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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.

COVID-19 patient with repeatedly undetectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

A recent case study published in the Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine in August 2020 illustrates this with its finding of persistent seronegativity in a patient confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2 positive.

10 Aug 2020

DHODH inhibitor PTC299 shows potential as a COVID-19 therapeutic

As COVID-19 continues to take a heavy toll on human health and life in many parts of the world, there is still no effective antiviral drug or vaccine. This has fueled an intensive search for small molecules and proteins that can inhibit viral entry and replication.

10 Aug 2020

UTHSC professor recognized for contributions to pioneering cancer genomic research

Neil Hayes, MD, MS, MPH, division chief of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, is among recipients of the 2020 Team Science Awards from the American Association for Cancer Research for his contributions to developing The Cancer Genome Atlas, a groundbreaking multisite project to understand cancer at its molecular level through genome sequencing and extensive data analysis.

7 Aug 2020

FDA approves first oral drug for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Evrysdi (risdiplam) to treat patients two months of age and older with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare and often fatal genetic disease affecting muscle strength and movement.

7 Aug 2020

Scientists find new way of identifying and targeting hidden HIV viral reservoirs during ART therapy

Scientists at The Wistar Institute may have discovered a new way of identifying and targeting hidden HIV viral reservoirs during treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART).

7 Aug 2020

New approach improves SCA1 symptoms in animal models

Research has shown that a mutation in the ATAXIN-1 gene leads to accumulation of Ataxin-1 (ATXN1) protein in brain cells and is the root cause of a rare genetic neurodegenerative disease known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1).

7 Aug 2020

NSD2 enzyme protects against cellular senescence

Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have used comprehensive genetic analysis to find that the enzyme NSD2, which is known to regulate the actions of many genes, also works to block cell aging.

7 Aug 2020

Coronavirus-specific structure in cells may lead to new antiviral strategies

By visualizing coronavirus replication in an infected host cell, researchers may have answered a long-standing question about how newly synthesized coronavirus components are able to be incorporated into fully infectious viruses.

7 Aug 2020

Immune system derails during severe course of COVID-19

Contrary to what has been generally assumed so far, a severe course of COVID-19 does not solely result in a strong immune reaction - rather, the immune response is caught in a continuous loop of activation and inhibition.

6 Aug 2020

A new method to diagnose brain tumors without any incisions

Brain tumors are typically diagnosed using MRI imaging, as taking a sample for a tissue biopsy is risky and may not be possible due to tumor location or a patient's poor health conditions.

6 Aug 2020

Carefully engineered spike protein can help develop COVID-19 vaccine

The experimental vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 that was the first to enter human trials in the United States has been shown to elicit neutralizing antibodies and a helpful T-cell response with the aid of a carefully engineered spike protein that mimics the infection-spreading part of the virus.

6 Aug 2020

Cats susceptible to and potential reservoirs for novel coronavirus

The study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in August 2020 shows that this is indeed taking place, with pet cats being infected and passing on the infection to contacts. It also offers the chance to see how the disease progresses in a susceptible host.

6 Aug 2020

Fast, cheap and easy COVID-19 test from Yale

As a result, a new study by Yale University researchers and published on the preprint server medRxiv in August 2020 shows that a new saliva test named SalivaDirect simplifies the test approach, avoids invasive samples collection, and the need for trained personnel to collect specimens.

6 Aug 2020

Researchers investigate why irregular heartbeats occur after stem cell transplantation

Stem cells are heavily studied around the world with the hope to revive damaged body parts unable to regenerate itself. Injured heart muscles are one of these areas which remain impaired in adults who have experienced heart attacks.

5 Aug 2020

Study provides new insights into how ovarian cancer grows and evolves

In a paper published in the journal Cancer Research, professor Levi Waldron, post-doctoral fellow Ludwig Geistlinger, and colleagues at the Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy) provide new insights into how ovarian cancer grows and evolves within a person.

5 Aug 2020

Study provides comprehensive update on ACE2 enzyme with key role in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers at Uppsala University have described the presence, throughout the human body, of the enzyme ACE2.

5 Aug 2020

Study: Inhibition of TLK protein stimulates the innate immune system

Tousled-like kinases (TLKs) are a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment due to their central role in DNA repair and replication.

5 Aug 2020

New UK supply contract for COVID-19 sample collection kits

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc, the AIM listed point-of-care business, announces that it has received an initial order worth £3 m from a partner from the private sector to supply PrimeStore MTM, a novel patented sample collection device, to be used in a COVID-19 testing programme for UK staff.

From EKF Diagnostics 5 Aug 2020

Launching a rapid test for COVID-19

Professor Zhanfeng Cui from the University of Oxford speaks to News-Medical about his research into COVID-19, and how he developed a rapid COVID-19 test.

5 Aug 2020

Embryos are susceptible to COVID-19 if mothers get sick, indicates study

Genes that are thought to play a role in how the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects our cells have been found to be active in embryos as early as during the second week of pregnancy, say scientists at the University of Cambridge and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

5 Aug 2020