Respiratory News and Research

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Is niclosamide a potential SARS-CoV-2 antiviral inhibitor?

Niclosamide is an antihelminthic drug, historically used to treat tapeworm infestations, though has been investigated and repurposed for use against SARS-CoV-2. In a new study recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv* by Garrett et al. (July 12, 2021), the drug demonstrates the ability to reorganize the lipid profile of SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero E6 cells, thereby limiting virus replication.

14 Jul 2021

Researchers examine efficacy of CT-P59 monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 Brazil variant

The therapeutic monoclonal antibody CT-P59 binds to the RBD of SARS-CoV-2, the site of these three major mutations, which may therefore reduce the potency of this antibody against the P.1 lineage. In a new study, the neutralizing potency of this monoclonal antibody towards both wildtype and P.1 SARS-CoV-2 is investigated. The researchers found that the ability to bind with the virus is impeded by the mutations, resulting in reduced potency in vitro.

14 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants show distinct humoral response and transcriptional profiles in hamster model

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel, highly infectious respiratory virus, and the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. SARS-CoV-2, which first originated in Wuhan, in Hubei province of China, is a member of the Coronavirdae family and has a large, non-segmented RNA genome.

14 Jul 2021

High individual-level variability in SARS-CoV-2 shedding may explain superspreading

Researchers in the United States have provided a high-resolution description of the viral dynamics involved in acute infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

14 Jul 2021

Study identifies SARS-CoV-2 spike conformation exposing potential new therapeutic targets

Researchers in the United States have demonstrated that the viral spike protein used by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to infect host cells adopts an open conformation exposing novel epitopes that could serve as targets for therapeutic strategies to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

14 Jul 2021

Israeli study of breakthrough infections following full BNT-Pfizer vaccination, 40% immunocompromised

Severe forms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) linked to high mortality rates might arise in a minority of fully-vaccinated individuals with many co-occurring medical conditions, finds a recent study by Israeli researchers published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

13 Jul 2021

Molecular dynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors

A new study reports the results of molecular dynamic simulations that were performed in an effort to identify new drugs that could be effective against SARS-CoV-2.

13 Jul 2021

Wildtype SARS-CoV-2 more widespread in 10-19-year-olds prior to vaccine availability in the USA

A new study aimed to investigate the susceptibility of adolescents as compared to older adults in the United States during the summer of 2020.

13 Jul 2021

Neutralizing aptamers block SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

A new study describes the clinical utility of aptamers against SARS-CoV-2.

13 Jul 2021

Latest ATS/CSL Behring research grant recipient focuses on COVID-19 ARDS study

The ATS Research Program is pleased to announce that William Zhang, MD, of Weill Cornell Medical Center is the recipient of the 2020-2021 ATS/CSL Behring Research Award in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

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

Standardized comprehensive care pathway can help avoid 80% of asthma-related hospitalizations

One in ten school-aged children in Australia have a current diagnosis of asthma. Every year, there are around 40,000 asthma hospitalizations and over 40 per cent of these are in children aged younger than 14 years old.

13 Jul 2021

Could aspirin intake reduce mortality risk in COVID-19 patients?

Scientists from the Michigan State University, USA, have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare mortality rate in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients who are aspirin users or non-users. The Findings reveal that the use of aspirin is associated with a significant reduction in overall and in-hospital mortality rates.

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

Patient characteristics including demographic factors and comorbidities can accurately predict the outcome of COVID-19 infection severity

New machine learning models incorporating COVID-19 infection data show that patient demography is a key predictor of infection outcome.

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

Respiratory News and Research

Is niclosamide a potential SARS-CoV-2 antiviral inhibitor?

Researchers examine efficacy of CT-P59 monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 Brazil variant

SARS-CoV-2 variants show distinct humoral response and transcriptional profiles in hamster model

High individual-level variability in SARS-CoV-2 shedding may explain superspreading

Study identifies SARS-CoV-2 spike conformation exposing potential new therapeutic targets

Israeli study of breakthrough infections following full BNT-Pfizer vaccination, 40% immunocompromised

Molecular dynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors

Wildtype SARS-CoV-2 more widespread in 10-19-year-olds prior to vaccine availability in the USA

Neutralizing aptamers block SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

Latest ATS/CSL Behring research grant recipient focuses on COVID-19 ARDS study

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

Standardized comprehensive care pathway can help avoid 80% of asthma-related hospitalizations

Could aspirin intake reduce mortality risk in COVID-19 patients?

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

Patient characteristics including demographic factors and comorbidities can accurately predict the outcome of COVID-19 infection severity

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

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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