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Multi-resistant bacteria continue to grow in hospital wastewater

Scientists from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden presents evidence that hospital wastewater, containing elevated levels of antibiotics, rapidly kills antibiotic-sensitive bacteria, while multi-resistant bacteria continue to grow.

16 Feb 2021

Asthma may influence the evolution of influenza virus, study shows

A subtype of asthma in adults may cause higher susceptibility to influenza and could result in dangerous flu mutations.

16 Feb 2021

A pangolin coronavirus spike glycoprotein sheds light on SARS-CoV-2’s evolution

As the exact zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains unresolved, scientists at the Francis Crick Institute in London, UK, explored the structure and binding properties of a Pangolin coronavirus spike glycoprotein to see if it could shed light on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2.

16 Feb 2021

Birds keep a layer of soft, fluffy down feathers to regulate body temperature

Feathers are a sleek, intricate evolutionary innovation that makes flight possible for birds, but in addition to their stiff, aerodynamic feathers used for flight, birds also keep a layer of soft, fluffy down feathers between their bodies and their outermost feathers to regulate body temperature.

15 Feb 2021

Scientists study how a single gene alteration may have separated modern humans from extinct hominins

As a professor of pediatrics and cellular and molecular medicine at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, Alysson R. Muotri, PhD, has long studied how the brain develops and what goes wrong in neurological disorders.

15 Feb 2021

Researchers report a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in Uganda

An interdisciplinary research team from Uganda and the UK report the emergence and spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of the A lineage with multiple protein changes throughout the viral genome.

15 Feb 2021

Viruses can use freshwater sources as vector for transmission, study suggests

Water is a necessity for all life but its availability can be limited. In geographical areas experiencing dry seasons, animals congregate near the few freshwater sources, often reaching large densities.

15 Feb 2021

Innovations in Forensic Examination of Seized Drugs and Forensic Toxicology

NewsMed interviews Michelle Peace on her Pittcon presentation entitled, "Innovations in Forensic Examination of Seized Drugs and Forensic Toxicology".

From Pittcon 15 Feb 2021

Male fruit flies win genetic race with rivals in post-mating fertilization game

Scientists have accepted natural selection as a driver of evolution for more than 160 years, thanks to Charles Darwin

15 Feb 2021

Premature relaxation of restrictions following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could lead to new mutations

A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv* server addresses the need to assess this risk by examining whether SARS-CoV-2 transmission can interact with vaccination rates to select vaccine-resistant strains. The study aims to provide data to shape effective countermeasures against the threat of viral resistance.

14 Feb 2021

Non-symptomatic cases contribute to at least 50% of SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study out of the University of Chicago has found that during the initial wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, only 1 in 5 to 1 in 7 cases of the virus was symptomatic.

11 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 evolves antibody resistance in immunocompromised patient

Researchers in the United States who tracked the evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in an immunocompromised patient found that convalescent plasma therapy was associated with the emergence of viral variants that were less susceptible to neutralizing antibodies.

11 Feb 2021

New review summarises effect of aquatic pollution on cancer prevalence in wild animals

The recent review, published in Environment International and led by the University of Tartu, summarises the effect of aquatic pollution on cancer prevalence in wild animals with the help of more than 300 reviewed studies.

11 Feb 2021

New research examines how alcohol exposure impacts aspects of neuroplasticity

New research and analysis examine how alcohol exposure impacts many aspects of neuroplasticity in a special issue of Brain Plasticity

11 Feb 2021

Scientists present new outlook on latest trends in peptide drug discovery and development

Currently there are more than 80 peptide drugs on the global market and about twice as many in clinical development.

10 Feb 2021

Substrain of SARS-CoV-2 variant in UK may resist antibody neutralization

Researchers at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw have identified a substrain of the recently emerged B.1.1.7 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that may confer resistance to antibody neutralization.

10 Feb 2021

Optibrium Raises Investment to Advance Computer-Aided Drug Discovery

Optibrium™ today announced it has raised significant investment from Kester Capital.

From Optibrium Ltd. 10 Feb 2021

New study describes the evolutionary tale of poisonous butterflies

The Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala) and its five closest relatives in the genus Eumaeus like to display their toxicity.

8 Feb 2021

One-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine policy may lead to antigenic evolution, study finds

In a new study, published on the pre-print server medRxiv, an international team of researchers found that a one-dose policy may increase the potential for antigenic evolution. The study revealed that focusing on one dose may decrease infections in the short term, but longer-term outcomes rely on this immune strength.

8 Feb 2021

Researchers gain insight into the biological processes of chytrid fungus

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have gained new insight into the biological processes of a chytrid fungus responsible for a deadly skin infection devastating frog populations worldwide.

8 Feb 2021