immunity News and Research

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Study indicates that 2019-2020 flu season was driven by a new, more transmissible strain

The 2019-2020 flu season in the U.S. was unusual in a number of ways. Cases picked up in August rather than the more typical fall and early winter months, and it hit children particularly hard. It was also dominated early on by a Type B influenza virus instead of one of the much more common Type A viruses like H1N1 or H3N2.

5 Feb 2021

Zinc supplements can improve infertility issues during COVID-19 pandemic

Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers have reported that zinc supplements for men and women attempting to conceive either naturally or through assisted reproduction during the COVID-19 pandemic may prevent mitochondrial damage in young egg and sperm cells, as well as enhance immunity against the virus.

5 Feb 2021

Study: COVID-19 cases in India are nearly 95 times greater than reported

A new study, led by professors at the University of Chicago and Duke University, found that COVID-19 cases in the southern state of Karnataka, India, are nearly 95 times greater than reported.

5 Feb 2021

Study may lead to new therapeutic strategies to reduce allergic responses, inflammatory reactions

In order to fight pathogens, mast cells regulate inflammatory reactions of the immune system. Both mast cells and neutrophils are white blood cells and are critical for the body's immune defense.

5 Feb 2021

Alpaca nanobodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server reports the development of highly effective neutralizing nanobodies targeting the viral receptor-binding domain (RBD), thus disrupting its engagement with the host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor.

4 Feb 2021

SHREK proteins mediate broad spectrum antiviral host immunity, including against SARS-CoV-2

A new preprint posted to the bioRxiv server demonstrates that similar mucins and mucin-like proteins cannot only suppress HIV-1 infectivity via blockage of viral attachment to the host cells but can block infection by multiple enveloped viruses.

4 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 N501Y mutation adversely affects cellular immune response

Among these is the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant, with its characteristic N501Y mutation. A new preprint on the bioRxiv server reports the impact of this mutation on CD4 T cell responses, including antigen presentation on cells expressing Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II molecules.

4 Feb 2021

Study: Only 14% of the Bernese population developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

In the canton of Bern, only 14% of the adult population were infected with the coronavirus and developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

4 Feb 2021

COVID-19 vaccination alone may not end the pandemic

A simulation-based study conducted at the Miami University, USA, has revealed that vaccination of the general population against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) alone is not sufficient to control the pandemic, given the current availability and implementation strategies.

4 Feb 2021

Emory MVA COVID-19 vaccine proven safe and effective in mice and monkeys

Researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have developed a COVID-19 vaccine that has proven safe and effective in mice and monkeys.

4 Feb 2021

New study supports UK’s delay of the SARS-CoV-2 Pfizer vaccine second dose

After reanalyzing data from 500,000 people in Israel who received the Pfizer vaccine, researchers suggest a single dose provides sufficient immunity after about 21 days, thus providing support for the UK’s decision to delay the second dose to 12 weeks.

4 Feb 2021

Researchers develop thermostable RNA vaccine delivery platform

A new study describes the production of a new RNA vaccine delivery system that promises greater ease of storage and distribution. This could help boost vaccination rates in regions without adequate infrastructure for low-temperature storage.

4 Feb 2021

South African SARS-CoV-2 variant neutralized by two Chinese vaccines in case study

A new study offers some reassuring findings, reporting the successful neutralization of the South African SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) 501Y.V2 by two vaccines developed in China.

4 Feb 2021

Politicians must justify for mishandling COVID-19 pandemic, argues senior editor

Politicians around the world must be held to account for mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic, argues a senior editor at The BMJ today.

4 Feb 2021

Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 shown to have 91.6 percent efficacy

The phase 3 human trial is the last stage of clinical evaluation, showing how effective and safe a drug or vaccine is. In this case, the Gam- Sputnik V showed a consistent strong protective effect across all participant age groups.

3 Feb 2021

Survey finds 41% of United States residents unwilling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine

A cross-sectional online survey conducted by the scientists of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, has revealed that about 41% of US residents are unwilling to receive a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine due to concern over vaccine safety and efficacy. Moreover, there are sub-group variations in willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine

3 Feb 2021

Scientists receive award to explore how diet and metabolism influence the immune system

A pair of scientists from Van Andel Institute and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have been granted a three-year, $1.5 million Allen Distinguished Investigator award from The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, a division of the Allen Institute, to better understand how diet and metabolism influence the immune system's ability to fight off threats such as infections.

3 Feb 2021

Researchers engineer "Nanotraps" that block SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers at Chicago University have developed an innovative new anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapy called “Nanotraps” – a family of nano-enabled virus-trapping particles – which have shown positive results in vitro, in vivo, and in human ex vivo trials.

3 Feb 2021

100 million covid shots in 100 days doesn’t get us back to normal

April 30 will mark the end of the first 100 days of President Joe Biden's tenure. That's a benchmark presidents often set for making good on high-priority campaign promises.

3 Feb 2021

Researchers survey repurposed drugs that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro

A new study by researchers at the University of Manchester, UK, reports on the compounds of interest that were identified as having potential for the treatment of COVID-19, from a library of almost 2,000 compounds from the APExBIO DiscoveryProbe library.

3 Feb 2021

immunity News and Research

Study indicates that 2019-2020 flu season was driven by a new, more transmissible strain

Zinc supplements can improve infertility issues during COVID-19 pandemic

Study: COVID-19 cases in India are nearly 95 times greater than reported

Study may lead to new therapeutic strategies to reduce allergic responses, inflammatory reactions

Alpaca nanobodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

SHREK proteins mediate broad spectrum antiviral host immunity, including against SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 N501Y mutation adversely affects cellular immune response

Study: Only 14% of the Bernese population developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 vaccination alone may not end the pandemic

Emory MVA COVID-19 vaccine proven safe and effective in mice and monkeys

New study supports UK’s delay of the SARS-CoV-2 Pfizer vaccine second dose

Researchers develop thermostable RNA vaccine delivery platform

South African SARS-CoV-2 variant neutralized by two Chinese vaccines in case study

Politicians must justify for mishandling COVID-19 pandemic, argues senior editor

Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 shown to have 91.6 percent efficacy

Survey finds 41% of United States residents unwilling to receive a COVID-19 vaccine

Scientists receive award to explore how diet and metabolism influence the immune system

Researchers engineer "Nanotraps" that block SARS-CoV-2 infection

100 million covid shots in 100 days doesn’t get us back to normal

Researchers survey repurposed drugs that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro

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