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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.

How do people with post acute sequelae of COVID-19 react to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines?

A new study focuses on the impact of vaccines on the changes in the symptoms in the PASC group.

27 Jul 2021

Scientists identify an antiviral metabolite as a potential serum biomarker for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Scientists from the UK have recently identified an antiviral metabolite 3'-Deoxy-3',4'-didehydro-cytidine as a potential serum biomarker to diagnose active severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

27 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 interacts with unusual RNA structures in human cells

The study, published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, demonstrated that G4 ligands, the chemical that binds with G4s, prevent this interaction. The results could pave the way for developing inhibitors of these interactions as potential antiviral compounds.

26 Jul 2021

Mount Sinai researchers use cerebral organoids to study frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementias are a group of fatal and debilitating brain disorders for which there are no cures.

26 Jul 2021

Comprehensive genomic sequencing essential to capitalize precision medicine for pediatric cancer care

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have demonstrated that comprehensive genomic sequencing of all pediatric cancer patients is feasible and essential to capitalize on the lifesaving potential of precision medicine.

26 Jul 2021

Nasal swabs reveal muted antiviral response in patients who developed severe COVID-19

Over the past 18 months, researchers have learned much about COVID-19 and its viral cause, SARS-CoV-2. They know how the virus enters the body, coming in through the nose and mouth and beginning its infection in the mucus layers of the nasal passageway.

26 Jul 2021

Study compares mRNA and adenovirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against variants of concern

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Tada et al. (July 19th, 2021) the neutralizing capacity of antibodies generated by either messenger RNA (mRNA) or adenoviral vector-based vaccines against Beta, Delta, Delta plus, and Lambda variants are investigated, among others, highlighting the importance of continued SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance.

26 Jul 2021

Activation of integrins by SARS-CoV-2 may be key to infection

A new study describes the key role of membrane proteins called integrins, which are present in epithelia, in the entry and propagation of SARS-CoV-2.

25 Jul 2021

Researchers develop ovarian tumor microenvironment-chip to test novel ways to treat the disease

In the evolving field of cancer biology and treatment, innovations in organ-on-a-chip microdevices allow researchers to discover more about the disease outside the human body.

23 Jul 2021

Blunted antiviral responses in the nasopharynx may underlie severe COVID-19

The body's first encounter with SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, happens in the nose and throat, or nasopharynx. A new study in the journal Cell suggests that the first responses in this battleground help determine who will develop severe disease and who will get through with mild or no illness.

23 Jul 2021

Clinical trials during a pandemic – lessons from COVID-19

In this interview, Dr. Benedicte Roquebert, Dr. Stephanie Haim-Boukobza and Dr. Souad Mehlal discuss how COVID-19 has resulted in new ways to think about clinical trials during a pandemic.

From Cerba Research 23 Jul 2021

Cell-analysis method could pave the way for new vaccine strategies against tuberculosis

A new method that analyzes how individual immune cells react to the bacteria that cause tuberculosis could pave the way for new vaccine strategies against this deadly disease, and provide insights into fighting other infectious diseases around the world.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 reprograms host chromatic network to induce immune dysfunction

A recent study conducted at the University of Texas Science Center, Houston, in the USA, has revealed that upon infection, SARS-CoV-2 alters the host chromatin architecture to suppress antiviral interferon-responsive genes and augment inflammatory genes. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

22 Jul 2021

Antibiotics may be the new weapon to fight against melanoma

Some antibiotics appear to be effective against a form of skin cancer known as melanoma. Researchers at KU Leuven, Belgium, examined the effect of these antibiotics on patient-derived tumours in mice. Their findings were published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

22 Jul 2021

Finding most promising targets for pan-coronavirus drugs

Safe and effective vaccines offer hope for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the possible emergence of vaccine-resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as novel coronaviruses, make finding treatments that work against all coronaviruses as important as ever.

22 Jul 2021

Scientist explore conserved RNA elements as potential targets for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs

The study, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, identified many small molecules that bind to certain parts of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that are less likely altered by mutations using dedicated substance libraries. The scientists derived key functional units and groups in ligands for effective and safe targeting of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

22 Jul 2021

Two-dose regimen of mRNA vaccines provides protection against Alpha and Beta variants in France

Over the past six months, the World Health Organization has categorized four SARS-CoV-2 variants as being "of concern" because they are more transmissible or may escape the immune response.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 proteins manipulate autophagy

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has claimed more than 4.1 million lives worldwide. This pandemic is caused by a novel single-stranded RNA virus, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that was first reported in 2019 in Wuhan, China. The rapid spread of this virus is attributed to its high infectiousness and its ability to escape and counteract host immune responses, e.g., autophagy.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance identifies intricacies of stabilizing vs. destabilizing mutations

Some of these variants, known as variants of concern (VoC), have a much higher rate of transmission and increased mortality than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the efficacy of the available vaccines against the circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains. In addition, tracking the continuously evolving genetic variants is also vital to prevent future outbreaks.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by cats

Researchers in The Netherlands have warned that domestic cats may play a role in the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Jul 2021

RNA News and Research

Further Reading

How do people with post acute sequelae of COVID-19 react to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines?

Scientists identify an antiviral metabolite as a potential serum biomarker for SARS-CoV-2 infection

SARS-CoV-2 interacts with unusual RNA structures in human cells

Mount Sinai researchers use cerebral organoids to study frontotemporal dementia

Comprehensive genomic sequencing essential to capitalize precision medicine for pediatric cancer care

Nasal swabs reveal muted antiviral response in patients who developed severe COVID-19

Study compares mRNA and adenovirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against variants of concern

Activation of integrins by SARS-CoV-2 may be key to infection

Researchers develop ovarian tumor microenvironment-chip to test novel ways to treat the disease

Blunted antiviral responses in the nasopharynx may underlie severe COVID-19

Clinical trials during a pandemic – lessons from COVID-19

Cell-analysis method could pave the way for new vaccine strategies against tuberculosis

SARS-CoV-2 reprograms host chromatic network to induce immune dysfunction

Antibiotics may be the new weapon to fight against melanoma

Finding most promising targets for pan-coronavirus drugs

Scientist explore conserved RNA elements as potential targets for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs

Two-dose regimen of mRNA vaccines provides protection against Alpha and Beta variants in France

SARS-CoV-2 proteins manipulate autophagy

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance identifies intricacies of stabilizing vs. destabilizing mutations

SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by cats

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