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Effects of the Omicron spike amino acid changes in the interaction with human ACE2 receptor or human antibodies

A recent study analyzed the effects of the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike amino acid and the human ACE2 receptor or with human antibodies.

26 Jan 2022

COVID-19 vaccine does not lead to infertility in either men or women

In a recent prospective cohort study accepted to the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers observed links between female and male coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and fecundability or the per-cycle likelihood of conception in North American couples seeking to conceive.

26 Jan 2022

In Portugal risk of hospitalization from Omicron is 75% lower than Delta

Researchers from Portugal reported a 75% risk reduction in hospitalizations for individuals infected with Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to the Delta variant and a shorter length of stay and lower mortality if hospitalization does occur. Their paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while undergoing peer review.

24 Jan 2022

Constructing SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles in tobacco plants for vaccine development

In a study published in the latest issue of the Scientific Reports, a team of researchers constructed virus-like particles (VLPs) composed of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) membrane (M), envelope (E), and nucleocapsid (N) proteins in tobacco plant using Agrobacterium-mediated delivery.

24 Jan 2022

Researchers are in the race to beat Omicron

David Veesler and his lab members aren't getting much sleep these days. In the final weeks of 2021, he and his team worked around the clock to post four coronavirus papers on the preprint server bioRxiv.

24 Jan 2022

Study shows how SARS-CoV-2 Omicron evades our immune response and remains infective

A recent study published in the journal Science brings a detailed chemical and molecular perspective on the improved evasion of antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the retention of strong interactions with the receptor as two principal factors underneath the notorious transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

23 Jan 2022

Alphacoronaviruses found to be common in bats in the upper Midwestern United States

In a new study, researchers used a pan-coronavirus PCR to screen bats submitted for rabies testing owing to human exposure in order to find potentially novel bat CoVs that may represent a concern to people.

21 Jan 2022

PAXLOVID shown to be highly effective against all SARS-CoV-2 variants

A recent study, currently available on bioRxiv* preprint server, shows that a novel protease inhibitor known as nirmatrelvir has potent activity against Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but also other variants evaluated in this paper – which supports its potential role in reducing the disease burden from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Jan 2022

Researchers explore furin inhibitors as a potential tool for treating COVID-19 infection

A new study suggests that coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 depend on a furin cleavage site between the S1/S2 subunits to enhance viral infectivity.

20 Jan 2022

Development of a glycoprotein multi-epitope subunit vaccine candidate against South-African SARS-CoV-2 strains

In a new study, scientists focused on the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant and used computational methods to design and develop effective glycoprotein multi-epitope subunit vaccine candidates, based on the old and the new Beta virus strains.

20 Jan 2022

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 and preventive strategies

A recent review article published in the journal Advanced Science reviewed the features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants. Using a physical and materials science perspective, the review also summarizes the most significant variants of SARS-CoV-2 encountered to date as well as possible preventive strategies.

19 Jan 2022

Exploring the interactions between multiple respiratory viruses

A recent report explores the dynamics of viral interference between various respiratory viruses in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

19 Jan 2022

Direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the kidney

Researchers infected human-induced pluripotent-stem-cell (iPSC)-derived kidney organoids with SARS-CoV-2 to study the virus's direct effect on the kidney.

18 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 interacts with heparan sulfate to activate the alternative pathway

A new study discusses the activation of the complement system to determine its role in COVID-19-related deaths.

17 Jan 2022

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 prompts NLRP3 inflammasome activation through spike-ACE2 receptor interaction

New research assesses the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation in response to SARS-CoV-2 and its spike protein, and the effects of this exposure in the presence of a-synuclein protein aggregate fibrils.

17 Jan 2022

Cannabinoids may prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2, including variants

A new study published in the Journal of Natural Products of the American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy has shown that isolated cannabinoids or those in hemp extracts have the potential to prevent and treat the infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) – primarily by blocking viral cell entry.

13 Jan 2022

A common cold may boost the immune system against COVID-19

A recent groundbreaking research paper published in the journal Nature Communications reveals the association of circulating SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells at exposure with lack of infection – implying the protective role for cross-reactive immune T cells in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and opening the door for second-generation vaccines that could circumvent spike-antibody immune escape variants.

11 Jan 2022

Exploring the kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 Marseille-4 variant

In a new study, researchers determined the nature and dynamics of mutations associated with the SARS-CoV-2 French Marseille-4 variant during 10 months from its onset, and concluded that the heterogenicity associated with a SARS-CoV-2 lineage can possibly predict the end of an outbreak.

11 Jan 2022

Mapping peripheral blood glycoprotein profiles of COVID-19 patients

A team of researchers recently analyzed differential protein glyco-isoform distributions of symptomatic and asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

11 Jan 2022