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Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in Norwegian fitness centers

Researchers from the University of Oslo oversaw a trial in Norway in which several fitness centers were allowed to open.

22 Nov 2021

COVID-19 multistate outbreak associated with large public gatherings

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control have investigated a case in Massachusetts that showed a high proportion of vaccine breakthrough infections.

22 Nov 2021

Bioinformatics analysis identifies pathways involved in intestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers recently used bioinformatics analysis techniques to explore the diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in the human digestive tract.

22 Nov 2021

Researchers identify mechanism behind regulation of large exon splicing during vertebrate evolution

In vertebrates, large exons often skip splicing events and are evolutionarily conserved. Scientists from Nagoya University, Japan, led by Associate Professor Akio Masuda, have recently identified the mechanism behind regulated splicing of large constitutive exons which are rich in disordered regions, and their potential involvement in the assembly of transcription factors.

21 Nov 2021

Importance of cross-neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new study published in the journal mBio investigates different antibodies from convalescent donors that bind three separate domains of the SARS-CoV-2 spike. The results of this study suggest that the individuals exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 from the first wave have neutralizing antibodies against current variants.

21 Nov 2021

Sheep at low-risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2

A team of scientists from the US has recently evaluated the susceptibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in sheep. The findings reveal that sheep are generally less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the susceptibility is relatively higher for the alpha variant of the virus. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server.

21 Nov 2021

Study explores connections between COVID-19 severity and gene expression in immune cells

New research shows how genetic variations linked to severe cases of COVID-19 affect our immune cells.

21 Nov 2021

MIT researchers uncover a possible new way to combat tumors

Under the right circumstances, the body's T cells can detect and destroy cancer cells. However, in most cancer patients, T cells become disarmed once they enter the environment surrounding a tumor.

21 Nov 2021

Novel technique solves structure of the HIV capsid alone and in complex with host factors

A new technique using electron tomography and subtomogram averaging at Diamond's electron Bio-Imaging Centre (eBIC), has solved the structure of the HIV capsid alone and in complex with host factors.

21 Nov 2021

Comparing effectiveness of virus and patients-centered strategies to reduce COVID-19 mortality

Researchers from Sorbonne Université have been reviewing papers exploring different anti-COVID-19 drugs.

19 Nov 2021

First long-acting injectable HIV treatment appraised and approved by NICE

ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc, with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, is pleased to announce that eligible people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in England and Wales will soon have routine access to Vocabria (cabotegravir long-acting injection) developed by ViiV Healthcare in combination with Rekambys (rilpivirine long-acting injection), developed by Janssen Sciences Ireland UC (Janssen), one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

19 Nov 2021

Viral biomolecular condensation

A review published in PLOS Pathogens deconstructs virus condensation and provides a biochemical background for LLPS.

19 Nov 2021

Severe COVID-19 patients have significantly higher NK and T cell frequency

A new study published in the open-access journal Cells aimed to clarify the role of NK and T cell subsets in SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized COVID-19 patients to unravel their potential association with disease severity.

18 Nov 2021

Air filter and floor sampling to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in schools

A study recently published on the medRxiv* preprint server observed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in five schools (96 classrooms) in Davis, California (USA), by collecting weekly surface-swab samples from classroom floors and/or portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) units.

18 Nov 2021

New insights on the link between CRISPR, p53 gene and mutated cancer cells

A protein that protects cells from DNA damage, p53, is activated during gene editing using the CRISPR technique.

18 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection in farmed mink

A new study finds that farmed mink acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection, freely transmit it among themselves, and were reinfected, despite being seropositive.

18 Nov 2021

Toll-like receptor 2 - novel target for improved COVID-19 vaccines

In a new study, researchers from French and American institutes analyzed at a molecular level the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 E protein and human TLR2.

17 Nov 2021

Study shows neutralizing capacity of monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Canadian public health researchers recently published a study in the journal Antiviral Research wherein they described generating a panel of murine hybridomas recognizing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein or nucleoprotein, capable of neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, proving their therapeutic potential.

17 Nov 2021

The antiviral function of BET protein against SARS-CoV-2 infection

Considering the past shreds of evidence on BRD2 and BRD4 associated with viral infections, researchers have recently evaluated the function of all relevant BET proteins during COVID-19 infection.

17 Nov 2021