Mutation News and Research

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Cryo-EM of Omicron variant reveals antibody evasion by spike-ACE2 complex

Researchers compare the obtained binding affinities to wild-type and Delta spike proteins to determine the impact of Omicron mutations.

23 Dec 2021

Allele-specific RT-qPCR assay to identify SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in wastewater

Researchers develop a new allele-specific RT-qPCR to detect the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in wastewater.

23 Dec 2021

Exploring immunity and severe disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

A new study describes the findings of a seroprevalence survey intended to establish the infection rates and the incidence of severe COVID-19 through December 15, 2021, in Gauteng, a crowded province that compresses a quarter of the country’s people into less than 2% of its area.

23 Dec 2021

How the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant grew to dominate the UK epidemic

Researchers examine SARS-CoV-2 genomes in England to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 policies.

22 Dec 2021

Infect, replicate, and rapidly mutate: Computational virus modeling study

A new bioRxiv* preprint study led by Barbara A Jones of IBM Research-Almaden in San Jose, California, used computational modeling to investigate how viruses rapidly mutate as well as how they respond or adapt to different host conditions. They observed a range of behaviors from glassy dynamics, bimodal quasispecies distributions, and periodic steady states.

22 Dec 2021

rVSV-based bivalent vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 delta variant and influenza

Researchers developed four distinct recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV)-based bivalent vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus.

22 Dec 2021

Broad neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by an unconventional antibody fragment

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv* server examines the nature and effects of the spike mutations and identifies a vulnerable point that could help develop broad-spectrum protection against circulating variants.

21 Dec 2021

Promising new drug target for TB identified

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the hardy bacterial species that causes tuberculosis (TB), has an unexpected vulnerability that future drugs may be able to exploit, according to a study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

21 Dec 2021

How the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike protein is changing

The study assesses the degree to which the D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 RBD allows access of spike protein trimers to LA-binding-like conformations.

21 Dec 2021

Diagnostic assays that use the 2019-nCoV-N1 primer-probe are unlikely to be impacted by Omicron variant

A new study aimed to detect the genomic material of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, such as the recently emerged variant of concern (VOC) Omicron.

21 Dec 2021

Study focuses on inherited Alzheimer’s up to 25 years before expected dementia onset

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is launching an international clinical trial aimed at preventing Alzheimer's disease in people genetically destined to develop the illness at a young age. Unlike most other Alzheimer's prevention trials, this one will enroll people before the disease has taken hold - up to 25 years before the expected onset of dementia.

21 Dec 2021

Booster shots improve CD8+ T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 in animal model

In a new study, published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, scientists showed in a mice model that three doses of the same synthetic peptide vaccine, eliciting an exclusive CD8+ T cell response against one SARS-CoV-2 Spike epitope, protected against lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection, in the absence of neutralizing antibodies. Researchers also showed that the third dose resulted in superior generation of effector-memory T cells in the circulation and tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells.

20 Dec 2021

QTQTN motif upstream of furin-cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis

A new study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server aimed to demonstrate whether the loss of the QTQTN motif attenuates SARS-CoV-2 replication in respiratory cells in vitro and pathogenesis in hamsters.

20 Dec 2021

New study suggests most monoclonal antibody treatments are ineffective against Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant

The arrival of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant has brought into question the effectiveness of current COVID-19 treatments in preventing infection and death. New research published in the preprint bioRxiv* server suggests the efficacy of most monoclonal antibody treatments are ineffective against Omicron.

20 Dec 2021

Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 exhibits striking antibody evasion

Researchers discuss the likely impact on current convalescent therapies and immunity of vaccinated individuals against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

20 Dec 2021

Computational analysis of the effect of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike protein mutations

A new study highlights the potential evolutionary trade-off observed in the omicron variant, detailing the dynamics of the protein structure, its interactions, and subsequent effects.

20 Dec 2021

Study offers an analysis of fungicide resistance and informs management strategies

The use of fungicides to treat plant pathogens dates back 150 years, when a mixture of lime and copper sulfate, known as the "Bordeaux mixture," was used to control fungal diseases in French vineyards. However, as fungicide usage has increased, their efficacy has decreased thanks to a phenomenon known as fungicide resistance.

19 Dec 2021

A class of FDA-approved drugs can effectively stop aggressive uterine cancer

A team of scientists led by the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center has found that a class of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs can effectively stop a highly aggressive type of uterine cancer in its tracks, paving a quick path toward new treatment strategies for a deadly cancer with limited therapeutic options.

17 Dec 2021

A Day in the Life of A Clinical Geneticist

In this interview, we spoke to Dr. Julian Barwell, a clinical geneticist, about his day-to-day roles and responsibilities as well as his career highlights.

17 Dec 2021

Investigating SARS-CoV-2 genomics-informed outbreaks using new bioinformatics tools

Researchers have created a tool designed to make as much use of the overwhelming amount of SARS-CoV-2 data as possible.

17 Dec 2021

Mutation News and Research

Cryo-EM of Omicron variant reveals antibody evasion by spike-ACE2 complex

Allele-specific RT-qPCR assay to identify SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in wastewater

Exploring immunity and severe disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

How the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant grew to dominate the UK epidemic

Infect, replicate, and rapidly mutate: Computational virus modeling study

rVSV-based bivalent vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 delta variant and influenza

Broad neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by an unconventional antibody fragment

Promising new drug target for TB identified

How the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike protein is changing

Diagnostic assays that use the 2019-nCoV-N1 primer-probe are unlikely to be impacted by Omicron variant

Study focuses on inherited Alzheimer’s up to 25 years before expected dementia onset

Booster shots improve CD8+ T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 in animal model

QTQTN motif upstream of furin-cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis

New study suggests most monoclonal antibody treatments are ineffective against Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant

Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 exhibits striking antibody evasion

Computational analysis of the effect of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike protein mutations

Study offers an analysis of fungicide resistance and informs management strategies

A class of FDA-approved drugs can effectively stop aggressive uterine cancer

A Day in the Life of A Clinical Geneticist

Investigating SARS-CoV-2 genomics-informed outbreaks using new bioinformatics tools

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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