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The introduction and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 Gamma in Venezuela

Researchers from the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científica investigate the introduction of one of the VOCs into Venezuela.

28 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: What we know so far

On November 24, 2021, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa.

28 Nov 2021

Complex RNA structures could have untapped therapeutic potential in the fight against COVID-19

To the untrained eye, the loops, kinks and folds in the single strand of RNA that makes up the coronavirus genome look like a jumble of spaghetti or tangled yarn. But to researchers like Amanda Hargrove, a chemistry professor at Duke University, the complex shapes that RNA takes on as it folds upon itself could have untapped therapeutic potential in the fight against COVID-19.

26 Nov 2021

Genetic ancestry can explain population-level differences in immune response to the flu virus

A new study aimed at explaining differential susceptibility to viral epidemics reveals that ancestry and associated genetic variation can explain population-level differences in the immune response to the flu virus and perhaps also to COVID-19.

26 Nov 2021

WHO designates Omicron (B.1.1.529) as SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern

The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) is an independent group of experts that periodically monitors and evaluates the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assesses if specific mutations and combinations of mutations alter the behavior of the virus.

26 Nov 2021

Efficacy and safety of an RBD-based recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine

A study developed a protein-based subunit vaccine, PHH-1V, that consisted of a recombinant RBD fusion heterodimer of the alpha) and beta variants of SARS-CoV-2.

26 Nov 2021

Discovering a new gene in monkeys that could help to develop new antivirals

We spoke to Dr. Nels Elde about his latest research that led to the discovery of a new gene in monkeys that could help to develop new antivirals.

26 Nov 2021

What may the future hold in terms of SARS-CoV-2 variants?

Researchers fit data on SARS-CoV-2 variants by exploiting a function that depends on the global number of infected cases since the start of the pandemic.

25 Nov 2021

Tapping into the wealth of citizen science data to provide better estimate for tick numbers

Apps and websites like eBird and iNaturalist encourage members of the public to report their observations on everything from songbird migration patterns to the presence of new planets.

24 Nov 2021

Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy associated with placental ACE2 shedding

A new study, published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, hypothesized that ACE-2 expression and ADAM17 activity in the placenta is affected by the timing of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the mother.

24 Nov 2021

Impeding SARS‑CoV‑2 evolution by targeting low-probability stochastic events

Researchers explore the emergence of more fit SARS-CoV-2 variants using a stochastic evolutionary modeling framework during long-term infections.

24 Nov 2021

The antimicrobial properties of the lungfish cocoon

Researchers investigate if the immune system of lungfish plays a role in estivation.

24 Nov 2021

Bat coronavirus ecology, evolution, and spillover

In a review published in Nature Reviews Microbiology, the authors collate information about the ecology and evolution of bat coronaviruses.

24 Nov 2021

Spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages with possible recombination events

Researchers examined the dissemination and evolution of four SARS-CoV-2 lineages as well as the potential that one or more recombination events played a role in their evolution.

24 Nov 2021

Characterization of B-cell receptor repertoires in COVID-19 patients

In a new study published in the journal Human Immunology, scientists sought to better understand how B-cell immune repertoire changes over time during SARS-CoV-2 infection by comprehensively characterizing the dynamics of immunoglobin heavy chain (IGH) repertoire in COVID-19 patients.

22 Nov 2021

A canine coronavirus zoonotic spillover and tropism shift

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21 Nov 2021

Researchers identify mechanism behind regulation of large exon splicing during vertebrate evolution

In vertebrates, large exons often skip splicing events and are evolutionarily conserved. Scientists from Nagoya University, Japan, led by Associate Professor Akio Masuda, have recently identified the mechanism behind regulated splicing of large constitutive exons which are rich in disordered regions, and their potential involvement in the assembly of transcription factors.

21 Nov 2021

Sheep at low-risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2

A team of scientists from the US has recently evaluated the susceptibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in sheep. The findings reveal that sheep are generally less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the susceptibility is relatively higher for the alpha variant of the virus. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server.

21 Nov 2021

New study uncovers a mechanism of sleep in zebrafish

Why do humans spend a third of their lives sleeping? Why do animals sleep? Throughout evolution sleep has remained universal and essential to all organisms with a nervous system, including invertebrates such as flies, worms, and even jellyfish.

21 Nov 2021

Naturally occurring phage A1-1 kills dysentery-causing bacteria in sub-Saharan Africa, southern Asia

Phages are viruses that infect bacteria and can also be used to treat human infections. However, as with antibiotics, bacteria can readily evolve resistance to phage attack, highlighting a key limitation to the use of phages as therapeutics.

21 Nov 2021