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Immune escape by SARS-CoV-2 mutations acquired in mink

A new study, published in Cell Reports, suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may have acquired such immune evasion mutations during its transmission in farmed mink.

21 Apr 2021

Researchers explore cost-effective identification method for novel SARS-CoV-2 variants

In a new study, a rapid and cost-effective method of detecting known variants of concern has been developed utilizing capillary electrophoresis, allowing local facilities to screen for and track SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and implement reactionary procedures.

21 Apr 2021

Antibody response induced by mRNA vaccination differs from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers tested the antibodies elicited from mRNA vaccination and compared them to those from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. They found the vaccine did not have antibodies to the virus nucleocapsid protein but had potent RBD antibodies.

21 Apr 2021

Researchers identify the cause of severe canine juvenile epilepsy

In a study conducted at the University of Helsinki, researchers found a cause for severe epilepsy resulting in death in Parson Russell Terrier puppies at a few months of age. A change in the PITRM1 gene can lead to a dysfunction of mitochondria, the cellular energy pumps.

21 Apr 2021

Inhibition of Meprin Β enzyme can trigger the development of Alzheimer's disease, cancer

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany and the Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona in Spain have discovered how the blood plasma protein fetuin-B binds to the enzyme meprin β and used a computer model to visualize their findings.

21 Apr 2021

Can an immunosuppressive cancer drug promote SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells?

A new study shows that rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug used in some cancers, and its analogs, may have an undesirable effect on viral entry into the host cells. This finding could inform their use to treat symptomatic COVID-19.

20 Apr 2021

Humoral immunity developed by DNA vaccine INO-4800 is effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants

A team of international scientists recently demonstrated that antibodies generated in response to the DNA vaccine INO-4800 can effectively neutralize some of the recently emerged variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), such as G614, 501Y.V1, and 501Y.V2.

20 Apr 2021

Can fingerprick blood tests help evaluate antibody response and longevity against SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccination?

To monitor antibody level duration of vaccine-induced immune responses, a team of researchers in the U.S. – at Diacarta, University of California and VA Healthcare System, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville – evaluated the feasibility of using a single drop of fingerstick blood collected with flocked swabs for quantitative antibody response evaluation after COVID-19 vaccination.

20 Apr 2021

Screening drug candidates for COVID-19 treatment using computational methods

Researchers identified two potential drug candidates that can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Their combination can work synergistically and increase their inhibitory effect.

19 Apr 2021

Topical drug regenerates, restores function of erectile nerves damaged by radical prostatectomy

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a topical drug that regenerates and restores the function of erectile nerves damaged by radical prostatectomy, the most common treatment for localized prostate cancer.

19 Apr 2021

Gene therapy for common forms of congenital blindness shows promise to improve vision

A new gene therapy for one of the most common forms of congenital blindness was safe and improved patients' vision, according to initial data from a clinical trial led by researchers at the Scheie Eye Institute in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

19 Apr 2021

Researchers reveal long-term kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patient sera

A team of scientists in Germany recently evaluated the specificities and sensitivities of different serological assays for detecting antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

19 Apr 2021

Could a tuna-derived protein inhibit SARS-CoV-2?

A recent study in the journal Food Chemistry draws attention to the need for finding nutritional supplements with potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibition effects in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

19 Apr 2021

Plant-derived compound isorhamnetin may have antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2

The lack of new or repurposed drugs to treat patients with severe or critical COVID-19 has been one of the biggest hurdles to reducing mortality rates in the ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. A new study describes the potential for the use of the plant molecule isorhamnetin in the management of this virus.

19 Apr 2021

Humans versus viruses - Can we avoid extinction in near future?

Expert argues that human-caused changes to the environment can lead to the emergence of pathogens, not only from outside but also from our own microbiome, which can pave the way for large-scale destruction of humans and even our extinction.

19 Apr 2021

Novel mRNA delivery vehicle provides alternative to LNPs for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

Researchers in the United States have developed an alternative messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery platform to the lipid nanoparticles that are currently used in vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

18 Apr 2021

Novel CRISPR-based technology may lead to powerful epigenetic therapies

Scientists have figured out how to modify CRISPR's basic architecture to extend its reach beyond the genome and into what's known as the epigenome -- proteins and small molecules that latch onto DNA and control when and where genes are switched on or off.

17 Apr 2021

Past COVID-19 infection does not completely protect against reinfection in young people

Although antibodies induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection are largely protective, they do not completely protect against reinfection in young people, as evidenced through a longitudinal, prospective study of more than 3,000 young, healthy members of the US Marines Corps conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Naval Medical Research Center, published April 15 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

17 Apr 2021

Numerous agents with anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential discovered with crystallographic screening

An international team of researchers focused on the macrodomain part of the non-structural protein 3 (Nsp3) gene product that SARS-CoV-2 uses to overturn the host cell’s natural antiviral response. The team provided a template that can help develop novel antivirals that are direct-acting and can combat the current pandemic.

16 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can alter bone marrow macrophage (BMM)-to-osteoclast differentiation, study finds

Now, a team of researchers in China and Australia has shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection can affect bone marrow macrophage (BMM)-to-osteoclast differentiation, which may impact the skeletal system.

16 Apr 2021

Enzyme News and Research

Immune escape by SARS-CoV-2 mutations acquired in mink

Researchers explore cost-effective identification method for novel SARS-CoV-2 variants

Antibody response induced by mRNA vaccination differs from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers identify the cause of severe canine juvenile epilepsy

Inhibition of Meprin Β enzyme can trigger the development of Alzheimer's disease, cancer

Can an immunosuppressive cancer drug promote SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells?

Humoral immunity developed by DNA vaccine INO-4800 is effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Can fingerprick blood tests help evaluate antibody response and longevity against SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccination?

Screening drug candidates for COVID-19 treatment using computational methods

Topical drug regenerates, restores function of erectile nerves damaged by radical prostatectomy

Gene therapy for common forms of congenital blindness shows promise to improve vision

Researchers reveal long-term kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patient sera

Could a tuna-derived protein inhibit SARS-CoV-2?

Plant-derived compound isorhamnetin may have antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2

Humans versus viruses - Can we avoid extinction in near future?

Novel mRNA delivery vehicle provides alternative to LNPs for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

Novel CRISPR-based technology may lead to powerful epigenetic therapies

Past COVID-19 infection does not completely protect against reinfection in young people

Numerous agents with anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential discovered with crystallographic screening

SARS-CoV-2 can alter bone marrow macrophage (BMM)-to-osteoclast differentiation, study finds

Measuring Drug-Target Residence Times with Biochemical Assays eBook

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