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Suzukii flies produce only males after mating, shows study

Populations of Drosophila suzukii fruit flies - so-called "spotted-wing Drosophila" that devastate soft-skinned fruit in North America, Europe and parts of South America - could be greatly suppressed with the introduction of genetically modified D. suzukii flies that produce only males after mating, according to new research from North Carolina State University.

30 Jun 2021

Study shows how loss of glial protein drives brain development dysfunction

When we think of the brain, we think of neurons. But much of the brain is made of non-neuronal cells called glial cells, which help regulate brain development and function.

25 Jun 2021

Overexpression of PGC1 in vascular smooth muscle cells ameliorates atherosclerosis

In a new study published in Circulation Research, Chen-Yu Zhang and Xiaohong Jiang's group from Nanjing University and Dongjin Wang's group from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital reported a critical role of PGC1α in maintaining the contractile phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and highlighted the therapeutic potential of PGC1α for atherosclerosis.

25 Jun 2021

Engineering nanobodies to fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Scientists are pursuing a new strategy in the protracted fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus by engineering nanobodies that can neutralize virus variants in two different ways.

22 Jun 2021

RIG-1 agonist shows potent antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 infection

A team of scientists from the United States has recently revealed the antiviral efficacy of stem-loop RNA 14, a RIG-1 agonist, in controlling severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in mice. The compound reduces the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by inhibiting viral replication in the lower respiratory tract. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

18 Jun 2021

Mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 and simian adenovirus vector advance COVID-19 vaccine research

A new preprint recently released on the bioRxiv* server describes the immunogenicity and protective potential of a novel adenovirus SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate against a form of the virus adapted to cause severe disease in mice. The findings show that this provides a useful mouse model for the study of new vaccines, in addition to demonstrating the protective efficacy of the current rhesus adenovirus vaccine candidate RhAd52.

17 Jun 2021

Nanobodies from nanomice and llamas show potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants

While several COVID-19 vaccines have been approved to date, the constant evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding domain (RBD) has challenged the efficacy of these vaccines.

11 Jun 2021

Mason researchers examine the potential anti-coronavirus activities of an over-the-counter drink

Could an over-the-counter health "shot" help fight COVID-19? George Mason University researchers think it just might.

5 Jun 2021

Mice study shows life expectancy can be increased by an average of 30%

Aging is associated with an overall decline in health and increased frailty, and is a major risk factor for multiple chronic diseases.

1 Jun 2021

Antibody cocktail effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in the rhesus macaque model

Researchers from the US tested the prophylactic potential of a combination of 2 mAbs administered 3 or 75 days before respiratory challenge in rhesus macaques. They used the rhesus macaque model to test the added benefit of combinatory parenteral administration of 2 high-affinity anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs - C144-LS and C135-LS. These mAbs were developed to neutralize the virus and tweaked to improve their pharmacokinetics.

1 Jun 2021

New drug effectively prevents severe COVID-19 in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2

The drug diABZI which activates the body's innate immune response -- was highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 in mice that were infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to scientists in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

29 May 2021

New light-sheet fluorescence microscope provides high spatial resolution, lowers phototoxicity

A research group led by Takashi Saito, of the Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, developed a 2-photon excitation light-sheet fluorescence microscope which (1) lowers phototoxicity, (2) extends the field of view, and (3) heightens spatial resolution.

29 May 2021

New LNP-based mRNA vaccine candidate protects against lethal SARS-CoV-2 in preclinical trials

A new study, published in Nano Letters, describes an effective new COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) platform.

28 May 2021

STING agonist diABZI shows promise against SARS-CoV-2 variants

COVID-19 vaccines are the most effective way to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. For people who are already infected, new research suggests the small molecule stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist-1, diABZI, may be effective in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection — including those caused by variants.

23 May 2021

Human monoclonal antibodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in an Fc-independent manner

Researchers from Israel recently isolated a set of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies from blood samples of patients with severe COVID-19. They were the first to show that transgenic K18-hACE2 mice infected with lethal doses of SARS-CoV-2 can be fully protected by administering antibodies even 3 days after infection

19 May 2021

A SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccine elicits broad immunity

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint research paper, M. Gordon Joyce et al. designed engineered nanoparticle immunogens that recapitulate the structural and antigenic properties of prefusion Spike (S), S1 and receptor-binding domain (RBD). They demonstrated that these immunogens induced robust S-binding, ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme)-inhibition, and authentic and pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in mice.

13 May 2021

Study examines a pathway responsible for the formation of tau tangles in the brain

Since the discovery of Alzheimer's disease over a century ago, two hallmarks of the devastating illness have taken center stage.

12 May 2021

New noninvasive imaging device could be used in biomedical research, translational medicine

A biochemical reaction between an enzyme called luciferase and oxygen causes fireflies to glow and is considered one of the most well-known examples of bioluminescence in nature.

12 May 2021

An intranasal COVID-19 vaccine elicits long-lasting immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants in vivo

A team of scientists from the Washington University School of Medicine and the University of Texas Medical Branch, USA, has recently evaluated the durability and robustness of an adenovirus-vectored, spike-based intranasal COVID-19 vaccine in mice.

11 May 2021

Preclinical study finds sex differences in neurological response to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Neurological problems during and after COVID-19 are persistent and frequent. However, research is still ongoing as to why certain people exhibit specific symptoms. Research led by Yi-Ping Hsueh from the Institute of Molecular Biology in Taiwan suggests SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain could be sex-dependent.

10 May 2021