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Mixing COVID vaccines generates a comparable immune response

The validity and safety of mixing first and second doses of different types are explored in a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server medRxiv* by Rose et al. (July 13th, 2021), finding that robust antibody response is induced, comparable to, and perhaps even exceed that generated by homologous dosing.

16 Jul 2021

Water-soluble vitamin E compounds directly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and synergize with remdesivir

Researchers in the United States have shown that water-soluble derivatives of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) exhibit potent antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

15 Jul 2021

'Super glue' from snake venom can stop life-threatening bleeding in seconds

Indiana Jones hates snakes. And he's certainly not alone. The fear of snakes is so common it even has its own name: ophidiophobia.

15 Jul 2021

New live cell models lay the groundwork for studies into mitochondrial diseases

The mitochondrion has garnered quite the reputation for its role as the "powerhouse of the cell." These tiny, but mighty organelles play various life-sustaining roles, from powering our own cells and organs to fueling chemical and biological processes.

15 Jul 2021

COVID-19 vaccine candidate that can be produced in yeast proves effective in macaques

Researchers in the United States have designed a modular protein subunit vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that elicited a strong immune response in macaques and prevented the animals from developing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

15 Jul 2021

Imaging technology may be able to treat life-threatening blood clotting condition

Penn State College of Engineering researchers set out to develop technology capable of localizing and imaging blood clots in deep veins. Turns out their work may not only identify blood clots, but it may also be able to treat them.

15 Jul 2021

Short chain fatty acids have potential therapeutic applications against COVID-19, study suggests

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is highly transmissible, with nasal passages being the target of original infection.

15 Jul 2021

Rapid COVID-19 antibody detection with time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay

A new study published in the journal Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry deals with the development of a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) for the detection of total COVID-19 antibodies in humans.

15 Jul 2021

A small molecule inhibitor shows promise to reduce the growth of uveal melanoma

Uveal melanoma, or UM, is a rare and deadly cancer of the eye, and the mortality rate has remained unimproved for 40 years. Half of the melanomas spread to other organs of the body, causing death in less than a year, so new treatments to preserve vision and prevent death are an urgent need.

15 Jul 2021

Should we be concerned about the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant?

As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), wreaks havoc across the globe, the efficacy of available vaccines is being threatened by emerging variants.

15 Jul 2021

A pencil graphite biosensor that detects SARS-CoV-2

In a new study, scientists discuss the development of a rapid COVID-19 diagnostic tool known as the Low-cost Electrochemical Advanced Diagnostic (LEAD).

14 Jul 2021

New OMV-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate proves effective in mice

Researchers in Italy have demonstrated the efficacy of using modified outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) as a vaccine to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an animal model.

14 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants show distinct humoral response and transcriptional profiles in hamster model

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel, highly infectious respiratory virus, and the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. SARS-CoV-2, which first originated in Wuhan, in Hubei province of China, is a member of the Coronavirdae family and has a large, non-segmented RNA genome.

14 Jul 2021

Study identifies SARS-CoV-2 spike conformation exposing potential new therapeutic targets

Researchers in the United States have demonstrated that the viral spike protein used by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to infect host cells adopts an open conformation exposing novel epitopes that could serve as targets for therapeutic strategies to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

14 Jul 2021

Molecular dynamic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors

A new study reports the results of molecular dynamic simulations that were performed in an effort to identify new drugs that could be effective against SARS-CoV-2.

13 Jul 2021

Neutralizing aptamers block SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

A new study describes the clinical utility of aptamers against SARS-CoV-2.

13 Jul 2021

Scientists identify existing drugs that may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 virus

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 600,000 deaths in the United States since the start of 2020 and more than 4 million globally.

13 Jul 2021

Scientists develop mouse-specific SARS-CoV-2 strains that efficiently replicate in standard laboratory mice

A team of scientists in France recently developed a mouse-adapted strain of SARS-CoV-2 that efficiently replicates in the lungs of standard laboratory mice and induces mild to moderate disease. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

13 Jul 2021

Review details clinical signs of SARS-CoV-2 infection in domestic and wild cats

Now, a new systematic review has been published in the journal Animals that focuses on the clinical symptoms in felines diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 worldwide.

13 Jul 2021

Gene therapy shows promise in children with devastating genetic disorder

Children with a devastating genetic disorder characterized by severe motor disability and developmental delay have experienced sometimes dramatic improvements in a gene therapy trial launched at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals.

12 Jul 2021