Protein News and Research

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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

UTHealth tests arthritis drug's effect on COVID-19-induced cytokine storm

A drug is being studied for its effectiveness in treating a type of severe immune overreaction seen in patients with COVID-19-induced pneumonia by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

22 Jun 2020

Manipulating macrophages could be a viable strategy for treating cancer

Most traditional cancer therapies target either the tumor cells themselves or indiscriminately kill any rapidly dividing cell.

22 Jun 2020

Three vaccine candidates race to combat SARS-CoV-2

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ravages across the globe, scientists are racing to develop an effective vaccine to combat the viral infection. Caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the disease has infected nearly 9 million people.

22 Jun 2020

Novel vaccine platform against COVID-19 based on engineered human mesenchymal stem cells

In a recent groundbreaking bioRxiv paper, Chinese researchers describe a novel approach towards coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine design based on engineered human mesenchymal stem cells, with favorable and promising antibody response.

22 Jun 2020

Scientists show how harmless adenovirus disrupts the heart's electrical signaling

Adenovirus, which typically can cause a common cold, has a far more dangerous impact if it reaches the heart.

22 Jun 2020

Reassuring news on the Oxford vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2

A new paper from the UK vaccine research group, currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server, reveals that a single dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) can induce antigen-specific antibody and T cells responses against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and a booster shot additionally enhances antibody production with an increase in neutralizing titers – particularly in pigs.

22 Jun 2020

Mice study shows how oxytocin can amplify aggression as well as friendliness

During the pandemic lockdown, as couples have been forced to spend days and weeks in one another's company, some have found their love renewed while others are on their way to divorce court.

22 Jun 2020

Dust mite allergens activate well-known inflammatory factor to trigger allergies

A research team at MedUni Vienna, working in cooperation with the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, has discovered how certain dust mite allergens activate a well-known inflammatory factor - serum amyloid A protein -and can thus "trim" the lung tissue "in the direction of allergy".

22 Jun 2020

UAH researchers assess treatment efficacy of naturally occurring compounds against COVID-19

The Baudry Lab at The University of Alabama in Huntsville has identified 125 naturally occurring compounds that have a computational potential for efficacy against the COVID-19 virus from the first batch of 50,000 rapidly assessed by a supercomputer.

22 Jun 2020

Researchers produce first fully-glycosylated full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein models

The virus SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the known cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The "spike" or S protein facilitates viral entry into host cells.

22 Jun 2020

Synthetic peptide could be an effective COVID-19 treatment and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Ligandal, one of the world’s leading genetic medicine companies, has modeled a synthetic peptide that could be an effective COVID-19 treatment and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

22 Jun 2020

Massive proteomics investigation of COVID-19 infection

Researchers from Germany and Switzerland revealed functional effects of individual severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proteins on cellular level after infection. They placed the findings into the context of host signaling pathways in order to identify vulnerable parts of the virus amenable to treatment. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server.

21 Jun 2020

A highly sensitive and specific antibody test for COVID-19

A new proof-of-concept study by UK researchers, currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server, describes the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that can be used when lower levels of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) specific-antibodies are present in serum and saliva samples.

21 Jun 2020

Research explores the biophysical behavior of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein

In a groundbreaking paper currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, the researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine and Stony Brook University showed how nucleocapsid protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is dynamic, disordered and phase separates with RNA – informing, in turn, the discovery of drugs that disrupt viral packaging.

21 Jun 2020

Interesting study on which species may be infected by SARS-CoV-2

The team from the University of Cambridge and the Pirbright Institute found that the Spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 engages with the host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) across a wide range of animals, even though the Spike binding site shows a between-species variation in its amino acid composition.

21 Jun 2020

Promising candidate monoclonal antibodies show "exquisite potency" against SAR-CoV-2

Researchers at Columbia University, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the National Institutes of Health have identified and characterized a range of monoclonal antibodies that potently neutralize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

21 Jun 2020

Study takes new treatment approach for blood cancer

In an effort to improve the survival of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, a type of leukemia, researchers inhibited a specific protein (alpha5beta1 integrin) to decrease the number of large bone marrow cells (megakaryocytes) in an experimental model.

21 Jun 2020

Unexpected discovery helps explain fundamental mystery about how muscles work

Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association developed a mouse model that enables them to look inside a working muscle and identify the proteins that allow the sarcomere to contract, relax, communicate its energy needs, and adapt to exercise.

21 Jun 2020

PIM profile may help identify proteins expressed by viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitos

The life span of the Aedes aegypti mosquito ranges from two to four weeks depending on environmental conditions, during which the female lays about one thousand eggs in water-filled containers close to human environments, because it needs human blood in order to reproduce and to complete its life cycle.

21 Jun 2020

Brain-transportable soy derivate reduces memory degradation in mice

In a study that could help one day give a literal meaning to food for thought, researchers from Kyushu University in Japan have reported that a protein fragment that makes its way into the brain after being ingested can reduce memory degradation in mice treated to simulate Alzheimer's disease.

21 Jun 2020

Protein News and Research

Further Reading

UTHealth tests arthritis drug's effect on COVID-19-induced cytokine storm

Manipulating macrophages could be a viable strategy for treating cancer

Three vaccine candidates race to combat SARS-CoV-2

Novel vaccine platform against COVID-19 based on engineered human mesenchymal stem cells

Scientists show how harmless adenovirus disrupts the heart's electrical signaling

Reassuring news on the Oxford vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2

Mice study shows how oxytocin can amplify aggression as well as friendliness

Dust mite allergens activate well-known inflammatory factor to trigger allergies

UAH researchers assess treatment efficacy of naturally occurring compounds against COVID-19

Researchers produce first fully-glycosylated full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein models

Synthetic peptide could be an effective COVID-19 treatment and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Massive proteomics investigation of COVID-19 infection

A highly sensitive and specific antibody test for COVID-19

Research explores the biophysical behavior of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein

Interesting study on which species may be infected by SARS-CoV-2

Promising candidate monoclonal antibodies show "exquisite potency" against SAR-CoV-2

Study takes new treatment approach for blood cancer

Unexpected discovery helps explain fundamental mystery about how muscles work

PIM profile may help identify proteins expressed by viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitos

Brain-transportable soy derivate reduces memory degradation in mice

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