Spike Protein News and Research

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N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 responsible for increased viral transmission

Researchers at the University of Texas, USA, have confirmed the specific mutation in the B.1.1.7 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has allowed for it to be more transmissible than the ancestral strain. The N501Y substitution is one of 8 spike protein substitutions present in the UK variant and has also appeared convergently in the Brazil (P.1) and South Africa (B.1.351) variants.

11 Mar 2021

Structure and function of locked conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein identified

A new preprint research paper, posted to the bioRxiv* server, uncovered more information on the different structural conformations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The findings suggest the spike protein turns into a locked state to stabilize the spike protein during virus egress.

11 Mar 2021

Delaying second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may be feasible in some cases

Researchers in Spain have conducted the most extensive study to date investigating the effectiveness of vaccinating healthcare workers with a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

11 Mar 2021

Study addresses glycosylation concerns in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine design

An international team of researchers has found that glycosylation patterns are conserved across the native spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – and the recombinant spike proteins made in laboratories for use in vaccines.

11 Mar 2021

People previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 may achieve immunity after one mRNA vaccine dose, finds study

A team of researchers led by Thomas W. McDade of Northwestern University suggests people who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, may require only one dose of the mRNA vaccine to obtain immunity.

11 Mar 2021

Is a single mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose enough for recovered individuals?

A new study deals with the evaluation of adaptive immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in candidates who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

11 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit induces hypercoagulability

The vascular complications of the condition include a range of various coagulopathies that cause bleeding and thrombocytopenia or a hypercoagulable state. A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv server describes the role of a fibrinogen-related protein in inducing these clinical features of COVID-19.

10 Mar 2021

Newly-discovered bat coronavirus 94.5% identical to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in China and Australia have reported the discovery of novel bat coronaviruses that further reveal the diversity and complex evolutionary history of these viruses.

10 Mar 2021

Genome-wide covariation analysis sheds light on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States have computed genome-wide covariation within severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to investigate interactions that could be of considerable importance in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

10 Mar 2021

Researcher find an emergent SARS-CoV-2 variant in California

Researchers have found a new SARS-CoV-2 variant in California, USA. This variant is more transmissible than circulating strains but slightly less transmissible than the new N501Y variant and moderately resistant to antibodies in convalescent sera and mRNA vaccines.

10 Mar 2021

Researchers characterize antibody responses to COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccine

A team of scientists from the USA and Canada has recently characterized the antibodies developed against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in response to an mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.

10 Mar 2021

Researchers study prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 UK variant at University of Texas

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Santa Fe Institute in the US used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) data from a surveillance testing program on a large university campus to estimate how fast the new variant spreads. The team used the data to provide local situational information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

10 Mar 2021

Single mRNA vaccine dose may be enough for those previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2

New research supports the notion that those who have recovered from COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, may only need one dose of an mRNA vaccine to boost immunity.

10 Mar 2021

Neutralizing antibodies may be evolving to keep up with SARS-CoV-2 mutations

Viruses evolve under increased pressure, and new research from The Rockefeller University and University of Massachusetts Medical School in the U.S. suggests our antibodies can as well.

10 Mar 2021

New SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate produces strong immune response, prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, developed by giving a key protein's gene a ride into the body while encased in a measles vaccine, has been shown to produce a strong immune response and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and lung disease in multiple animal studies.

10 Mar 2021

Researchers discover new COVID-19 variants in three South African provinces

Variants of the coronavirus are appearing in different parts of the world, many of them spreading with alarming speed.

10 Mar 2021

Research demonstrates multivalent nanobodies overcome SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint paper, researchers isolated anti-RBD nanobodies from llamas and “nanomice” (they engineered to produce VHHs cloned from alpacas, dromedaries and camels).

10 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants rapidly arise in non-human hosts, potential risk for human reinfection

The study, published on the preprint server bioRxiv*, highlights the need to study viral evolution and pathogenesis in human and animal hosts. This could help prevent future outbreaks that may mimic the magnitude of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

9 Mar 2021

A genetic variant of TMPRSS2 may confer protection against severe COVID-19

Among a large sample of COVID-19 patients, researchers found that a genetic variant – caused by an amino acid substitution from valine to methionine – is associated with a reduced chance of severe disease.

9 Mar 2021

Researchers report zoonotic spillover of adapted SARS-CoV-2 from minks to humans

In a recent report made available on bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers from Poland and Finland reveal a spillover event of mink-adapted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from farmed mink to humans after an extensive adaptation process.

9 Mar 2021

Spike Protein News and Research

N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 responsible for increased viral transmission

Structure and function of locked conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein identified

Delaying second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may be feasible in some cases

Study addresses glycosylation concerns in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine design

People previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 may achieve immunity after one mRNA vaccine dose, finds study

Is a single mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose enough for recovered individuals?

SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit induces hypercoagulability

Newly-discovered bat coronavirus 94.5% identical to SARS-CoV-2

Genome-wide covariation analysis sheds light on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2

Researcher find an emergent SARS-CoV-2 variant in California

Researchers characterize antibody responses to COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccine

Researchers study prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 UK variant at University of Texas

Single mRNA vaccine dose may be enough for those previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2

Neutralizing antibodies may be evolving to keep up with SARS-CoV-2 mutations

New SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate produces strong immune response, prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers discover new COVID-19 variants in three South African provinces

Research demonstrates multivalent nanobodies overcome SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations

SARS-CoV-2 variants rapidly arise in non-human hosts, potential risk for human reinfection

A genetic variant of TMPRSS2 may confer protection against severe COVID-19

Researchers report zoonotic spillover of adapted SARS-CoV-2 from minks to humans

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

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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