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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.

What do we know about the origin and evolution of SARS-CoV-2?

A new study examines the origin and continuing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the human and animal co-hosts in an attempt to help prepare for future destructive outbreaks.

21 Apr 2021

Researchers examine antiviral responses in children infected with COVID-19 in South Brazil

New research has been published that focuses on the characterization of innate and adaptive immune responses in adult patients with different degrees of severity and also in pediatric patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19. In this study, researchers have developed an immune profile in children to understand the difference in COVID-19 infection in children and adults.

21 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic underscores importance of understanding evolution of RNA genomes

The current COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), underscores the importance of understanding the evolution of ribonucleic acid (RNA) genomes.

21 Apr 2021

Antibody response induced by mRNA vaccination differs from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers tested the antibodies elicited from mRNA vaccination and compared them to those from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection. They found the vaccine did not have antibodies to the virus nucleocapsid protein but had potent RBD antibodies.

21 Apr 2021

Study identifies how SARS-CoV-2 enters and infects the brain

A recent preclinical study led by Anja Kipar of the University of Zurich and the University of Liverpool found evidence of the virus infecting and eventually provoking cell death in microglia and immune cells — but not neurons. The viral-induced apoptosis in these brain cells may explain why some long-haulers experience ‘brain fog’ months after recovery.

21 Apr 2021

Researchers study ways to improve pediatric heart transplant outcomes

Scientific research teams in California and Texas have been awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants to study ways to improve pediatric heart transplant outcomes.

21 Apr 2021

Chronic SARS-CoV-2 infections favor viral adaptation, says study

A new study offers a look at how to keep these hopes alive in the current context of highly infectious variants, which often display immune escape mutations.

20 Apr 2021

Limited SARS-CoV-2 spread in childcare centers, finds study

A new study adds to the sum of evidence that children do not play a key role in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen behind the current pandemic of COVID-19.

20 Apr 2021

Can fingerprick blood tests help evaluate antibody response and longevity against SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccination?

To monitor antibody level duration of vaccine-induced immune responses, a team of researchers in the U.S. – at Diacarta, University of California and VA Healthcare System, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville – evaluated the feasibility of using a single drop of fingerstick blood collected with flocked swabs for quantitative antibody response evaluation after COVID-19 vaccination.

20 Apr 2021

Could virosome-based nanovaccines be a promising new approach to preventing viral diseases?

A recent review in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules provides a novel overview of 'virosome'-based nanovaccine production, its properties, and its application in viral diseases, emphasizing its importance in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine discovery.

20 Apr 2021

Researchers reveal the effect of ultra-processed foods on skeleton development

A team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has proven the linkages between ultra-processed foods and reduced bone quality, unveiling the damage of these foods particularly for younger children in their developing years.

19 Apr 2021

Topical drug regenerates, restores function of erectile nerves damaged by radical prostatectomy

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have developed a topical drug that regenerates and restores the function of erectile nerves damaged by radical prostatectomy, the most common treatment for localized prostate cancer.

19 Apr 2021

Protein-coding gene may worsen tau protein tangles associated with Alzheimer's

In a new paper published in Nature Communications, Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators report the protein-coding gene SERPINA5 may worsen tau protein tangles, which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, and advance disease.

19 Apr 2021

Occurrence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater

Researchers review the utilities of wastewater epidemiology in assessing the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a given community as well as the risks of wastewater viral transmission.

19 Apr 2021

Researchers develop computational model to predict changes in SARS-CoV-2’s viral fitness

Two researchers from the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, Fabrizio Pucci and Marianne Rooman, recently built a simplified computational model, called SpikePro, to predict the SARS-CoV-2 fitness from the amino acid sequence and structure of the spike protein. This study focuses on the spike protein’s stability and the binding affinity to the host receptor.

19 Apr 2021

Could a tuna-derived protein inhibit SARS-CoV-2?

A recent study in the journal Food Chemistry draws attention to the need for finding nutritional supplements with potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibition effects in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

19 Apr 2021

Plant-derived compound isorhamnetin may have antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2

The lack of new or repurposed drugs to treat patients with severe or critical COVID-19 has been one of the biggest hurdles to reducing mortality rates in the ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. A new study describes the potential for the use of the plant molecule isorhamnetin in the management of this virus.

19 Apr 2021

New study sheds light on complex brain process that helps learn and form new memories

Making memories involves more than seeing friends or taking photos. The brain constantly adapts to new information and stores memories by building connections among neurons, called synapses. How neurons do this--reaching out arm-like dendrites to communicate with other neurons--requires a ballet of genes, signaling molecules, cellular scaffolding and protein-building machinery.

19 Apr 2021

Research looks at SARS-CoV-2 transmission from people to pets

A large team of researchers from the US demonstrated that pets with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) likely acquired the putative virus from humans. This suggests that human-animal infection may actually occur much more frequently than previously thought – implying that infected individuals should limit their contact with animals.

18 Apr 2021

Novel mRNA delivery vehicle provides alternative to LNPs for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

Researchers in the United States have developed an alternative messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery platform to the lipid nanoparticles that are currently used in vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

18 Apr 2021

RNA News and Research

Further Reading

What do we know about the origin and evolution of SARS-CoV-2?

Researchers examine antiviral responses in children infected with COVID-19 in South Brazil

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic underscores importance of understanding evolution of RNA genomes

Antibody response induced by mRNA vaccination differs from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection

Study identifies how SARS-CoV-2 enters and infects the brain

Researchers study ways to improve pediatric heart transplant outcomes

Chronic SARS-CoV-2 infections favor viral adaptation, says study

Limited SARS-CoV-2 spread in childcare centers, finds study

Can fingerprick blood tests help evaluate antibody response and longevity against SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccination?

Could virosome-based nanovaccines be a promising new approach to preventing viral diseases?

Researchers reveal the effect of ultra-processed foods on skeleton development

Topical drug regenerates, restores function of erectile nerves damaged by radical prostatectomy

Protein-coding gene may worsen tau protein tangles associated with Alzheimer's

Occurrence and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater

Researchers develop computational model to predict changes in SARS-CoV-2’s viral fitness

Could a tuna-derived protein inhibit SARS-CoV-2?

Plant-derived compound isorhamnetin may have antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2

New study sheds light on complex brain process that helps learn and form new memories

Research looks at SARS-CoV-2 transmission from people to pets

Novel mRNA delivery vehicle provides alternative to LNPs for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

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