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New study shows how the immune system relates to cancer

Three University of Colorado Cancer Center researchers are part of a team that recently published a paper offering new insight into how the immune system relates to cancer.

22 Mar 2021

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 offers less protection against South African SARS-CoV-2 variant

The results of a double-blind, randomized, multisite placebo-controlled trial that was conducted in South Africa show that Oxford’s ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine has no efficacy against the B.1.351 variant in preventing mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and shows reduced neutralization properties of developed antibodies. The findings are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

21 Mar 2021

Study maps structure and mechanism of a membrane enzyme that plays role in inflammation, cancer

Most drugs operate via the membranes that surround the body's cells. A study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has now mapped the structure and mechanism of MGST2, a membrane enzyme that, amongst other things, plays a part in chronic inflammation and cancer.

20 Mar 2021

Researchers describe a new approach to treating Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is the second most common, age-related, neurodegenerative disease: In Germany alone, about 300,000 people are affected and experience sometimes major limitations to their quality of life.

20 Mar 2021

Newly discovered enzyme on deadly fungus may be the key to fight fungal infection

Aspergillus fumigatus kills as many people as malaria and tuberculosis, but is less known. It is found "everywhere", for example in the soil or in our compost, but is not normally dangerous to healthy people.

20 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 spike stimulates hyperinflammation via Toll-like receptor 2

A new study, released on the bioRxiv* preprint server, describes the mechanism of inflammation in severe COVID-19, besides revealing a potential new therapeutic target to modulate the severity of COVID-19.

19 Mar 2021

Study shows how ACE2 mutations influence SARS-CoV-2 spike binding in humans and animals

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison aimed to better understand how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with various mammalian angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. This way, they can identify the factors that influence intra- and cross-species virus transmission.

18 Mar 2021

Engineering immunogens to focus immune response to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers have designed constructs by adding more glycans and adding the receptor-binding motif from related sarbecoviruses to focus the immune response to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding motif. Such immunogens could potentially also neutralize other variants and coronaviruses.

18 Mar 2021

Identifying druggable targets on an essential SARS-CoV-2 protein

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Newman et al. (March 15th, 2021) the structure and role of one such protein: NSP13, is investigated, with two appealingly druggable targets being identified, possibly opening a new route towards a novel SARS-CoV-2 antiviral agent.

18 Mar 2021

Researchers identify inflammatory mechanism related to bone damage in rheumatoid arthritis

In a study aimed at investigating the mechanism responsible for exacerbating rheumatoid arthritis in smokers, researchers at the Center for Research on Inflammatory Diseases, linked to the University of São Paulo in Brazil, discovered a novel path in the inflammatory process associated with the bone damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

18 Mar 2021

Scientists explore structure of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain with G485R mutation

Researchers at the Bio21 Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, studied the structure of a SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) with a G485R mutation. This mutation is a residue and not directly involved in interactions with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) residues but found in the Β1´/Β2' loop region.

18 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants with E484K mutation show mRNA vaccine-induced antibody evasion

A recent study found that the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine had limited efficacy in identifying mutated receptor-binding domains (RBDs) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein similar to the B.1.351 and P.1 variants.

18 Mar 2021

How resistant is the SARS-CoV-2 Brazilian variant to antibodies?

Researchers based at the University of Oxford, UK, have shown that the P.1 Brazilian variant of SARS-CoV-2 is less resistant to natural or vaccine acquired antibody responses than the B.1.351, South African, variant, despite sharing convergent mutations.

18 Mar 2021

New way to enhance treatment outcomes for breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the second most common cancer overall. Although it can now be treated with drugs, many of these drugs mysteriously stop working after some time, causing a relapse.

18 Mar 2021

The role of S-acylation in the enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity

A new study published on the bioRxiv server focuses on the role of S-acylation in the SARS-CoV-2 infection cycle. It has also characterized Spike acylation and has also identified other acylated viral proteins and host enzymes involved in the process of infection. Further, it has also revealed the importance of acylation in viral biogenesis and infection.

18 Mar 2021

Two mouthwashes disrupt COVID-19 virus under laboratory conditions

Researchers at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine have found evidence that two types of mouthwash disrupt the COVID-19 virus under laboratory conditions, preventing it from replicating in a human cell.

17 Mar 2021

Researchers explore difference in reactions to SARS-CoV-2 infection between children and adults

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 2.67 million lives in less than a year and a half. However, it is uncommon in children, with less than 2% of the cases being in individuals below the age of 19. Most of these are of mild severity, with the clinical features of severe COVID-19 being rare in this age group.

17 Mar 2021

New research proposes innovative antibody-based treatment to prevent SARS-CoV-2 viral entry

A brief report by researchers at the University of Virginia, USA, proposes using an antibody-based treatment with a plug-and-play strategy to inhibit the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to invade human cells.

17 Mar 2021

Study: Reduced activity of specific enzyme leads to much higher cancer rates

In the past few years, several medications have been found to be contaminated with NDMA, a probable carcinogen. This chemical, which has also been found at Superfund sites and in some cases has spread to drinking water supplies, causes DNA damage that can lead to cancer.

17 Mar 2021

Study investigates activity of enzymes immobilized on gold nanoparticles controlled by infrared laser irradiation

The activity of enzymes in industrial processes, laboratories, and living beings can be remotely controlled using light. This requires their immobilization on the surface of nanoparticles and irradiation with a laser. Near-infrared light can penetrate living tissue without damaging it.

17 Mar 2021

Enzyme News and Research

New study shows how the immune system relates to cancer

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 offers less protection against South African SARS-CoV-2 variant

Study maps structure and mechanism of a membrane enzyme that plays role in inflammation, cancer

Researchers describe a new approach to treating Parkinson's disease

Newly discovered enzyme on deadly fungus may be the key to fight fungal infection

SARS-CoV-2 spike stimulates hyperinflammation via Toll-like receptor 2

Study shows how ACE2 mutations influence SARS-CoV-2 spike binding in humans and animals

Engineering immunogens to focus immune response to SARS-CoV-2

Identifying druggable targets on an essential SARS-CoV-2 protein

Researchers identify inflammatory mechanism related to bone damage in rheumatoid arthritis

Scientists explore structure of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain with G485R mutation

SARS-CoV-2 variants with E484K mutation show mRNA vaccine-induced antibody evasion

How resistant is the SARS-CoV-2 Brazilian variant to antibodies?

New way to enhance treatment outcomes for breast cancer

The role of S-acylation in the enhancement of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity

Two mouthwashes disrupt COVID-19 virus under laboratory conditions

Researchers explore difference in reactions to SARS-CoV-2 infection between children and adults

New research proposes innovative antibody-based treatment to prevent SARS-CoV-2 viral entry

Study: Reduced activity of specific enzyme leads to much higher cancer rates

Study investigates activity of enzymes immobilized on gold nanoparticles controlled by infrared laser irradiation

Understanding the DNA Damage Response in Innate Immunity eBook

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Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition)

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