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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.

Non-invasive breathing support to treat COVID-19 does not pose higher risk of infection

New research has found that the use of non-invasive breathing support to treat moderate to severe COVID-19 infection, isn’t linked to a heightened infection risk, as currently thought.

9 Nov 2021

Discovery of potent neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

In a recent study, the researchers identify and characterize mAbs that are effective against the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 strain and B.1.351 variant.

8 Nov 2021

Hemin as a potential therapy for COVID-19

The current study explores the antiviral activity of HO-1 induced by hemin against SARS-CoV-2 and attempts to describe the mechanism of its anti-viral action.

8 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 deletions affect protein stability and translation inhibition

A new study discusses the purification of various Nsp1 proteins isolated from several mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2.

8 Nov 2021

What are the anti-COVID drugs currently in development?

The first antiviral drugs effective against COVID-19 were recently approved in the UK and USA. A researcher from the Laboratory of Gene Technology has been exploring what we know so far.

8 Nov 2021

Study finds SARS-CoV-2 infection of endothelial cells unlikely

Researchers from the University of Queensland have investigated whether infection of endothelial cells with SARS-CoV-2 is possible.

8 Nov 2021

Identification of a candidate effector gene at COVID-19 risk locus

A new study focuses on developing a comprehensive platform to decode the effects of sequence variation identified by GWAS.

8 Nov 2021

A review of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests for COVID-19

Scientists conducted a systematic review of the use cases and performance of Ag-RDTs for detecting SARS-CoV-2.

8 Nov 2021

Researchers explain why decaying SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in blood are not a problem after vaccination

A new study published in the preprint bioRxiv* server suggests vaccination helps to inflate the number of somatic hypermutations acquired by B cells. The increase in somatic hypermutations allows for an accumulation of highly matured bone marrow plasma cells.

8 Nov 2021

Highly-sensitive PCR-based method to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants

A team of UK-based scientists has recently developed an allele-specific probe polymerase chain reaction method that can accurately detect different variants/lineages of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in respiratory samples. Furthermore, the method can detect viral variants even in samples with low viral RNA or degraded viral RNA. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

7 Nov 2021

Pacific oyster as a weapon against SARS-CoV-2

According to an article published in the journal Reviews in Medical Virology, the effectiveness of mollusc-derived antiviral agents has been proven in many different laboratory and animal studies, while its efficacy against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has also been proposed by recent in silico studies.

7 Nov 2021

New data points to major SARS-CoV-2 animal reservoir in deer in Iowa

A new study tests the hypothesis that white-tailed deer are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

7 Nov 2021

Fast evolution of SARS-CoV-2 driven by extensive RNA deamination by host cells

A new study proposed that the RNA structure and the genome component may serve as an important basis of different deamination spectrums in SARS-CoV-2.

7 Nov 2021

Oral SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor for therapeutic use

A new study describes a new small molecule compound that has shown impressive safety, tolerability, and bioavailability against SARS-CoV-2.

7 Nov 2021

Study identifies RNA molecule that suppresses prostate tumors

Many patients with prostate cancer are treated with drugs that lower or block hormones that fuel tumor growth. While the drugs are effective for a time, most patients eventually develop resistance to these therapies.

6 Nov 2021

New type of COVID vaccine potentially easier to produce and does not need refrigeration

Currently available COVID vaccines require cold storage and sophisticated manufacturing capacity, which makes it difficult to produce and distribute them widely, especially in less developed countries.

6 Nov 2021

Scientists create a rapid diagnostic technology to detect SARS-CoV-2

Blending experts from molecular genetics, chemistry and health sciences, researchers at the University of California San Diego have created a rapid diagnostic technology that detects SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

6 Nov 2021

Researchers use suction method to deliver SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine in lab tests

Rutgers researchers studying COVID-19 have created a new way to deliver DNA molecules into skin cells, using a suction technique similar to the ancient healing practice of cupping.

6 Nov 2021

Study uncovers a process in cells that may limit infectivity of SARS-CoV-2

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have found that a process in cells may limit infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, and that mutations in the alpha and delta variants overcome this effect, potentially boosting the virus's ability to spread.

6 Nov 2021