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Neutralizing nanobodies effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Nanobodies have different mechanisms to neutralize viruses, and some target epitopes not accessible to monoclonal antibodies, making them an alternative for developing therapies for COVID-19.

15 Mar 2021

Dual-action monoclonal antibodies from an original SARS survivor show promise against COVID-19

A recent study, currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server, indicates that a pair of dual-action monoclonal antibodies derived from an original 2003 SARS survivors could play an important role in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to their broadly neutralizing activity and the engagement of the immune system via effector function capabilities.

14 Mar 2021

Could horse-derived antibodies promote immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Researchers based in India have demonstrated that horses inoculated with an inactivated dosage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are able to produce large amounts of strong antibodies that can neutralize multiple variants

12 Mar 2021

Natural virus-induced immunity protective against UK and South African SARS-CoV-2 variants in hamster study

As new variants of SARS-CoV-2 continue to emerge, fueling the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study offers encouragement.

12 Mar 2021

Scientists increase potency of HIV-1 antibody, identify new ways to develop vaccines

Much like coronavirus, circulating HIV-1 viruses mutate into diverse variants that pose challenges for scientists developing vaccines to protect people from HIV/AIDS.

12 Mar 2021

Spike protein mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants help resist antibody neutralization

Researchers based in Beijing and Shenzhen, China, report that they have identified mutations in the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that may allow variant strains to avoid neutralization by monoclonal antibodies and convalescent blood plasma.

11 Mar 2021

N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 responsible for increased viral transmission

Researchers at the University of Texas, USA, have confirmed the specific mutation in the B.1.1.7 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has allowed for it to be more transmissible than the ancestral strain. The N501Y substitution is one of 8 spike protein substitutions present in the UK variant and has also appeared convergently in the Brazil (P.1) and South Africa (B.1.351) variants.

11 Mar 2021

Structure and function of locked conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein identified

A new preprint research paper, posted to the bioRxiv* server, uncovered more information on the different structural conformations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The findings suggest the spike protein turns into a locked state to stabilize the spike protein during virus egress.

11 Mar 2021

Studies reveal how kidney tumors' microenvironments change in response to immunotherapy

In the last two decades, immunotherapy has emerged as a leading treatment for advanced renal carcinoma cancer (more commonly known as kidney cancer).

11 Mar 2021

Novel CRISPR-based gene editor developed to correct mutations that cause genetic disorders

A team of researchers from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*STAR) Genome Institute of Singapore have developed a CRISPR-based gene editor, C-to-G Base Editor (CGBE), to correct mutations that cause genetic disorders.

11 Mar 2021

Could an “ACE2 Triple Decoy” be an alternative approach to neutralizing SARS-CoV-2?

A team of scientists from the USA recently developed a recombinant “Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) Triple Decoy” that can trap SARS-CoV-2 and prevent its propagation inside the host cell.

11 Mar 2021

B.1.1.7 variant raises the risk of death from COVID-19

Variant B.1.1.7 of COVID-19 associated with a significantly higher mortality rate, research shows

10 Mar 2021

Researcher find an emergent SARS-CoV-2 variant in California

Researchers have found a new SARS-CoV-2 variant in California, USA. This variant is more transmissible than circulating strains but slightly less transmissible than the new N501Y variant and moderately resistant to antibodies in convalescent sera and mRNA vaccines.

10 Mar 2021

Researchers characterize antibody responses to COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccine

A team of scientists from the USA and Canada has recently characterized the antibodies developed against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in response to an mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.

10 Mar 2021

Researchers study prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 UK variant at University of Texas

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Santa Fe Institute in the US used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) data from a surveillance testing program on a large university campus to estimate how fast the new variant spreads. The team used the data to provide local situational information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

10 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 UK variant could soon be dominant in Switzerland

Researchers at the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics estimate that the B.1.1.7 variant may be dominant in Switzerland by March.

10 Mar 2021

Neutralizing antibodies may be evolving to keep up with SARS-CoV-2 mutations

Viruses evolve under increased pressure, and new research from The Rockefeller University and University of Massachusetts Medical School in the U.S. suggests our antibodies can as well.

10 Mar 2021

Novel method can improve the detection of circulating tumor cells

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer, accounting for more than 80 percent of all lung cancer cases.

10 Mar 2021

Study examines m6A regulators and m6A-related genes through integrated bioinformatic analysis

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. In this article the authors Jingdun Xie, Zhenhua Qi, Xiaolin Luo, Fang Yan, Wei Xing, Weian Zeng, Dongtai Chen and Qiang Li; from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China discuss integration analysis of m6A regulators and m6A-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

10 Mar 2021

Research demonstrates multivalent nanobodies overcome SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint paper, researchers isolated anti-RBD nanobodies from llamas and “nanomice” (they engineered to produce VHHs cloned from alpacas, dromedaries and camels).

10 Mar 2021

Mutation News and Research

Neutralizing nanobodies effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Dual-action monoclonal antibodies from an original SARS survivor show promise against COVID-19

Could horse-derived antibodies promote immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Natural virus-induced immunity protective against UK and South African SARS-CoV-2 variants in hamster study

Scientists increase potency of HIV-1 antibody, identify new ways to develop vaccines

Spike protein mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants help resist antibody neutralization

N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 responsible for increased viral transmission

Structure and function of locked conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein identified

Studies reveal how kidney tumors' microenvironments change in response to immunotherapy

Novel CRISPR-based gene editor developed to correct mutations that cause genetic disorders

Could an “ACE2 Triple Decoy” be an alternative approach to neutralizing SARS-CoV-2?

B.1.1.7 variant raises the risk of death from COVID-19

Researcher find an emergent SARS-CoV-2 variant in California

Researchers characterize antibody responses to COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccine

Researchers study prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 UK variant at University of Texas

SARS-CoV-2 UK variant could soon be dominant in Switzerland

Neutralizing antibodies may be evolving to keep up with SARS-CoV-2 mutations

Novel method can improve the detection of circulating tumor cells

Study examines m6A regulators and m6A-related genes through integrated bioinformatic analysis

Research demonstrates multivalent nanobodies overcome SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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