Mutation News and Research

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Lack of inflammatory genes makes carnivores the biggest carriers of zoonotic pathogens

Carnivorous animals lack key genes needed to detect and respond to infection by pathogens, a study has found.

24 Aug 2021

Frameshift deletion mutation in ORF7a may provide fitness advantage to Australia's SARS-CoV-2 delta variants

A team of scientists from Australia has recently identified a frameshift deletion mutation in ORF7a of the delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The mutation results in the production of a truncated peptide with altered functionality. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

24 Aug 2021

Study suggests algorithm may help optimize future COVID-19 vaccine design

Scientists predict the COVID-19 pandemic is on its way to becoming endemic. The rising spread of COVID-19 variants such as Delta has helped infect unvaccinated and some vaccinated individuals. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the best way to protect against severe illness and death, but there may be a need for vaccines to protect against a specific variant.

23 Aug 2021

Researchers use gene editing to render male mosquitoes infertile and slow disease spread

Mosquitos spread viruses that cause potentially deadly diseases such as Zika, dengue fever and yellow fever. New U.S. Army-funded research uses gene editing to render certain male mosquitoes infertile and slow the spread of these diseases.

23 Aug 2021

The emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda (B.1.621) variant

A new study details the genomic characteristics and descent of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest.

23 Aug 2021

New study identifies novel compound as promising pan-coronavirus drug candidate

A recent study describes a novel compound with frameshifting capability against MERS-CoV, inhibiting viral propagation within infected cells.

23 Aug 2021

Study offers hope for an era of safer chemotherapy in breast cancer

Breast cancer is the deadliest and most common type of cancer in women. The treatment options often require administration of anti-cancer drugs in high doses, as the cells develop resistance towards chemotherapy, leading to painful side effects in patients.

23 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutations alter dynamics of neutralizing antibodies

A new study describes how monoclonal antibodies raised against SARS-CoV-2 are affected by mutations in the antibody binding site.

20 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 lambda variant escapes immune response via spike mutations

A new study explores the mechanism by which the SARS-CoV-2 lambda variant has acquired immune evasion capabilities above that of the wildtype.

20 Aug 2021

Study identifies the cause and treatment for rare rheumatoid-like autoinflammatory condition

The absence of a protein that activates the body's antiviral defenses can cause a rare rheumatoid-like autoinflammatory condition that is treatable with an FDA-approved class of drugs known as TNF (tumor necrosis factor) inhibitors, a global research team led by Mount Sinai has found.

19 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies found to neutralize bat coronavirus (RaTG13) in new study

A striking new study examines how far antibodies elicited by vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), or by natural infection, can neutralize the closely related bat coronavirus (CoV) RaTG13.

19 Aug 2021

How does the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant’s spike drive membrane fusion and immunity evasion?

A fascinating and timely new study shows how the Delta variant of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) achieved higher transmissibility and resistance to neutralization.

19 Aug 2021

New assay using fresh uncultured lung tumor cells could guide personalized treatments

A new study from the University of Helsinki shows that cells that are freshly isolated from lung cancers can be used to create robust drug response data. This approach can identify actionable or non-responsive treatments, illustrated by a case study in which the assay was used to guide the compassionate treatment of a patient.

18 Aug 2021

Increased chemosensory dysfunction with D614G mutation of SARS-CoV-2

A study, available on the pre-print server medRxiv, has determined the underlying molecular mechanisms of how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), especially the G614 strain, leads to olfactory dysfunction causing anosmia.

18 Aug 2021

SpeeDx expands product line of research reagents for SARS-CoV-2 variant analysis

SpeeDx Pty. Ltd., a developer of innovative molecular diagnostic solutions, have expanded their product line of research reagents for COVID-19 variant analysis to include a mutation connected to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern.

18 Aug 2021

P681R spike mutation enhances replication efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

A team of scientists from the University of Texas, USA, has recently revealed that the P681R spike mutation is responsible for increased infectivity of the delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The P681R spike mutation increases the replication of the delta variant by increasing the dissociation of S1 and S2 subunits at the furin cleavage site. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

18 Aug 2021

Children’s Hospital Colorado helps prove safety and efficacy of CF treatment in younger pediatric patients

Researchers at the Children's Hospital Colorado Breathing Institute, the largest pediatric cystic fibrosis (CF) clinical care center in the U.S., participated in the pivotal international multi-center Phase 3 clinical trial, sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, leading to FDA approval of TRIKAFTA (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor), a highly effective CF treatment, for patients ages 6 through 11 who have at least one copy of the F508del mutation.

17 Aug 2021

Infantile sudden death associated with a de novo genetic mutation in the SOS1 gene

A previously healthy infant who suffered aborted sudden cardiac death was found to have a de novo genetic mutation in the SOS1 gene.

17 Aug 2021

Mutated enzyme impairs communication between neurons and causes motor defects in SCA34 model

In one type of a rare, inherited genetic disorder that affects control of body movement, scientists have found a mutation in an enzyme that impairs communication between neurons and what should be the inherent ability to pick up our pace when we need to run, instead of walk, across the street.

17 Aug 2021

MGH researchers discover how triple-negative breast cancer can evade powerful drugs

Massachusetts General Hospital researchers have identified for the first time how a highly aggressive form of breast cancer can evade one of the most powerful and effective drugs used to treat it, reporting their findings in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

17 Aug 2021

Mutation News and Research

Lack of inflammatory genes makes carnivores the biggest carriers of zoonotic pathogens

Frameshift deletion mutation in ORF7a may provide fitness advantage to Australia's SARS-CoV-2 delta variants

Study suggests algorithm may help optimize future COVID-19 vaccine design

Researchers use gene editing to render male mosquitoes infertile and slow disease spread

The emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda (B.1.621) variant

New study identifies novel compound as promising pan-coronavirus drug candidate

Study offers hope for an era of safer chemotherapy in breast cancer

SARS-CoV-2 mutations alter dynamics of neutralizing antibodies

SARS-CoV-2 lambda variant escapes immune response via spike mutations

Study identifies the cause and treatment for rare rheumatoid-like autoinflammatory condition

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies found to neutralize bat coronavirus (RaTG13) in new study

How does the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant’s spike drive membrane fusion and immunity evasion?

New assay using fresh uncultured lung tumor cells could guide personalized treatments

Increased chemosensory dysfunction with D614G mutation of SARS-CoV-2

SpeeDx expands product line of research reagents for SARS-CoV-2 variant analysis

P681R spike mutation enhances replication efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant

Children’s Hospital Colorado helps prove safety and efficacy of CF treatment in younger pediatric patients

Infantile sudden death associated with a de novo genetic mutation in the SOS1 gene

Mutated enzyme impairs communication between neurons and causes motor defects in SCA34 model

MGH researchers discover how triple-negative breast cancer can evade powerful drugs

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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