Polymerase Chain Reaction News and Research

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Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a revolutionary laboratory technique that enables the replication of a specific DNA sequence. Using PCR, millions of copies of a target DNA can be easily synthesized within a short period of time.

Peptide nucleocapsid vaccine candidate elicits protective T cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

A new study describes a synthetic peptide used as a platform to generate protective adaptive cellular immunity to the virus in rhesus macaques, which are the gold standard for preclinical testing in humans.

28 Apr 2021

Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine successfully curbs COVID-19 in Israel

Researchers in Israel have shown that three national programs established by the Israeli government have successfully reduced cases of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and death caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

27 Apr 2021

Israel study suggests elementary school reopenings are low-risk for COVID-19 transmission

Ever since COVID-19 first emerged with devastating ferocity, the emphasis has been on interrupting its spread until effective, safe and targeted antivirals and vaccines become available. The chief focus has been on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including school closures, social distancing and shelter in place orders.

27 Apr 2021

Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine provide similar immunity

Researchers in Israel have conducted a study showing that the immunity provided against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – is similar following natural infection or immunization with the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine.

26 Apr 2021

Study raises concern about limited immune response of transplant patients after COVID-19 vaccination

A small study from Mayo Clinic researchers raises the concern that some transplant patients may have a limited immune response after being vaccinated for COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine.

26 Apr 2021

Study shows over 2% positivity rate for asymptomatic pediatric dental patients tested for COVID-19

A study by a University of Illinois Chicago pediatric dentist has shown a novel way to track potential COVID-19 cases -- testing children who visit the dentist. The study also showed an over 2% positivity rate for the asymptomatic children tested.

26 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response robust in nursing home residents after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

However, with the waning of the immune response, it is not clear if these older people respond to the vaccine as well as younger individuals do. A recent study explored this question and found that though the antibody levels were somewhat lower in this group, they were still robust. This is a promising observation.

26 Apr 2021

The potential of CRISPR-based diagnostic assays and treatment approaches against COVID-19

In their review paper recently published in the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, a group of authors discusses currently available and forthcoming CRISPR-based diagnostic assays, as well as the possibility of using the CRISPR/Cas system as a salient treatment or prevention strategy in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

25 Apr 2021

A detailed look at two cases of symptomatic COVID in vaccinated individuals

In a recent brief report published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Rockefeller University in New York described a case of two fully vaccinated individuals in whom they found subsequent breakthrough infections with variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), carrying a number of substitutions of interest.

25 Apr 2021

House flies can carry SARS-CoV-2 up to 24 hours after exposure, study finds

A team of researchers in the USA – at Kansas State University and Agricultural Research Service – found that house flies can acquire and harbor infectious SARS-CoV-2 for up to 24 hours after exposure.

22 Apr 2021

Metabolic testing of COVID-19 patients through skin imprints

There is, therefore, a great need to understand how the illness can be diagnosed using more convenient and inexpensive methods. A new study posted to the medRxiv preprint server reveals the potential role of skin imprints to test for biomarkers that indicate a diagnosis of COVID-19 in a non-invasive way.

22 Apr 2021

Can sniffer dogs be trained to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection?

A new study in PLOS ONE discusses the novel use of dogs to sniff out the virus in patient samples as a potential additional diagnostic route to ease the situation.

21 Apr 2021

Strides against HIV/AIDS falter, especially in the South, as nation battles COVID

Facing a yearlong siege from the coronavirus, the defenses in another, older war are faltering.

21 Apr 2021

Limited SARS-CoV-2 spread in childcare centers, finds study

A new study adds to the sum of evidence that children do not play a key role in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen behind the current pandemic of COVID-19.

20 Apr 2021

Researchers show how to evaluate waning efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines

Researchers in the United States have demonstrated how to estimate the potentially waning efficacy of vaccines designed to protect against infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

19 Apr 2021

One dose of mRNA vaccine may be sufficient for individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2

A recent scientific report from Israel shows how healthcare workers previously infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) present with higher Immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers after receiving one dose of Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in comparison to their fully vaccinated, never-infected counterparts. Conversely, the occurrence of post-vaccination infection does not increase IgG titers.

19 Apr 2021

Researchers reveal long-term kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patient sera

A team of scientists in Germany recently evaluated the specificities and sensitivities of different serological assays for detecting antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

19 Apr 2021

Research looks at SARS-CoV-2 transmission from people to pets

A large team of researchers from the US demonstrated that pets with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) likely acquired the putative virus from humans. This suggests that human-animal infection may actually occur much more frequently than previously thought – implying that infected individuals should limit their contact with animals.

18 Apr 2021

Rapid mRNA vaccination effectively controls SARS-CoV-2 transmission in long-term care facilities

Vaccine rollouts all over the world are aimed at cutting short the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by inducing antibody-mediated immunity to the virus. A new study, recently released on the medRxiv* preprint server, addresses the successful reduction in viral spread and case incidence among residents of long-term care facilities (LTCF).

16 Apr 2021

New plasmonic isothermal PCR technology can detect respiratory viral pathogens in 30 minutes

Researchers in South Korea developed a plasmonic isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) array chip, the world's first plasmoinc isothermal PCR technology which can detect 8 types of pathogens (4 bacteria and 4 viruses) that cause acute respiratory infectious diseases in 30 minutes.

15 Apr 2021

Polymerase Chain Reaction News and Research

Further Reading

Peptide nucleocapsid vaccine candidate elicits protective T cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine successfully curbs COVID-19 in Israel

Israel study suggests elementary school reopenings are low-risk for COVID-19 transmission

Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine provide similar immunity

Study raises concern about limited immune response of transplant patients after COVID-19 vaccination

Study shows over 2% positivity rate for asymptomatic pediatric dental patients tested for COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response robust in nursing home residents after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

The potential of CRISPR-based diagnostic assays and treatment approaches against COVID-19

A detailed look at two cases of symptomatic COVID in vaccinated individuals

House flies can carry SARS-CoV-2 up to 24 hours after exposure, study finds

Metabolic testing of COVID-19 patients through skin imprints

Can sniffer dogs be trained to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Strides against HIV/AIDS falter, especially in the South, as nation battles COVID

Limited SARS-CoV-2 spread in childcare centers, finds study

Researchers show how to evaluate waning efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines

One dose of mRNA vaccine may be sufficient for individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2

Researchers reveal long-term kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patient sera

Research looks at SARS-CoV-2 transmission from people to pets

Rapid mRNA vaccination effectively controls SARS-CoV-2 transmission in long-term care facilities

New plasmonic isothermal PCR technology can detect respiratory viral pathogens in 30 minutes

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (2nd Edition) eBook

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