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Study raises concern about limited immune response of transplant patients after COVID-19 vaccination

A small study from Mayo Clinic researchers raises the concern that some transplant patients may have a limited immune response after being vaccinated for COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine.

26 Apr 2021

Study shows over 2% positivity rate for asymptomatic pediatric dental patients tested for COVID-19

A study by a University of Illinois Chicago pediatric dentist has shown a novel way to track potential COVID-19 cases -- testing children who visit the dentist. The study also showed an over 2% positivity rate for the asymptomatic children tested.

26 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response robust in nursing home residents after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

However, with the waning of the immune response, it is not clear if these older people respond to the vaccine as well as younger individuals do. A recent study explored this question and found that though the antibody levels were somewhat lower in this group, they were still robust. This is a promising observation.

26 Apr 2021

Cleavage site recognition by SARS-CoV-2 main protease as new antiviral drug target

Many research groups have and are investigating main protease inhibitors as antiviral drugs, and in a paper recently uploaded to the bioRxiv* preprint server, a team of researchers examine the crystal structure of the protein while bound to various viral substrate peptides (P1-4). In doing so, they reveal the way in which the bound peptide sequence can direct and modulate enzyme activity, providing new templates towards antiviral drug design.

26 Apr 2021

The potential of CRISPR-based diagnostic assays and treatment approaches against COVID-19

In their review paper recently published in the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, a group of authors discusses currently available and forthcoming CRISPR-based diagnostic assays, as well as the possibility of using the CRISPR/Cas system as a salient treatment or prevention strategy in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

25 Apr 2021

A detailed look at two cases of symptomatic COVID in vaccinated individuals

In a recent brief report published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Rockefeller University in New York described a case of two fully vaccinated individuals in whom they found subsequent breakthrough infections with variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), carrying a number of substitutions of interest.

25 Apr 2021

Celastrol shows potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

A new study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server focuses on the in-silico predictions to repurpose existing drug compounds, that may have the ability to reverse the SARS-CoV-2 gene expression induced in host cells.

23 Apr 2021

House flies can carry SARS-CoV-2 up to 24 hours after exposure, study finds

A team of researchers in the USA – at Kansas State University and Agricultural Research Service – found that house flies can acquire and harbor infectious SARS-CoV-2 for up to 24 hours after exposure.

22 Apr 2021

Metabolic testing of COVID-19 patients through skin imprints

There is, therefore, a great need to understand how the illness can be diagnosed using more convenient and inexpensive methods. A new study posted to the medRxiv preprint server reveals the potential role of skin imprints to test for biomarkers that indicate a diagnosis of COVID-19 in a non-invasive way.

22 Apr 2021

Interfering RNA nanoparticles could be a potential COVID-19 therapy

Study shows lipid nanoparticle-based siRNA is potent in suppressing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – in cells as well as in mice models.

21 Apr 2021

Can sniffer dogs be trained to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection?

A new study in PLOS ONE discusses the novel use of dogs to sniff out the virus in patient samples as a potential additional diagnostic route to ease the situation.

21 Apr 2021

Strides against HIV/AIDS falter, especially in the South, as nation battles COVID

Facing a yearlong siege from the coronavirus, the defenses in another, older war are faltering.

21 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic underscores importance of understanding evolution of RNA genomes

The current COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), underscores the importance of understanding the evolution of ribonucleic acid (RNA) genomes.

21 Apr 2021

All-in-one test provides a promising solution for COVID-19 detection and mutational surveillance

A new type of COVID-19 testing strategy could help streamline the process of identifying cases, tracking variants and detecting co-infecting viruses.

20 Apr 2021

Targeted therapy may be of great benefit in early stage breast cancer

Targeted therapy in early stages of breast cancer can pave the way for a notable higher success rate, shows a study from the University of Bergen, Norway.

20 Apr 2021

Limited SARS-CoV-2 spread in childcare centers, finds study

A new study adds to the sum of evidence that children do not play a key role in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen behind the current pandemic of COVID-19.

20 Apr 2021

Researchers show how to evaluate waning efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines

Researchers in the United States have demonstrated how to estimate the potentially waning efficacy of vaccines designed to protect against infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

19 Apr 2021

One dose of mRNA vaccine may be sufficient for individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2

A recent scientific report from Israel shows how healthcare workers previously infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) present with higher Immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers after receiving one dose of Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in comparison to their fully vaccinated, never-infected counterparts. Conversely, the occurrence of post-vaccination infection does not increase IgG titers.

19 Apr 2021

Researchers reveal long-term kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patient sera

A team of scientists in Germany recently evaluated the specificities and sensitivities of different serological assays for detecting antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

19 Apr 2021

Plant-derived compound isorhamnetin may have antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2

The lack of new or repurposed drugs to treat patients with severe or critical COVID-19 has been one of the biggest hurdles to reducing mortality rates in the ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. A new study describes the potential for the use of the plant molecule isorhamnetin in the management of this virus.

19 Apr 2021

Polymerase News and Research

Study raises concern about limited immune response of transplant patients after COVID-19 vaccination

Study shows over 2% positivity rate for asymptomatic pediatric dental patients tested for COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response robust in nursing home residents after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Cleavage site recognition by SARS-CoV-2 main protease as new antiviral drug target

The potential of CRISPR-based diagnostic assays and treatment approaches against COVID-19

A detailed look at two cases of symptomatic COVID in vaccinated individuals

Celastrol shows potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

House flies can carry SARS-CoV-2 up to 24 hours after exposure, study finds

Metabolic testing of COVID-19 patients through skin imprints

Interfering RNA nanoparticles could be a potential COVID-19 therapy

Can sniffer dogs be trained to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Strides against HIV/AIDS falter, especially in the South, as nation battles COVID

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic underscores importance of understanding evolution of RNA genomes

All-in-one test provides a promising solution for COVID-19 detection and mutational surveillance

Targeted therapy may be of great benefit in early stage breast cancer

Limited SARS-CoV-2 spread in childcare centers, finds study

Researchers show how to evaluate waning efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines

One dose of mRNA vaccine may be sufficient for individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2

Researchers reveal long-term kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patient sera

Plant-derived compound isorhamnetin may have antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2

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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