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Antibodies produced from infection with SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 protect against other variants

A recent paper in the journal Nature shows that while earlier lineages do not elicit antibodies capable of efficiently neutralizing the newly emerged South African variant, SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), the converse does occur.

31 Mar 2021

Study reveals reason behind high risk of leukemia in children with Down syndrome

Children with Down syndrome are 20-times more likely to develop acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and 150-times more likely to develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML) compared to their typical peers.

31 Mar 2021

Study reports on two cats that caught COVID-19

Our feline friends are also vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, according to new research posted to the preprint server bioRxiv. The researchers diagnosed two cats living in France with mild symptomatic COVID-19 illness. The virus was most likely transmitted from their owners.

31 Mar 2021

Gene therapy restores vison in dogs with severe form of Leber congenital amaurosis

Gustavo Aguirre and William Beltran, veterinary ophthalmologists and vision scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, have studied a wide range of different retinal blinding disorders.

31 Mar 2021

Asymmetrical vaccine distribution could promote vaccine evading mutations in SARS-CoV-2

Researchers have investigated the ultimate influence of unequal vaccine distribution by mathematical modeling, revealing the critical role of fair distribution in future COVID-19 containment strategy.

31 Mar 2021

New coronavirus variant with E484K mutation detected in Arizona

Arizona joins the ever-growing list of American states harboring a variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A study led by Efrem S. Lim of Arizona State University confirms evidence of the B.1.243.1 with an E484K mutation on the spike protein.

30 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutation T478K spreading at alarming speed in Mexico

Several SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged, posing a renewed threat to COVID-19 containment and to vaccine and drug efficacy. In this study, we analyzed more than 820,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences deposited up to March 26, 2021 and identified a novel T478K mutation located on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein.

30 Mar 2021

Comparing the transmission routes of two SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

The research team had previously identified the UK variant as having higher viral RNA shedding than the D614G variant. However here, they wanted to compare the transmission of such variants through different routes of potential infection: direct contact, aerosol (airborne droplets), and fomite (objects which may be contaminated and therefore spread infectious agents).

30 Mar 2021

Prime editing enables more precise correction of genetic problems than traditional CRISPR

The latest gene editing technology, prime editing, expands the "genetic toolbox" for more precisely creating disease models and correcting genetic problems, scientists say.

30 Mar 2021

Scientists launch clinical trial of CRISPR gene correction therapy in patients with sickle cell disease

Scientists at UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley and UCLA have received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to jointly launch an early phase, first-in-human clinical trial of a CRISPR gene correction therapy in patients with sickle cell disease using the patient's own blood-forming stem cells.

30 Mar 2021

Researchers examine the evolutionary race between SARS-CoV-2 and human defenses

Researchers have analyzed this evolution of the virus based on evolutionary ecology theory. Using the virus genomes available in the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database, the researchers focused their inquiry on mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

30 Mar 2021

Researchers develop novel test that screens for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

A team of scientists from the United States has recently developed a single-tube duplex molecular assay for rapid detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants containing E484K and N501Y spike mutations.

30 Mar 2021

Imported COVID-19 cases responsible for spread of the UK and Brazil SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy

A new study examines a major consequence of the second wave of COVID-19 infection—namely, the rapid emergence of new viral lineages and variants.

30 Mar 2021

Researchers report on novel SARS-CoV-2 Israeli strain with unique spike glycoprotein

Researchers from Israel describe a novel SARS-CoV-2 strain with a non-synonymous mutation in its spike glycoprotein, designated as P681H; nevertheless, its emergence has not been associated with increased infections rate, facilitated spread or vaccine evasion.

30 Mar 2021

New diagnostic test can detect COVID-19 virus even when it mutates

A team of scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a diagnostic test that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even after it has gone through mutations.

30 Mar 2021

Vaccine-induced 2C08 antibody protects against SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new preprint study posted to the bioRxiv* server led by Ali H. Ellebedy from the Washington University School of Medicine found that the monoclonal antibody 2C08 produced by the Pfizer vaccine could help neutralize COVID-19 variants.

29 Mar 2021

New study reports increased spread of B.1.1.7 variant in Houston, Texas

Research led by Jimmy Gollihar from the CCDC Army Research Laboratory-South in Austin, Texas found the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.7 —first detected last fall in England — increased in Houston, Texas. The B.1.1.7 variant is rapidly spreading with a case doubling time of 6.9 days.

29 Mar 2021

Emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and co-mutations in India

The study "Genomic surveillance and phylodynamic analyses reveal the emergence of a novel mutation and co-mutation patterns within SARS-CoV2 variants prevalent in India" is available as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

29 Mar 2021

Study identifies key features in SARS-CoV-2 genome essential for replication in respiratory cells

Researchers at the Institute of Medical Virology, the University of Zurich in Switzerland, have identified features in the SARS-CoV-2 genome that are important for human respiratory cell growth.

29 Mar 2021

Addressing the increasing plasticity of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers summarize what this rapid increase of plasticity of SARS-CoV-2 could mean for the future of the pandemic and anti-SARS-CoV-2 measures.

29 Mar 2021

Mutation News and Research

Antibodies produced from infection with SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 protect against other variants

Study reveals reason behind high risk of leukemia in children with Down syndrome

Study reports on two cats that caught COVID-19

Gene therapy restores vison in dogs with severe form of Leber congenital amaurosis

Asymmetrical vaccine distribution could promote vaccine evading mutations in SARS-CoV-2

New coronavirus variant with E484K mutation detected in Arizona

SARS-CoV-2 mutation T478K spreading at alarming speed in Mexico

Comparing the transmission routes of two SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Prime editing enables more precise correction of genetic problems than traditional CRISPR

Scientists launch clinical trial of CRISPR gene correction therapy in patients with sickle cell disease

Researchers examine the evolutionary race between SARS-CoV-2 and human defenses

Researchers develop novel test that screens for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Imported COVID-19 cases responsible for spread of the UK and Brazil SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy

Researchers report on novel SARS-CoV-2 Israeli strain with unique spike glycoprotein

New diagnostic test can detect COVID-19 virus even when it mutates

Vaccine-induced 2C08 antibody protects against SARS-CoV-2 variants

New study reports increased spread of B.1.1.7 variant in Houston, Texas

Emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and co-mutations in India

Study identifies key features in SARS-CoV-2 genome essential for replication in respiratory cells

Addressing the increasing plasticity of SARS-CoV-2

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

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