Omicron News and Research

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Differences in immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants could inform future vaccine design

A person's immune response to variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, depends on their previous exposure - and differences in the focus of immune responses will help scientists understand how to optimize vaccines in the future to provide broad protection.

6 Oct 2023

Why are most Americans skipping the COVID-19 booster?

A study in the journal Vaccine reveals that misinformation and concerns about side effects are leading reasons why over 80% of eligible Americans have skipped the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster. The research underscores the need for more public education about the vaccine's benefits in combating severe COVID-19 infections.

5 Oct 2023

Green, matcha, and black tea: Effective weapons against Omicron subvariants, research reveals

The efficacy of tea and its catechins in deactivating the Omicron subvariant.

5 Oct 2023

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': An encore: 3 HHS secretaries reveal what the job is really like

This week, while KFF Health News' "What the Health?" takes a break, here’s an encore of a favorite episode this year: Host and chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner leads a rare conversation with the current and two former secretaries of Health and Human Services.

5 Oct 2023

New model can calculate the probability of COVID-19 cluster occurrence

A research group has created a new model to calculate the probability of the occurrence of localized clusters caused by novel coronavirus infections.

3 Oct 2023

Could infants' robust immune responses reshape future vaccination strategies?

Utilizing next-gen sequencing techniques, researchers analyzed infants' immune responses to infections, uncovering a predominant innate immune activation unlike adults and older children. This insight could steer child vaccination research and pediatric infection management strategies, potentially revolutionizing infant healthcare.

3 Oct 2023

New study reveals BA.2.86 subvariant's surprising dance with antibodies

Researchers examined the antigenicity of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 subvariant BA.2.86, finding that it is not resistant to neutralizing antibodies from previously infected or vaccinated individuals, although it does show increased binding affinity to the ACE-2 receptor. The study highlights the subvariant's sensitivity and resistance to different classes of monoclonal antibodies, offering insights for future treatment and vaccine development.

2 Oct 2023

Maternal COVID-19 shots significantly lowered infant hospitalizations during Omicron wave

Study found that maternal COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalizations in infants under six months, particularly boosting protection during the first three months of life. With 78% of the hospitalized infants born to unvaccinated mothers, the research emphasizes the crucial role of maternal vaccination in safeguarding infants too young for vaccination.

2 Oct 2023

Aerosolized ACE2 neutralizes COVID-19 variants in lab and mice tests

Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern have developed an aerosolized, mutated form of ACE2 that effectively neutralizes various SARS-CoV-2 variants in both cell cultures and mice. The study suggests that this modified ACE2 has promising preventive and therapeutic potential against COVID-19, especially with its easy aerosolized administration.

28 Sep 2023

Vaxzevria vaccine boosts mucosal immunity in COVID-19 recovered

Study highlights the ability of the Vaxzevria vaccine in inducing robust mucosal antibody responses, especially in COVID-19-recovered individuals, showcasing a notable defense against various SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, it emphasizes the need for booster doses to enhance anti-SARS-CoV-2 mucosal immunity, especially in infection-naïve individuals, to broaden protection against emerging viral variants.

28 Sep 2023

Weighing the risks and benefits of COVID-19 precautions in 2023

A new editorial paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on September 22, 2023, entitled, "Reassessing the risks and benefits of COVID-19 precautions in 2023."

28 Sep 2023

Commonly used anti-viral drugs reduce risk of hospitalization, death in patients with mild COVID-19

New Cleveland Clinic-led research shows commonly used COVID-19 anti-viral drugs Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir) reduce risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients with mild disease, even with Omicron subvariants.

28 Sep 2023

Zoonotic spillover safeguarding: computationally designed antigen targets range of coronaviruses

Researchers used an interdisciplinary approach incorporating phylogenetics, 3D protein modeling, and plasmid design to identify and computationally design an antigen representing the core of most currently known sarbecoviruses.

27 Sep 2023

Intranasal vaccine shows promise against COVID variants in hamsters

Intranasal mRNA-LNP vaccines show promise in Syrian golden hamsters, effectively reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral loads and lung pathology. The study suggests potential efficacy against new variants, setting the stage for future research in human applications.

25 Sep 2023

Engineered mice reveal how Omicron subvariant BA.5 is more virulent

New research used engineered mice to compare SARS-COV-2 omicron subvariants and found one of them – BA.5 – was more virulent likely due to its ability to rapidly replicate early during infection.

25 Sep 2023

COVID drug molnupiravir appears to be driving SARS-CoV-2 to mutate and evolve

Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug used to treat patients with COVID-19, appears to be driving SARS-CoV-2 to mutate and evolve, with some of these new viruses being transmitted onwards, a new study has shown. It is not clear, however, whether these mutated viruses pose an increased risk to patients or are able to evade the vaccine.

25 Sep 2023

Future-proof vaccine candidate protects against wide range of coronaviruses

Studies of a 'future-proof' vaccine candidate have shown that just one antigen can be modified to provide a broadly protective immune response in animals.

25 Sep 2023

The power of nanobodies: How they impact COVID-19 immune response

The structures of 340 antibodies (Abs) and 83 nanobodies.

25 Sep 2023

How are SARS-CoV-2 variants outsmarting our immune system and vaccines?

Researchers use multiomics analysis to understand how SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, modulate the host's cellular responses and adapt to evade human immunity. The study highlights the potential for targeted therapies against both adaptive and innate immune responses.

25 Sep 2023

Clinical study launched to test the benefits of immune modulation for hospitalized COVID-19 patients

A clinical trial has launched to test whether early intensive immune modulation for hospitalized COVID-19 patients with relatively mild illness is beneficial.

22 Sep 2023

Omicron News and Research

Differences in immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants could inform future vaccine design

Why are most Americans skipping the COVID-19 booster?

Green, matcha, and black tea: Effective weapons against Omicron subvariants, research reveals

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': An encore: 3 HHS secretaries reveal what the job is really like

New model can calculate the probability of COVID-19 cluster occurrence

Could infants' robust immune responses reshape future vaccination strategies?

New study reveals BA.2.86 subvariant's surprising dance with antibodies

Maternal COVID-19 shots significantly lowered infant hospitalizations during Omicron wave

Aerosolized ACE2 neutralizes COVID-19 variants in lab and mice tests

Vaxzevria vaccine boosts mucosal immunity in COVID-19 recovered

Weighing the risks and benefits of COVID-19 precautions in 2023

Commonly used anti-viral drugs reduce risk of hospitalization, death in patients with mild COVID-19

Zoonotic spillover safeguarding: computationally designed antigen targets range of coronaviruses

Intranasal vaccine shows promise against COVID variants in hamsters

Engineered mice reveal how Omicron subvariant BA.5 is more virulent

COVID drug molnupiravir appears to be driving SARS-CoV-2 to mutate and evolve

Future-proof vaccine candidate protects against wide range of coronaviruses

The power of nanobodies: How they impact COVID-19 immune response

How are SARS-CoV-2 variants outsmarting our immune system and vaccines?

Clinical study launched to test the benefits of immune modulation for hospitalized COVID-19 patients

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