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Study in France suggests high efficacy of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

A nationwide case-control study conducted in France has assessed the efficacy of mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines against original severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P1.

22 Jul 2021

Finding most promising targets for pan-coronavirus drugs

Safe and effective vaccines offer hope for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the possible emergence of vaccine-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as novel coronaviruses, make finding treatments that work against all coronaviruses as important as ever.

22 Jul 2021

Next-generation COVID-19 vaccine provides robust immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in mice

Researchers in Canada have developed an adenoviral vector-based vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that induced robust immune protection against the ancestral strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in mice.

20 Jul 2021

Mayo Clinic study provides insights into risk factors for severe COVID-19 in younger populations

Using data from 9,859 COVID-19 infections, Mayo Clinic researchers have new insights into risk factors for younger populations, some of which differ significantly from their older counterparts.

20 Jul 2021

Analysis shows the amount of testing for COVID-19 matters more than the sensitivity of the tests

Results from sensitive RT-PCR tests can be similar in accuracy to the less sensitive antigen tests, providing valuable insight for testing policies.

19 Jul 2021

An assay capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk and other samples

In a recent study by US researchers (currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server), a specific immunoassay based on the spike glycoprotein’s receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is not only well suited for the detection of antibody response after infection and vaccination but may also represent a method of choice when conducting seroepidemiological studies.

19 Jul 2021

Evaluation of a synthetic DNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine INO-4800 using a nonhuman primate model

A new study published in Vaccine assesses the safety and efficacy of the synthetic DNA vaccine candidate INO-4800, delivered as a single or double dose regime.

18 Jul 2021

Water-soluble vitamin E compounds directly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and synergize with remdesivir

Researchers in the United States have shown that water-soluble derivatives of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) exhibit potent antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

15 Jul 2021

Rapid COVID-19 antibody detection with time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay

A new study published in the journal Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry deals with the development of a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) for the detection of total COVID-19 antibodies in humans.

15 Jul 2021

A pencil graphite biosensor that detects SARS-CoV-2

In a new study, scientists discuss the development of a rapid COVID-19 diagnostic tool known as the Low-cost Electrochemical Advanced Diagnostic (LEAD).

14 Jul 2021

High individual-level variability in SARS-CoV-2 shedding may explain superspreading

Researchers in the United States have provided a high-resolution description of the viral dynamics involved in acute infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

14 Jul 2021

Blood test could be a simple and effective method for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection

A blood test that quantifies the protein ACE2, the cellular protein which allows entry of the coronavirus into cells, as well as ACE2 fragments, produced as a result of interaction with the virus, could be a simple and effective method for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to a study led by Javier Sáez-Valero, from the UMH-CSIC Neurosciences Institute in Alicante, published in FASEB Journal.

13 Jul 2021

Study examines asymptomatic, presymptomatic and symptomatic transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2

A new preprint, available on the medRxiv* server, describes how researchers found at least a third of infected individuals to be asymptomatic, but that a fifth of them successfully passed on the virus to others. In comparison, about a quarter of symptomatic cases did so, especially when the symptoms included fever, cough and shortness of breath. In these circumstances, up to 30% of them transmitted the virus.

13 Jul 2021

Colonization by SARS-CoV-2 not synonymous with infection, screening study highlights

A new study released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server throws cold water on this notion, however, by demonstrating that in a set of asymptomatic cases, less than a tenth actually had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This finding has serious implications for the practices mentioned above, since they may be neither justifiable nor cost-effective as means to break the chain of viral transmission.

13 Jul 2021

Patient characteristics including demographic factors and comorbidities can accurately predict the outcome of COVID-19 infection severity

New machine learning models incorporating COVID-19 infection data show that patient demography is a key predictor of infection outcome.

13 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 immunity due to prior infection or vaccination is similar, study says

A new study finds that the rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinfection is low following one episode of the infection.

11 Jul 2021

Antigen testing identifies PCR-positive children with live SARS-CoV-2

A recent study finds that antigen-based testing can reliably identify children who are infectious for SARS-CoV-2.

11 Jul 2021

Can saliva metabolomics predict COVID-19 severity?

New research suggests that saliva metabolomics may be able to help prognosticate disease severity in COVID-19 positive individuals.

9 Jul 2021

Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection among fully vaccinated likely to be less transmissible

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study suggesting that individuals fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who develop breakthrough infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are less likely to transmit the virus to others than unvaccinated infected individuals.

8 Jul 2021

Kids misusing soft drinks to corrupt SARS-CoV-2 tests

A group of collaborating researchers systematically tested a variety of different soft drinks to determine their ability to create false-positive results.

8 Jul 2021

Polymerase News and Research

Study in France suggests high efficacy of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Finding most promising targets for pan-coronavirus drugs

Next-generation COVID-19 vaccine provides robust immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in mice

Mayo Clinic study provides insights into risk factors for severe COVID-19 in younger populations

Analysis shows the amount of testing for COVID-19 matters more than the sensitivity of the tests

An assay capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk and other samples

Evaluation of a synthetic DNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine INO-4800 using a nonhuman primate model

Water-soluble vitamin E compounds directly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and synergize with remdesivir

Rapid COVID-19 antibody detection with time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay

A pencil graphite biosensor that detects SARS-CoV-2

High individual-level variability in SARS-CoV-2 shedding may explain superspreading

Blood test could be a simple and effective method for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection

Study examines asymptomatic, presymptomatic and symptomatic transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2

Colonization by SARS-CoV-2 not synonymous with infection, screening study highlights

Patient characteristics including demographic factors and comorbidities can accurately predict the outcome of COVID-19 infection severity

SARS-CoV-2 immunity due to prior infection or vaccination is similar, study says

Antigen testing identifies PCR-positive children with live SARS-CoV-2

Can saliva metabolomics predict COVID-19 severity?

Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection among fully vaccinated likely to be less transmissible

Kids misusing soft drinks to corrupt SARS-CoV-2 tests

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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