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Instrument to measure risk of reverse zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 transmission events from humans to animals

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server presents a standardized survey instrument for evaluating risk factors associated with bidirectional zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and pathogens. The instrument is particularly focused on settings where humans and animals share close contact.

30 Sep 2021

Immunocompromised patients show decreased response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines

Researchers explore the germinal cell responses in both healthy individuals and kidney transplant patients in their recent study.

29 Sep 2021

Long-held theory of cancer-induced immune suppression requires revision, study says

Many cancers produce an enzyme called IDO that suppresses immune system activity, but the long-held hypothesis of how this mechanism operates requires revision, according to a study published in Clinical Cancer Research.

29 Sep 2021

Two proteins joined together using a free-standing, rigid link

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI are the first to have joined two proteins together by means of a free-standing, rigid link. The structural element holds the two protein molecules together at a defined distance and angle, much the way a barbell handle connects two weights.

29 Sep 2021

Caspase-11 identified as regulator of inflammatory pathology in SARS-CoV-2 infections

New findings identify CASP4/11 as detrimental to inflammation and coagulopathy associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

28 Sep 2021

New 'reporter viruses' make it easier to observe SARS-CoV-2 in real time

A version of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, has been successfully modified to glow brightly in cells and animal tissues, providing a real-time way to track the spread and intensity of viral infection as it happens in animal models, researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute report in the journal The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

27 Sep 2021

Chronic COVID-19 and divergent variants of SARS-CoV-2

A new study discusses the isolation of two variants of concern (VOCs) from an immunocompromised COVID-19 patient.

27 Sep 2021

Review of COVID-19 clinical and viral characteristics, pathogenesis, and genetics

A new review article investigates the clinical and viral characteristics, pathogenesis, as well as human genetic basis associated with COVID-19.

27 Sep 2021

Researchers develop new method for rapidly detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA

DTU-researchers develop a novel method for rapidly detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA that may also be designed to detect other diseases.

27 Sep 2021

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections 18-fold lower than rate of infections among unvaccinated

In a recent study, researchers conducted a pilot study to assess the prevalence and features of VBTs through the use of sequencing and case data.

26 Sep 2021

Vaccine hesitancy and vaccination passports – a Japanese study

A new study from Keio University, Japan, provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of relaxing public interactions following vaccination against COVID-19.

26 Sep 2021

Machine learning pinpoints genes that enable plants to grow more with less fertilizer

Machine learning can pinpoint "genes of importance" that help crops to grow with less fertilizer, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. It can also predict additional traits in plants and disease outcomes in animals, illustrating its applications beyond agriculture.

25 Sep 2021

Penn scientists win 2021 Lasker Award for the discovery of therapeutic mRNA technology

As mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are deployed to protect hundreds of millions of people across the world and point the way to end the deadly global COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Pennsylvania scientists whose prescient discovery science effort laid the foundation for swift vaccine development have been awarded the 2021 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award.

24 Sep 2021