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Air filter and floor sampling to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in schools

A study recently published on the medRxiv* preprint server observed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in five schools (96 classrooms) in Davis, California (USA), by collecting weekly surface-swab samples from classroom floors and/or portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) units.

18 Nov 2021

REGEN-COV is effective in preventing severe COVID-19 in immunocompromised individuals

A recent study assesses the efficacy of repeat doses of REGEN-COV in SARS-CoV-2-negative adults who were healthy or had chronic medical conditions.

18 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection in farmed mink

A new study finds that farmed mink acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection, freely transmit it among themselves, and were reinfected, despite being seropositive.

18 Nov 2021

Evidence of significantly greater protection against COVID from BNT162b2 boosters

In a new study, researchers from several British institutes estimated the effectiveness of booster vaccination against symptomatic COVID-19 in adults aged 50 years and older.

18 Nov 2021

New method to identify potential false-positive COVID-19 results

Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have developed and tested a process to identify potential false-positive COVID-19 results.

17 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 reinfection associated with housing instability

Researchers examine the impact of demographic factors and antibody responses following SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.

17 Nov 2021

Urinary SARS-CoV-2 RNA is a prognosticator of COVID-19

A new study published in the journal Diagnostics was based on the hypothesis that detecting urinary SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid––which may result in renal and cardiovascular endothelial destruction to facilitate viral access to the kidney parenchyma—may be used as a specific biomarker to indicate the severity of COVID-19.

16 Nov 2021

Ensemble cryo-electron microscopy uncovers conformational states of the nsp13 helicase of SARS-CoV-2

With this background, the goal of a new study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server was to use cryo-electron microscopy to investigate the nsp13 helicase conformational states in order to gain insights of how nsp13 functions during viral transcription/replication.

16 Nov 2021

Identification of transcription regulatory sequences and genes in previously unannotated coronaviruses

Scientists have hypothesized that the presence of regulatory sequences could be effectively used to instantaneously and accurately identify TRS sites as well as the related viral genes in unannotated coronavirus genomes.

16 Nov 2021

Targeted proteomics for detection of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in clinical samples

A team of researchers from various institutions within the Netherlands examined the use of targeted MS-based proteomics for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in research and clinical samples.

16 Nov 2021

COVID-19 fatality disparities among working class in California

A recent study evaluates whether there is any correlation between the victims of COVID-19 and their occupation.

15 Nov 2021

Rapid thermal cycling approach for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers develop an ultrafast detection method for SARS-CoV-2 by direct RT-PCR without RNA extraction that is suitable for large-scale use.

15 Nov 2021

Immune response elicited by SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in infliximab and vedolizumab-treated patients with IBD

A recent study evaluates the immune responses elicited by COVID-19 vaccines in infliximab- or vedolizumab-treated IBD patients.

15 Nov 2021

Study identifies a host factor that reflects different levels of inflammation within mild COVID-19 cases

A new study investigates serum from COVID-19 convalescents and uninfected individuals to determine the molecular mechanisms of host responses.

15 Nov 2021

Research expands the general understanding of transcription process in bacteria

Bacteria need to constantly adapt to compete against other species for nutrient sources and to survive against threats such as antibiotics and toxins.

15 Nov 2021

Could drugs derived from microalgae be effective against COVID-19?

Researchers discuss the ability of some microalgae metabolites to prevent cytokine storm syndrome during COVID-19.

15 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibited by CCR2 signaling

A new study discusses the role of monocytes in protecting individuals from SARS-CoV-2.

15 Nov 2021

Public health strategies associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Switzerland

The current study attempts to estimate the quantitative effects of specific measures, using a combination of phylogenetic and phylodynamic approaches.

15 Nov 2021

Standard PCR tests do not pick up new Covid strains, warns expert

Some new strains of Covid-19 are not being picked up by standard PCR tests, reveals leading testing expert Dr Quinton Fivelman. He warns that new mutations mean some variants are not being picked up by the standard, widely-used, single gene tests.

15 Nov 2021

Detection of a coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2 in Cambodian bats

Now, a new study published in the journal Nature Communications reports the identification of SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses in two horseshoe bats sampled in Cambodia in 2010.

15 Nov 2021