RNA News and Research

RSS

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.

Breakthrough method for tracking mRNA molecules with fluorescence

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have succeeded in developing a method to label mRNA molecules, and thereby follow, in real time, their path through cells, using a microscope - without affecting their properties or subsequent activity.

30 Jun 2021

Solar irradiation inactivates SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses, finds study

Coronaviruses irradiated with simulated sunlight used to infect cells showed reduced infectivity and reduced viral replication compared to viruses that were not irradiated.

30 Jun 2021

Effectively monitoring COVID-19 in reopened educational institutions: the San Diego model

An interesting new study from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) shows that using preventive measures to block viral transmission, coupled with repeated testing and rapid turnaround times for the results, can successfully prevent outbreaks associated with the reopening of educational institutions.

30 Jun 2021

Is mild COVID-19 in children due to stronger antiviral innate immunity in the upper airway?

A new preprint on the medRxiv* server adds fuel to this train of thought, showing that the required cell program is already active in children – namely, a higher expression of specific pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which mediate an interferon (IFN) response.

30 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 inhibited by pyrimidine biosynthesis inhibitors in conjunction with nucleoside analogs

In an effort to hasten the research on identifying antiviral drugs for SARS-CoV-2 infection, researchers from the U.S. and Switzerland performed extensive drug screening for antiviral activity using live virus infection in human respiratory cells. As a result, they identified a set of possible drug candidates that could potentially be tested in clinical trials.

30 Jun 2021

New method to transport RNA-based drugs to subpopulation of immune cells

Tel Aviv University's groundbreaking technology may revolutionize the treatment of cancer and a wide range of diseases and medical conditions. In the framework of this study, the researchers were able to create a new method of transporting RNA-based drugs to a subpopulation of immune cells involved in the inflammation process, and target the disease-inflamed cell without causing damage to other cells.

30 Jun 2021

Researchers identify key protein that allows cancer-destroying viruses to enter tumor cells

Researchers from the Laboratory of Oncolytic-Virus-Immuno-Therapeutics (LOVIT) at the LIH Department of Oncology (DONC) are working on the development of novel anticancer strategies based on oncolytic viruses, "good" viruses that can specifically infect, replicate in and kill cancer cells.

30 Jun 2021

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections fewer among fully vaccinated

A team of researchers at Indiana University reports genomic evidence of breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated individuals. The study, posted to the pre-print server medRxiv*, suggests that fully vaccinated individuals, including those with asymptomatic infections, are less likely to serve as a source of infection for others.

30 Jun 2021

New components for oligonucleotide drugs show safety, efficacy in treating spinal muscular atrophy

Skoltech researchers and their colleagues from Russia and the UK investigated the safety and efficacy of new chemistry in antisense oligonucleotides used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a debilitating genetic disease.

29 Jun 2021

New study investigates alternative ways to prevent, treat kidney infections

Ten IU School of Medicine researchers out of a team of 11 scientists, are responsible for the findings of a new study they conducted to investigate alternative ways to treat kidney infections.

29 Jun 2021

Research shines new light on deadly medulloblastoma metastases

With advances in medical science driving progress against childhood brain tumors, today three out of four young patients survive at least five years beyond diagnosis. However, the outcomes look grim when malignant cells spread, or metastasize.

29 Jun 2021

The technology behind face masks that can diagnose COVID-19

Researchers have recently incorporated technology into standard face masks to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2.

29 Jun 2021

Nanotechnology and the fight against COVID-19

In a review paper published in the open-access MDPI journal Viruses, a team of researchers explored the potential of nanotechnology to alleviate the current and future coronavirus burden. The team focused on its potential role in the detection, diagnosis, protection, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

29 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 test in 20 minutes with FISH

A collaboration from the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick has led to research into a novel method of viral detection through rapid fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in order to effectively detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus within 20 minutes.

29 Jun 2021

Differences in monocyte subsets between severe COVID-19 and long COVID

Researchers in the United States and Costa Rica have identified differences in the proportions of monocyte subsets that occur in severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), often referred to as “Long COVID”.

28 Jun 2021

UIC researchers offer free rapid diagnostic testing for COVID-19 in vulnerable Chicago communities

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago are offering free rapid diagnostic testing for COVID-19 in vulnerable Chicago communities and performing genomic sequencing on the samples to identify variants.

28 Jun 2021

Novel face mask can diagnose Covid-19 in 90 minutes

Engineers at MIT and Harvard University have designed a novel face mask that can diagnose the wearer with Covid-19 within about 90 minutes. The masks are embedded with tiny, disposable sensors that can be fitted into other face masks and could also be adapted to detect other viruses.

28 Jun 2021

Study finds minimal SARS-CoV-2 viral load in vaginal secretions

The virus has also been observed to be present in blood, urine, feces, and tears, though not in semen. Vaginal secretions have not been consistently shown to be positive for the virus in most studies. The authors of a new study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine affirm that the presence of the virus in the vagina is rare, irrespective of pregnancy.

28 Jun 2021

Could microalgae-derived antiviral compounds combat SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses?

A new review article published in the journal Antibiotics reports the presence of a large number of bioactive compounds in microalgae that target chemical structures present only in their structure.

28 Jun 2021

Mutation-signature–associated metrics predict cancer progression in patients

Oncotarget published "Predicting clinical outcomes using cancer progression associated signatures" which reported somatic mutation signatures are an informative facet of cancer etiology, however they are rarely useful for predicting patient outcome.

28 Jun 2021

RNA News and Research

Further Reading

Breakthrough method for tracking mRNA molecules with fluorescence

Solar irradiation inactivates SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses, finds study

Effectively monitoring COVID-19 in reopened educational institutions: the San Diego model

Is mild COVID-19 in children due to stronger antiviral innate immunity in the upper airway?

SARS-CoV-2 inhibited by pyrimidine biosynthesis inhibitors in conjunction with nucleoside analogs

New method to transport RNA-based drugs to subpopulation of immune cells

Researchers identify key protein that allows cancer-destroying viruses to enter tumor cells

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections fewer among fully vaccinated

New components for oligonucleotide drugs show safety, efficacy in treating spinal muscular atrophy

New study investigates alternative ways to prevent, treat kidney infections

Research shines new light on deadly medulloblastoma metastases

The technology behind face masks that can diagnose COVID-19

Nanotechnology and the fight against COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 test in 20 minutes with FISH

Differences in monocyte subsets between severe COVID-19 and long COVID

UIC researchers offer free rapid diagnostic testing for COVID-19 in vulnerable Chicago communities

Novel face mask can diagnose Covid-19 in 90 minutes

Study finds minimal SARS-CoV-2 viral load in vaginal secretions

Could microalgae-derived antiviral compounds combat SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses?

Mutation-signature–associated metrics predict cancer progression in patients

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition) eBook

Latest eBooks

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (3rd edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Microbiome (1st edition)

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition)

Advancing degrader and proximity-based drug development

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo