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How effective has Israel’s SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination campaign been against the UK variant?

A recent study by researchers at Tel Aviv University describes the UK variant’s rise to dominance in Israel. It also assesses the efficacy of the testing and vaccination programs employed by the government.

23 Feb 2021

L452R mutation potentially favors adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2

A team of scientists from the United States recently investigated the mutational signatures in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

23 Feb 2021

More diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants identified within infected children than in adults

A new study describes the identification of multiple circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 during this early pandemic period from Asia and Europe. In addition, there were multiple local introductions of different variants, that resulted in multiple waves of transmission.

23 Feb 2021

Influenza A virus defective interfering particles against SARS-CoV-2

In the search for a broadly acting pan-specific antiviral, an interdisciplinary team from Germany tested the previously proposed (for antiviral treatment against Influenza A infections) - Influenza A virus (IAV) defective interfering particles (DIPs). The research is published online on the bioRxiv preprint server.

23 Feb 2021

Research identifies failures with Australia and New Zealand's hotel-based COVID-19 quarantine

The researchers found a notable risk of failure with hotel quarantine in Australia and New Zealand. The two countries have collectively had 16 COVID-19 identified failures from hotel-based quarantine up to January 31, 2021. The two countries also have higher proportions of infected travelers, threatening both nations' status in eliminating the illness.

22 Feb 2021

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in COVID-19 ICU and ER situations

The overwhelming increase in critically ill COVID-19 patients, who urgently require intensive care units (ICU) and emergency departments (ED), has challenged healthcare systems worldwide.

22 Feb 2021

Researchers explain SARS-CoV-2's replication-transcription complex

The current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is still spreading rapidly throughout the world. A new preprint on the bioRxiv* server describes the structure of an important viral non-structural protein NSP12-16 and its role in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

22 Feb 2021

Study profiles the nose to predict immune response during COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 resides in mucous membranes, making it easy to detect viral load in the nasal cavities. An international group of researchers has characterized the immunological and diagnosis characteristics of patients who may have or are confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The team found a distinct nasal cytokine profile that could help identify patients at risk for high inflammatory responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

22 Feb 2021

Study maps SARS-CoV-2 infected brains

Researchers in the United States and Canada have mapped the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the brains of people who died from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Feb 2021

Chicken-derived antibody shows potent neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Researchers report on a Chicken-derived antibody against SARS-CoV-2, offering preliminary data on a potential therapeutic for COVID-19 warranting further research.

19 Feb 2021

Domestic dogs unlikely to transmit SARS-CoV-2, say researchers

Researchers in Spain and Germany have conducted a study showing that domestic dogs are unlikely to contribute to the transmission and community spread of SARS-CoV-2 – the agent that causes COVID-19.

19 Feb 2021

Zambia study casts doubt on the assumption that COVID-19 skipped Africa

A new study concluding out of Lusaka, Zambia last summer has found that as many as 19% (almost 1 in 5) of recently-deceased people tested positive for COVID-19.

18 Feb 2021

Could measles virus vectors be used for a new COVID-19 vaccine?

A research team at the Institut Pasteur in France describes the successful development of such a vaccine utilizing a measles virus vector.

18 Feb 2021

Bats and pangolins in Southeast Asia harbor SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses, study finds

A new study has reported evidence that SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses (SC2r-CoVs) are circulating in bats in Southeast Asia. This has extended the geographical area where SC2r-CoVs are found, underscoring the urgency of identifying the immediate ancestor of SARS-CoV-2.

17 Feb 2021

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site remains a mystery

A new study discusses the origin of the furin cleavage site on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is responsible for the virus’s relatively high infectivity compared to relatives in the betacoronavirus subgenus.

17 Feb 2021

China's SARS and SARS-CoV-2 outbreak management in comparative perspective

A new study compares the current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak with the earlier SARS-CoV epidemic to understand the best way to respond to it sensitively and flexibly. This involves early detection, using multiple screening tests, followed by management of the clinical features as required, in order to prevent disease-related injury.

17 Feb 2021

Study shows how SARS-CoV-2 uses an immune system defense for replication

The immune system actually wants to fight SARS-CoV-2 with antiviral signaling molecules. But a research team from Charité and MDC has now shown how such a signaling molecule can promote the replication of the virus. The results have been published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine.

17 Feb 2021

RIG-1-like receptors may play dominant role in suppressing SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study by researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center, USA, reports the crucial nature of the pathogen pattern recognition receptor (PRRs), especially the two RLRs, retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), in triggering host cell immune responses within the cell. The RLRs are viral RNA sensors.

15 Feb 2021

High-throughput sequencing could allow detection of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater

A new study reports the use of metagenomics to detect the virus from wastewater samples, indicating community-level circulating variants that are not yet identified or are present in very low proportions on clinical databases.

15 Feb 2021

Study finds certain plasma microRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for mild traumatic brain injury

Certain plasma microRNAs could serve as diagnostic biomarkers in mild traumatic brain injury, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows.

15 Feb 2021

Polymerase News and Research

How effective has Israel’s SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination campaign been against the UK variant?

L452R mutation potentially favors adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2

More diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants identified within infected children than in adults

Influenza A virus defective interfering particles against SARS-CoV-2

Research identifies failures with Australia and New Zealand's hotel-based COVID-19 quarantine

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in COVID-19 ICU and ER situations

Researchers explain SARS-CoV-2's replication-transcription complex

Study profiles the nose to predict immune response during COVID-19

Study maps SARS-CoV-2 infected brains

Chicken-derived antibody shows potent neutralizing capacity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Domestic dogs unlikely to transmit SARS-CoV-2, say researchers

Zambia study casts doubt on the assumption that COVID-19 skipped Africa

Could measles virus vectors be used for a new COVID-19 vaccine?

Bats and pangolins in Southeast Asia harbor SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses, study finds

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site remains a mystery

China's SARS and SARS-CoV-2 outbreak management in comparative perspective

Study shows how SARS-CoV-2 uses an immune system defense for replication

RIG-1-like receptors may play dominant role in suppressing SARS-CoV-2 infection

High-throughput sequencing could allow detection of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater

Study finds certain plasma microRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for mild traumatic brain injury

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