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Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

They have identified a group of kite-shaped compounds that are highly specific to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. These compounds demonstrate high potency in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection at early entry steps. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers find natural metabolites help SARS-CoV-2 escape antibodies

An international team of scientists has identified a human molecule — biliverdin — as a potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) target. The binding of the heme metabolite to the N-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the virus’s ability to dodge the immune system by suppressing antibody binding to the spike protein.

2 Jun 2021

Study confirms poor immunogenicity in hemodialysis patients receiving single dose BNT162b2 vaccine

Researchers from Ontario, Canada, recently conducted a prospective observational study to determine the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in chronic hemodialysis patients following one vs. two doses of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. The results were compared to health care worker controls and convalescent serum.

1 Jun 2021

Compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and neutralizing antibodies in domestic cats in Peru

Although Peru is one of the countries most affected by the pandemic, no studies had been conducted to investigate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among domestic cats. Recently, researchers from Peru demonstrated the presence of neutralizing antibodies for the receptor binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cats in Lima, Peru. The owners of the cats in the study had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

1 Jun 2021

Antibody cocktail effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in the rhesus macaque model

Researchers from the US tested the prophylactic potential of a combination of 2 mAbs administered 3 or 75 days before respiratory challenge in rhesus macaques. They used the rhesus macaque model to test the added benefit of combinatory parenteral administration of 2 high-affinity anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs - C144-LS and C135-LS. These mAbs were developed to neutralize the virus and tweaked to improve their pharmacokinetics.

1 Jun 2021

Researchers identify common epitopes across SARS-CoV-2 viral variants

While several COVID-19 vaccine candidates have been developed and deployed to arrest the spread of SARS-CoV-2, concern among scientists and public health authorities is mounting over the immunity escape potential of emerging viral variants. To address this problem, a group of scientists in Germany has undertaken research to identify molecular targets across viral variants to aid in the development of second and third-generation vaccines and novel therapeutics.

1 Jun 2021

FDA approves investigational monoclonal antibody therapy sotrovimab for COVID-19

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light on the investigational monoclonal antibody therapy, sotrovimab, as a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment.

1 Jun 2021

Researchers repurpose pre-existing anti-SARS-CoV antibody to develop potent neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2

A team of scientists from the United States has recently engineered a pre-existing anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) neutralizing antibody to increase its binding affinity for the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The engineered antibody demonstrates high potency in neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 and preventing infection in animals.

31 May 2021

Inflammatory brain injury higher in men with acute COVID-19, finds study

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with both short- and long-term neurologic complications, including stroke, brain fog and persistent tiredness. A new study concludes that the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the central nervous system (CNS) are due to the endothelial injury and inflammation that this produces in the brain.

31 May 2021

SARS-CoV-2 genome mutations display convergent evolution indicating strong adaptive advantages

A recent report by a team of researchers focused on the extent of convergent evolution in the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. The report confirms that top SARS-CoV-2 lineages of concern have the most convergent spike protein mutations. This indicates their fundamental adaptive advantage.

31 May 2021

Corilagin: could a plant compound used in Chinese herbal medicine help prevent COVID-19?

The study, published in the journal Phytomedicine, characterized an active compound, corilagin (a derivative from Phyllanthus urinaria), as potential SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors for its preventive application in daily antiviral hygiene products.

31 May 2021

Researchers identify defensins as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents

A recent study conducted at the Ohio State University, USA, and the Fudan University, China, has revealed that alpha-defensin human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP1), a cationic antimicrobial peptide, can prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from infecting cells by destabilizing the viral spike protein and disrupting spike-mediated viral envelop – host cell membrane fusion.

31 May 2021

B.1.617.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 is partially resistant to antibody-mediated neutralization

A team of scientists from France has recently conducted a study to evaluate the sensitivity of the B.1.617 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to antibody-mediated neutralization.

31 May 2021

New LNP-based mRNA vaccine candidate protects against lethal SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical trials

A new study, published in Nano Letters, describes an effective new COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) platform.

28 May 2021

Loss of gut epithelial barrier responsible for COVID-19-related MIS-C in children, suggests study

A new paper in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reports that this condition is due to damage to the gut, mediated by a decrease in the protein called zonulin, which is responsible for the integrity of the gut epithelial barrier. Reduced zonulin levels are found in several inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

28 May 2021

Researchers identify a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant (with the V1230L mutation) in West Bengal, India

Researchers analyzed 2,000 viral genomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – sequences obtained from India and found a new variant that could be more infectious and transmissible.

28 May 2021

Study supports single-dose COVID-19 vaccine strategy for previously infected individuals

Researchers in the Netherlands have provided evidence that a single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is sufficient to protect against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among people who have already been infected with the virus.

28 May 2021

Identifying SARS-CoV-2 epitopes targeted by current vaccination could help improve future vaccines

Researchers in the United States have identified antibody-inducing epitopes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that could be used for future diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine design.

28 May 2021

Will emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants affect T cell immunity? A meta-analysis

New research by a team of scientists at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology sheds light on the epitopic targets of SARS-CoV-2 by T cells in COVID-19 convalescents. The team’s findings suggest that the epitopes targeted by T cells during infection may not be affected by the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

28 May 2021

Researchers discover cross-reactive coronavirus antibody triggered during COVID-19 infection

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, most people in the United States already had been sick with a coronavirus, albeit a far less dangerous one.

28 May 2021

Spike Protein News and Research

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

Researchers find natural metabolites help SARS-CoV-2 escape antibodies

Study confirms poor immunogenicity in hemodialysis patients receiving single dose BNT162b2 vaccine

Compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and neutralizing antibodies in domestic cats in Peru

Antibody cocktail effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in the rhesus macaque model

Researchers identify common epitopes across SARS-CoV-2 viral variants

FDA approves investigational monoclonal antibody therapy sotrovimab for COVID-19

Researchers repurpose pre-existing anti-SARS-CoV antibody to develop potent neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2

Inflammatory brain injury higher in men with acute COVID-19, finds study

SARS-CoV-2 genome mutations display convergent evolution indicating strong adaptive advantages

Corilagin: could a plant compound used in Chinese herbal medicine help prevent COVID-19?

Researchers identify defensins as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents

B.1.617.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 is partially resistant to antibody-mediated neutralization

New LNP-based mRNA vaccine candidate protects against lethal SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical trials

Loss of gut epithelial barrier responsible for COVID-19-related MIS-C in children, suggests study

Researchers identify a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant (with the V1230L mutation) in West Bengal, India

Study supports single-dose COVID-19 vaccine strategy for previously infected individuals

Identifying SARS-CoV-2 epitopes targeted by current vaccination could help improve future vaccines

Will emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants affect T cell immunity? A meta-analysis

Researchers discover cross-reactive coronavirus antibody triggered during COVID-19 infection

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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