Omicron News and Research

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Natural extracellular vesicles containing ACE2 protein could fight new SARS-CoV-2 variants

Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Northwestern Medicine have identified natural extracellular vesicles containing the ACE2 protein (evACE2) in the blood of COVID-19 patients that can block infection from broad strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus in preclinical studies. The study was published today in Nature Communications.

20 Jan 2022

Study finds Omicron infection effectively induces immunity against itself and enhances protection against other variants in vaccinated individuals

Researchers investigated the effectiveness of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-variant induced immunity, whether it is cross-protective against other variants, and if earlier infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant offers protection against Omicron.

20 Jan 2022

Wildfires and omicron prompt a special health insurance enrollment period in Colorado

A wildfire displaced thousands of Coloradans just as the omicron surge began sweeping through the state, so health insurance was likely not on many people's minds when the regular enrollment period for the state's health insurance marketplace ended Jan. 15.

20 Jan 2022

Families complain as states require covid testing for nursing home visits

As covid-19 cases rise again in nursing homes, a few states have begun requiring visitors to present proof that they're not infected before entering facilities, stoking frustration and dismay among family members.

20 Jan 2022

The effect of different heterologous vaccination intervention strategies on the winter 2020 COVID-19 wave in the US

Researchers demonstrated the effect of different heterologous vaccine interventions on COVID-19 caseloads, hospitalization, and mortality in the US.

20 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections milder in children compared to Delta

The clinical severity of COVID-19 was found to be lower in children younger than five years of age after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

20 Jan 2022

A novel assay for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new study discusses a new assay method designed by researchers to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants.

20 Jan 2022

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 and preventive strategies

A recent review article published in the journal Advanced Science reviewed the features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants. Using a physical and materials science perspective, the review also summarizes the most significant variants of SARS-CoV-2 encountered to date as well as possible preventive strategies.

19 Jan 2022

Plan B measures to be removed in England following the success of the booster program

The government has today announced that England will fully return to Plan A on Thursday 27 January thanks to the success of the booster program, with ministers urging anyone who has still not had a top-up jab to come forward and Get Boosted Now.

19 Jan 2022

‘Decoy’ protein mitigates lung damage, death induced by aggressive SARS-CoV-2 variants

A drug treatment that acts as a decoy against SARS-CoV-2 was highly effective at preventing death and lung damage in humanized animal models of severe COVID-19 disease, according to a Nature Chemical Biology study from researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago.

19 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of convalescents suggested to boost neutralization capacity against variants

A new study assessed the neutralization capacity of sera from convalescents—some even vaccinated—against the Wuhan (D614G), Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

19 Jan 2022

Pioneering AI technology can accurately detect Covid-19 in a few minutes

Pioneering Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, developed by experts at University of the West of Scotland, is capable of accurately diagnosing Covid-19 in just a few minutes.

19 Jan 2022

Buffy Wicks turns her health history into legislation

In her short tenure as an elected official, California Assembly member Buffy Wicks hasn't been shy about sharing her most intimate health care struggles with the public.

19 Jan 2022

Scientists assess ACE2 binding and antigenicity of Mu (B.1.621) and A.2.5 spikes

To gain a better understanding of the antigenic properties of Mu and A.2.5 Spikes, Canadian scientists evaluated their capacity to interact with ACE2 and performed binding and neutralization assays with plasma from vaccinated individuals.

18 Jan 2022

School closures for in-person learning during the pandemic have lasting effects on children

The impact virtual school had on kids goes well beyond academics, say Children's National Hospital experts in a new JAMA Pediatrics editorial.

18 Jan 2022

Three doses Of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could offer sufficient level of protection from Omicron

A new study that evaluated the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine against the Omicron variant indicates that three doses could offer a sufficient level of protection from disease caused by the Omicron variant.

18 Jan 2022

Feeling threatened and being informed predicted more social distancing, study shows

If the COVID-19 virus mutates beyond Omicron, getting people to practice social distancing will require more than threats about long-term health issues or death.

18 Jan 2022

New findings support the routine use of remdesivir in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Remdesivir, an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, increased the likelihood of clinical improvement in COVID-19 patients on low-flow oxygen or no oxygen, according to a new study authored by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, HCA Healthcare, and Genospace.

18 Jan 2022

Study finds COVID booster maintains strong T cell response against Omicron

New study results posted to the medRxiv* preprint server found that COVID vaccine boosters increase immunity by enhancing T cell immune memory. In the face of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) Omicron variant, vaccinated people who had received a third booster shot maintained high T cell responses than people with naturally acquired immunity or vaccine-induced immunity from two doses of the SARS‑CoV‑2 vaccine.

18 Jan 2022

New perspective on SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and booster shot restoration of vaccine efficacy

A recent article published in the journal Science explains how SARS-CoV-2 variants can bypass vaccine-induced immune defenses. However, immunity is restorable with a booster shot. The paper's authors outlined the importance of a booster shot in maintaining immunity and preventing severe infection.

18 Jan 2022

Omicron News and Research

Natural extracellular vesicles containing ACE2 protein could fight new SARS-CoV-2 variants

Study finds Omicron infection effectively induces immunity against itself and enhances protection against other variants in vaccinated individuals

Wildfires and omicron prompt a special health insurance enrollment period in Colorado

Families complain as states require covid testing for nursing home visits

The effect of different heterologous vaccination intervention strategies on the winter 2020 COVID-19 wave in the US

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections milder in children compared to Delta

A novel assay for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 and preventive strategies

Plan B measures to be removed in England following the success of the booster program

‘Decoy’ protein mitigates lung damage, death induced by aggressive SARS-CoV-2 variants

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of convalescents suggested to boost neutralization capacity against variants

Pioneering AI technology can accurately detect Covid-19 in a few minutes

Buffy Wicks turns her health history into legislation

Scientists assess ACE2 binding and antigenicity of Mu (B.1.621) and A.2.5 spikes

School closures for in-person learning during the pandemic have lasting effects on children

Three doses Of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could offer sufficient level of protection from Omicron

Feeling threatened and being informed predicted more social distancing, study shows

New findings support the routine use of remdesivir in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Study finds COVID booster maintains strong T cell response against Omicron

New perspective on SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and booster shot restoration of vaccine efficacy

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