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Study shows durable specific humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after mild or asymptomatic infection

As a part of the COMMUNITY (COVID-19 Immunity) study, researchers from Sweden reveal long-lasting IgG neutralizing antibody response against spike glycoprotein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the vast majority of convalescent individuals – even after asymptomatic or mild infection. Their results are currently available on medRxiv* preprint server.

6 Jan 2021

Using a blood test to predict Alzheimer's disease risk during symptom-free stage

Using a blood test, a German-Dutch research team has predicted the risk of Alzheimer's disease in people who were clinically diagnosed as not having Alzheimer's disease but who perceived themselves as cognitively impaired (Subjective Cognitive Declined, SCD).

6 Jan 2021

Modified Vaccinia Ankara model vaccine prevents COVID-19 in transgenic mice study

A new study shows the effectiveness of a novel recombinant vaccinia virus that expresses modified SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen, in preventing the replication of the virus in the respiratory tract of transgenic mice, and to prevent lethal disease.

6 Jan 2021

Glycyrrhizin in licorice root neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 in vitro by inhibiting the main protease Mpro

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint paper, researchers from Germany analyzed aqueous licorice root extract for its neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. They identified glycyrrhizin, the primary active ingredient in the root, and revealed the underlying mechanism of viral neutralization.

5 Jan 2021

Replacing the RNA strand with DNA may enhance efficacy of ASO-based drugs

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) hold great promise for pharmacotherapy. Now, researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, advancing their earlier work on a heteroduplex oligonucleotide (HDO) model, have demonstrated augmentation of ASO-based drugs by replacing the RNA strand with DNA.

5 Jan 2021

Copper surfaces can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in as little as one minute, study finds

A new study by researchers at the University of Southampton, UK, has found that SARS-CoV-2 can inactivate on copper surfaces in as little as 1 minute. This is faster than the findings of previous studies in which it took as much as 4 hours before the virus was inactivated.

5 Jan 2021

A paper-based sensor for detecting COVID-19

News-Medical talks to Dipanjan Pan about the development of a paper-based electrochemical sensor that can detect COVID-19 in less than five minutes.

5 Jan 2021

Could engineered red blood cells be an effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2?

In a new study, released on the bioRxiv* preprint server, a team of researchers explores the antiviral potential of red blood cells against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of COVID-19.

24 Dec 2020

Animal study suggests palmitoylation inhibitor reduces virulence of SARS-CoV-2

A new study preprint on the bioRxiv* server demonstrates the ability of a fatty acid synthase inhibitor to improve the survival of mice infected with murine hepatitis virus. In so doing, it adds to the sum of knowledge about the relationship of SARS-CoV-2 with cholesterol metabolism in the host cell.

24 Dec 2020

Higher BMI linked to increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, USA, revealed that the spike-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies in obese people are negatively associated with body mass index (BMI) and serum levels of proinflammatory and metabolic markers of pulmonary inflammation.

24 Dec 2020

A common compound in mouthwashes found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Researchers found that cetylpyridinium chloride, found in most mouthwashes, lowers infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro, likely by inhibiting viral fusion with target cells. With more tests to prove validity, mouthwashes could be a simple, cheap way of curbing transmission.

24 Dec 2020

Researchers use fruit fly model to understand COVID-19-related neurological complications

Researchers claim to have reproduced disease mechanisms due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the fruit fly, Drosophila, while also providing proof of the efficacy of one drug against these disease processes. If validated, these findings represent a new understanding of how the virus causes neurological symptoms that could help develop more effective therapies.

23 Dec 2020

What are the potential benefits of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests?

A team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins University, USA; Imperial College London, UK; and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Switzerland, recently compared the effectiveness of Ag-RDT, NAAT, and clinical judgment alone in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in symptomatic patients.

22 Dec 2020

Researchers detect novel IRAK4 mutations in infant with encephalitis and HHV6 reactivation

An infant's odd case of rare encephalitis not typically found in children led researchers to discover never before seen genetic mutations and a more accurate technique to examine the IRAK4 gene responsible for innate immunity.

22 Dec 2020

Study highlights the far-reaching effects of mutagenic compounds on human health

In order to survive, flourish and successfully reproduce, organisms rely on a high degree of genetic stability. Mutagenic agents, which can threaten the integrity of the genetic code by causing mutations in DNA, pose a serious risk to human health.

21 Dec 2020

Study confirms the feasibility of RT-qPCR on extraction-free inactivated SARS-CoV-2 samples

A new paper reports superior results using an alternative test protocol for RT-qPCR testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

21 Dec 2020

Pooled COVID-19 testing methods could detect outbreaks in schools, says study

A team of researchers at Tufts University, USA, has found that pool testing in schools and universities can identify COVID-19 patients. This way, schools can immediately report the case, refer the staff to health departments, and conduct contact tracing.

21 Dec 2020

Assay News and Research

Study shows durable specific humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after mild or asymptomatic infection

Using a blood test to predict Alzheimer's disease risk during symptom-free stage

Modified Vaccinia Ankara model vaccine prevents COVID-19 in transgenic mice study

Glycyrrhizin in licorice root neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 in vitro by inhibiting the main protease Mpro

Replacing the RNA strand with DNA may enhance efficacy of ASO-based drugs

Copper surfaces can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in as little as one minute, study finds

A paper-based sensor for detecting COVID-19

Could engineered red blood cells be an effective antiviral against SARS-CoV-2?

Animal study suggests palmitoylation inhibitor reduces virulence of SARS-CoV-2

Higher BMI linked to increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection

A common compound in mouthwashes found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Researchers use fruit fly model to understand COVID-19-related neurological complications

What are the potential benefits of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests?

Researchers detect novel IRAK4 mutations in infant with encephalitis and HHV6 reactivation

Study highlights the far-reaching effects of mutagenic compounds on human health

Study confirms the feasibility of RT-qPCR on extraction-free inactivated SARS-CoV-2 samples

Pooled COVID-19 testing methods could detect outbreaks in schools, says study

Researchers discover more accurate technique to study gene responsible for innate immunity

AOAC INTERNATIONAL issues Certificates of Validation for three test kits that detect SARS-CoV-2

Rapid point-of-care lateral flow assay to assess the neutralizing activity of plasma against SARS-CoV-2

Microplate-based assays in microbiology research eBook 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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