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Which SARS-CoV-2 mutations can potentially evade antibody recognition?

A team of US-based researchers has systematically identified SARS-CoV-2 mutations that could potentially evade neutralizing antibodies produced by the current vaccine candidates.

19 Jan 2021

RECoVERY: New open-source software developed for analyzing SARS-CoV-2 genomes

Researchers report an open-source platform-independent tool for building SARS-CoV-2 genomes from raw sequencing reads. The tool can be used without any extra hardware or software and be run using any browser from a desktop or mobile.

19 Jan 2021

Are antibiotic regimens for critical COVID-19 patients with bacterial superinfection unnecessarily high?

A new study by researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA, shows that antibiotic regimens for critically ill COVID-19 patients with bacterial superinfections may be promoting an unnecessarily high.

19 Jan 2021

Essential oils from Greek herbs may protect against COVID-19

Researchers in Greece have demonstrated the antiviral effects of Cretan aromatic plant oils on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

18 Jan 2021

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in blood serum could predict COVID-19 mortality

Researchers find that the presence of SARS-CoV-2's genetic material in the serum of positive patients could be a sturdy biomarker for predicting COVID-19-related mortality.

18 Jan 2021

New SARS-CoV-2 variant emerges in the U.S.

Even as the rollout of vaccines all over the world brings a glimmer of hope that the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may end in the near future, new variants continue to emerge, some with the potential to escape vaccine-induced or therapeutic antibodies. Now, a new preprint research paper published on the bioRxiv server describes a new American variant that may have become the dominant strain in the USA.

18 Jan 2021

Certain snakes evolve a unique genetic trick to avoid venomous snake-eating snakes

Certain snakes have evolved a unique genetic trick to avoid being eaten by venomous snakes, according to University of Queensland research.

15 Jan 2021

New tests may help improve the selection of men considering prostate cancer surveillance

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers are looking at ways to combine imaging and biomarkers to predict prostate cancer progression more accurately.

15 Jan 2021

Image-based deep learning haplotype-guided study maps the global adaptation of SARS-CoV-2

A new study used deep learning with image recognition technology to trace the emergence of variants with increased viral fitness. Higher fitness leads to rapid expansion of these lineages in the areas where they are introduced. This type of study could facilitate the development of more effective antibodies and vaccines to help contain the pandemic.

15 Jan 2021

Phylogenetic analyses shows SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 originated in the UK

It was also classified as a "Variant of Concern" (VOC B.1.1.7) in December 2020. First discovered in Kent, United Kingdom, in September 2020, this new variant has since been found in more than 29 countries across the globe, including the USA.

14 Jan 2021

New N501 SARS-CoV-2 mutation may have been circulating in Italy since August 2020

A recent study shows that mutated SARS-CoV-2 strains with a substitution at position 501 might have circulated unnoticed even before the end of September 2020, when the rapid emergence of B.1.1.7 lineage (carrying the N501Y mutation) was initially reported.

13 Jan 2021

Researchers identify link between ALS and accumulation of DNA-RNA hybrids in the genome

Researchers from the University of Seville and the University of Pavia have identified a link between Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the accumulation of DNA-RNA hybrids in the genome.

13 Jan 2021

Recurring glioblastomas with very few mutations are far more vulnerable to immunotherapies

Glioblastoma brain tumors are especially perplexing. Inevitably lethal, the tumors occasionally respond to new immunotherapies after they've grown back, enabling up to 20% of patients to live well beyond predicted survival times.

13 Jan 2021

Atmospheric particulate matter may influence the transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2

A recent study conducted at the University of Malta Medical School, Malta, has revealed that a drop in the level of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), which are airborne pollutant particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometer, in the atmosphere due to lockdown is associated with the arrival of a newer variant of SARS-CoV-2, which has eventually displaced the original virus after lockdown.

12 Jan 2021

Will the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine be effective against the new N501Y SARS-CoV-2 variant?

Researchers from Pfizer and the University of Texas, USA, have presented evidence showing that people in a previously reported trial of the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2 – commonly known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine – had equivalent neutralizing titers to the N501 and Y501 viruses.

12 Jan 2021

Tetherin downregulation by SARS-CoV-2 enhances viral spread

A new preprint research paper published on the bioRxiv server describes the role of a host protein called tetherin in the spread of the novel coronavirus.

10 Jan 2021

Large-scale genome sequencing shows how SARS-CoV-2 mutated

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* describes the results of genomic sequencing of the virus, which may help trace the routes of transmission of the virus from person to person, and from country to country.

10 Jan 2021

Study shows P681H mutation is becoming globally prevalent among SARS-CoV-2 sequences

In a recent bioRxiv preprint study, researchers from the University of Hawaii showed that the S gene of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously mutating according to the sequence and phylogenetic analysis.

10 Jan 2021

Naturally selected mutations of SARS-CoV-2 easily duplicated in vitro

In a recent and timely paper, currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server, researchers from Israel and France demonstrated how in vitro evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding domain (RBD) follows contagious mutation spread – but can also generate an efficient infection inhibitor.

10 Jan 2021

Researchers pinpoint spike protein regions as targets for passive and active COVID-19 vaccines

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified regions of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that have relatively few mutations and might therefore serve as important targets for prophylactic agents against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

10 Jan 2021

Evolution News and Research

Which SARS-CoV-2 mutations can potentially evade antibody recognition?

RECoVERY: New open-source software developed for analyzing SARS-CoV-2 genomes

Are antibiotic regimens for critical COVID-19 patients with bacterial superinfection unnecessarily high?

Essential oils from Greek herbs may protect against COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in blood serum could predict COVID-19 mortality

New SARS-CoV-2 variant emerges in the U.S.

Certain snakes evolve a unique genetic trick to avoid venomous snake-eating snakes

New tests may help improve the selection of men considering prostate cancer surveillance

Image-based deep learning haplotype-guided study maps the global adaptation of SARS-CoV-2

Phylogenetic analyses shows SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 originated in the UK

New N501 SARS-CoV-2 mutation may have been circulating in Italy since August 2020

Researchers identify link between ALS and accumulation of DNA-RNA hybrids in the genome

Recurring glioblastomas with very few mutations are far more vulnerable to immunotherapies

Atmospheric particulate matter may influence the transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2

Will the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine be effective against the new N501Y SARS-CoV-2 variant?

Tetherin downregulation by SARS-CoV-2 enhances viral spread

Large-scale genome sequencing shows how SARS-CoV-2 mutated

Study shows P681H mutation is becoming globally prevalent among SARS-CoV-2 sequences

Naturally selected mutations of SARS-CoV-2 easily duplicated in vitro

Researchers pinpoint spike protein regions as targets for passive and active COVID-19 vaccines

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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