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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.

Study exposes human olfactory and brain cells as genuine viral targets of SARS-CoV-2

In a study published in the iScience journal, a research group from Switzerland shows that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptors and entry genes are expressed in the human olfactory neuroepithelial cells and brain by observing key molecular players implicated in the infectious process

29 Nov 2020

SARS-CoV-2 launches multipronged attack against host cell protein synthesis, study finds

An interesting new study throws a flood of light on how SARS-CoV-2 accomplishes its mission to infect and replicate within host cells while evading the host immune response.

27 Nov 2020

Monoclonal antibody HB27 shows potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2

A new study reports a very promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody, HB27, that appears to have two distinct mechanisms of action inhibiting the virus-host cell interaction and subsequent infection.

27 Nov 2020

‘Molecular clock’ blood test could help identify actively growing tumors in metastatic breast cancer

A blood test to watch breast cancer’s ‘molecular clock’ could help track the growth of multiple tumors around the body and monitor how they are responding to treatment, new research suggests.

27 Nov 2020

HIV alters SARS-CoV-2 immune response without affecting COVID-19 symptoms or outcomes

In a preprint paper published on the medRxiv server, a team of researchers from various institutions in South Africa, the UK, and Europe discuss how they determined the impact of HIV on the COVID-19 immune response in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which is an area with very high HIV prevalence.

26 Nov 2020

Novel cannabis plant extracts could protect against COVID-19

Researchers in Canada have conducted a study suggesting that novel Cannabis sativa extracts may decrease levels of the host cell receptor that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses to gain viral entry to target tissues.

26 Nov 2020

Transgenic mouse model could recapitulate severe COVID-19 in humans

Researchers in the United States and Canada have described the potential for a transgenic mouse model to serve as an effective platform for the study of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and severe disease course in humans.

26 Nov 2020

Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 mutations do not significantly increase transmissibility, says study

A team of researchers at the Genetics Institute, University College London, tested whether any homoplasies observed in SARS-Cov-2 to date are significantly linked to increased viral transmission.

26 Nov 2020

Researchers develop synthetic defective SARS-CoV-2 genome that inhibits viral replication

A shorter genome comprising only a part of the SARS-CoV-2's RNA genome competes with the normal virus for growth and can potentially prevent viral replication.

26 Nov 2020

Antihypertensive drugs may reduce COVID-19 mortality in at-risk patients

A new multicenter study that recently appeared on the medRxiv* preprint server in November 2020 has found a lower or equal risk of fatal COVID-19 in hypertensive patients, depending on the type of medication they are on.

26 Nov 2020

Phycobilins found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 enzymes in vitro

Researchers have released an interesting new study that describes the broad-spectrum of antiviral activity that phycobilins can have. Phycobilins, which are bioactive plant compounds, were found to inhibit two coronavirus enzymes.

26 Nov 2020

Early interferon therapy may mitigate COVID-19 severity

A recent review of COVID-19 therapies explores the utility of interferons in the battle against severe COVID-19, and concludes that they deserve further development.

26 Nov 2020

Specific SARS-CoV-2 genomic variations are associated with higher COVID-19 deaths

A team of scientists from South Korea and the United States has conducted an interesting study to investigate whether mutations in the genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study findings reveal that mutations in the viral spike protein and RNA polymerase complex can increase the risk of COVID-19 mortality.

25 Nov 2020

Genomic analysis provides clues about SARS-CoV-2 ancestry and transmission

Researchers in the UK conducting a genomic analysis of severe acute respiratory virus syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and SARS-like coronaviruses in the bat and pangolin have identified strong host-associated divergences that could provide clues about the ancestry and interspecies transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

25 Nov 2020

Researchers discover close SARS-CoV-2-relative in animal hosts outside China

In a major new discovery that might deepen our understanding of SARS-CoV-2’s animal origins and its genetic evolution, coronaviruses very closely related to SARS-CoV-2 have been discovered in two horseshoe bats outside of China.

25 Nov 2020

Computational model can help predict cellular drug targets against COVID-19

A computational model of a human lung cell has been used to understand how SARS-CoV-2 draws on human host cell metabolism to reproduce by researchers at the University of Warwick.

25 Nov 2020

Study: None of the SARS-CoV-2 mutations appear to increase transmissibility in humans

None of the mutations currently documented in the SARS-CoV-2 virus appear to increase its transmissibility in humans, according to a study led by UCL researchers.

25 Nov 2020

Widely used antibiotic shows promise for fighting against Zika infections

In 2015, hundreds of children were born with brain deformities resulting from a global outbreak of Zika virus infections.

24 Nov 2020

Mefloquine shows potential as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug

A team of scientists from Japan has identified the approved anti-material drug, mefloquine, as a potential candidate to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Specifically, mefloquine has been shown to prevent the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells and reduce the viral load in vitro.

24 Nov 2020

Air quality could influence the virulence of COVID-19 disease

The correlation between the high concentration of fine particles and the severity of influenza waves is well known to epidemiologists.

24 Nov 2020

RNA News and Research

Further Reading

Study exposes human olfactory and brain cells as genuine viral targets of SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 launches multipronged attack against host cell protein synthesis, study finds

Monoclonal antibody HB27 shows potent neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2

‘Molecular clock’ blood test could help identify actively growing tumors in metastatic breast cancer

HIV alters SARS-CoV-2 immune response without affecting COVID-19 symptoms or outcomes

Novel cannabis plant extracts could protect against COVID-19

Transgenic mouse model could recapitulate severe COVID-19 in humans

Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 mutations do not significantly increase transmissibility, says study

Researchers develop synthetic defective SARS-CoV-2 genome that inhibits viral replication

Antihypertensive drugs may reduce COVID-19 mortality in at-risk patients

Phycobilins found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 enzymes in vitro

Early interferon therapy may mitigate COVID-19 severity

Specific SARS-CoV-2 genomic variations are associated with higher COVID-19 deaths

Genomic analysis provides clues about SARS-CoV-2 ancestry and transmission

Researchers discover close SARS-CoV-2-relative in animal hosts outside China

Computational model can help predict cellular drug targets against COVID-19

Study: None of the SARS-CoV-2 mutations appear to increase transmissibility in humans

Widely used antibiotic shows promise for fighting against Zika infections

Mefloquine shows potential as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug

Air quality could influence the virulence of COVID-19 disease

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