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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Germany

Seroprevalence studies have proved their worth in estimating the size and directionality of an outbreak of infectious disease, especially the current pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-induced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A new study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server describes the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in five representative regions of Germany.

10 May 2021

Researchers report encouraging results from experimental antiviral targeting Marburg virus

The Marburg virus, a relative of the Ebola virus, causes a serious, often-fatal hemorrhagic fever. Transmitted by the African fruit bat and by direct human-to-human contact, Marburg virus disease currently has no approved vaccine or antivirals to prevent or treat it.

7 May 2021

Study reports vitamin C inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus main protease

Based on structural analysis, researchers found that vitamin C binds to 3CLpro, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease essential in viral replication. In vitro cell inhibition studies also showed vitamin C could inhibit 3CLpro, indicating a possible new antiviral treatment method.

6 May 2021

Large-scale study focuses on COVID-19 antibodies in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researchers added to the understanding of the protective immune response against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a study published in April in iScience.

6 May 2021

Monocytes promote viral control during SARS-COV-2 infection

In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Vanderheiden et al. (May 4th, 2021) the contribution of monocytes in promoting protective immunity from SARS-CoV-2 is investigated in a murine model, suggesting that CCR2 plays the role of an inflammation modulator in early infection.

6 May 2021

Researchers identify potent small molecule TMPRSS2 inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2

A team of scientists from the USA and Canada has recently identified and characterized a novel small-molecule compound inhibitor of cellular serine protease TMPRSS2, which shows significant antiviral potency against emerging variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

5 May 2021

Prior MMR or Tdap vaccination may reduce risk of severe COVID-19

Researchers in the United States have shown that prior Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) or Tetanus-Diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) vaccination may reduce the risk of severe outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

5 May 2021

Nanoparticle (SpFN) vaccine candidate elicits multifactorial cellular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

Researchers have developed a promising new anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)vaccine candidate that utilizes nanotechnology and shows robust, long-lived immunity in mouse models.

5 May 2021

Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines induce T-cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States have shown that the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are effective at generating T-cell immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

5 May 2021

Four-part small-molecule cocktail can prevent cellular stress

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have devised a four-part small-molecule cocktail that can protect stem cells called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from stress and maintain normal stem cell structure and function.

4 May 2021

Competitive multiplex binding assay can monitor SARS-CoV-2 immune responses using nanobodies

Researchers at the Eberhard Karls University and the University of Tübingen in Germany described 11 unique nanobodies (Nbs) specific for the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD), of which 8 Nbs potentially inhibit the connection of RBD with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

3 May 2021

Researchers develop a nanoparticle-based formulation with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

A study recently published in the journal Matter has demonstrated the development and validation of a nanoparticle-based formulation, capable of completely inhibiting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection blocking the interaction between viral spike protein and host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

3 May 2021

Cell-free DNA tests can reduce the need for biopsies to detect rejection after heart transplant

A new study, presented today at the AATS 101st Annual Meeting, shows that non-invasive cell-free DNA tests can reduce the need for regular surveillance biopsies to detect early rejection in heart transplant patients. The study was the first of its kind to be performed on both adult and pediatric patients.

30 Apr 2021

Study evaluates first tumor-uninformed ctDNA assay to detect residual cancer cells after treatment

After patients with cancer undergo surgery to remove a tumor and sometimes additional chemotherapy, tools are used to identify patients at highest risk of recurrence.

30 Apr 2021

Researchers characterize a large set of therapeutic antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

A team of scientists from A-Alpha Bio., USA, has recently conducted a large-scale screening of 33 therapeutic antibodies to examine their binding affinity to a number of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The team analyzed the impact of potential mutations in the spike RBD on antibody efficacy.

29 Apr 2021

New genetically encoded sensor helps detect drugs of abuse

A genetically encoded sensor to detect hallucinogenic compounds has been developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis. Named psychLight, the sensor could be used in discovering new treatments for mental illness, in neuroscience research and to detect drugs of abuse. The work is published April 28 in the journal Cell.

29 Apr 2021

New COVID-19 testing strategy can quicken test results for healthcare workers

Fast turnaround of COVID-19 test results for healthcare workers is critical. Investigators have now developed a COVID-19 testing strategy that maximizes the proportion of negative results after a single round of testing, allowing prompt notification of results.

26 Apr 2021

Ultraviolet C radiation is effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on glass surfaces, a study finds

A team of scientists from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and UV Innovators, Inc., USA, recently developed an ultraviolet C radiation emitting device called NuvaWave, which is capable of inactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on glass surfaces within seconds.

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

Two repurposed drugs and a blue dye show potential as SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors

A new multidisciplinary study from Australia, published in the open-access journal mBio, shows that three compounds used to treat cystic fibrosis, dry eye, and a specific medical dye may lead to future strategies for the treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

25 Apr 2021

Assay News and Research

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Germany

Researchers report encouraging results from experimental antiviral targeting Marburg virus

Study reports vitamin C inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virus main protease

Large-scale study focuses on COVID-19 antibodies in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients

Monocytes promote viral control during SARS-COV-2 infection

Researchers identify potent small molecule TMPRSS2 inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2

Prior MMR or Tdap vaccination may reduce risk of severe COVID-19

Nanoparticle (SpFN) vaccine candidate elicits multifactorial cellular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines induce T-cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2

Four-part small-molecule cocktail can prevent cellular stress

Competitive multiplex binding assay can monitor SARS-CoV-2 immune responses using nanobodies

Researchers develop a nanoparticle-based formulation with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

Cell-free DNA tests can reduce the need for biopsies to detect rejection after heart transplant

Study evaluates first tumor-uninformed ctDNA assay to detect residual cancer cells after treatment

Researchers characterize a large set of therapeutic antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

New genetically encoded sensor helps detect drugs of abuse

New COVID-19 testing strategy can quicken test results for healthcare workers

Ultraviolet C radiation is effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on glass surfaces, a study finds

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

Two repurposed drugs and a blue dye show potential as SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors

Exploring Strategies for Targeting Kinases in Innate Immunity eBook

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

How microplastics and bacteria interact to drive antibiotic resistance

Single-cell proteomics: Revealing proteome diversity from cellular heterogeneity to non-canonical biology

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