Glycoprotein News and Research

RSS

Novel neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 N-terminal domain discovered

A new study by US-based researchers shows the presence of protective antibodies that target the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the spike instead of the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD).

22 Jan 2021

New data on impact of spike mutations and B117 UK variant on neutralization by mAbs and sera

A recent paper by British and Dutch scientists, currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, shows that the neutralizing activity of monoclonal antibodies can be dramatically reduced by mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein – unlike polyclonal antibodies generated after natural infection that remain active regardless of any introduced amino acid changes.

21 Jan 2021

Blood group associated with cardiovascular events in COVID-19 patients

An illuminating new study by scientists at Harvard Medical School, USA, describes the correlation of such conditions with the ABO blood group. The team's findings may help assess the risk of COVID-19 patients for such complications, promoting early diagnosis and underscoring potential needs for preventive and therapeutic care where possible.

21 Jan 2021

Researchers develop new method for charting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycosylation

Researchers develop a novel, simple and affordable method for N-glycan fingerprinting based on enzymatic fluorescent glycan labeling and electrophoresis. This new method may help us understand important changes in glycosylation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein – something which could inform future therapeutic research.

20 Jan 2021

Genomics reveals distinct patterns of emergence of SARS‐CoV‐2 spike variants in Columbus, Ohio

Recently researchers from the United States reported the results of a SARS‐CoV‐2 genomic surveillance conducted between April 2020 and January 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. Their work is released as a preprint on the bioRxiv server.

18 Jan 2021

Study reveals possible SARS-CoV-2 escape mutant that may re-infect immune individuals

A recent study by US researchers shows how the 501Y.V2 variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), characterized by several mutations, is able to escape neutralization by present first-wave anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and potentially re-infect COVID-19 convalescent individuals.

17 Jan 2021

New antiviral repurposing study finds peptides that could prevent SARS-CoV-2-ACE2 binding

A new study reports the antiviral potential of peptides against SARS-CoV-2's spike protein.

15 Jan 2021

A snake venom enzyme shows anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro

A new study reports the virucidal and fusion-inhibiting attributes of snake venom against the COVID-19 agent SARS-CoV-2.

14 Jan 2021

MVA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate shows strong immunogenicity in preclinical trials

A new study reports the preclinical testing of a recombinant MVA (rMVA) candidate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the agent that is causing the current COVID-19 pandemic.

14 Jan 2021

Could intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccines be a practical alternative to intramuscular shots?

The unchecked advance of COVID-19 has made it a top public health priority to produce a vaccine capable of inducing a safe and powerful protective response against its causative pathogen: SARS-CoV-2. An encouraging new study shows the immunogenicity, safety, and protective efficacy, of a Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-based intranasal vector vaccine in animal studies.

14 Jan 2021

Researchers map genetic changes that may have facilitated SARS-CoV-2’s jump from bats to humans

Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Pirbright Institute in the UK have identified key genetic changes in SARS-CoV-2 that may be responsible for the virus’s jump from bats to humans. The team also determined which animals contain cellular receptors that allow the virus to enter cells more effectively, zoning in on potential animals that acted as an intermediary host in facilitating SARS-CoV-2’s zoonosis.

13 Jan 2021

New N501 SARS-CoV-2 mutation may have been circulating in Italy since August 2020

A recent study shows that mutated SARS-CoV-2 strains with a substitution at position 501 might have circulated unnoticed even before the end of September 2020, when the rapid emergence of B.1.1.7 lineage (carrying the N501Y mutation) was initially reported.

13 Jan 2021

Structure of SARS-CoV-2 cytoplasmic tail uncovered

The virus's cytosolic tail also interacts with the host cell to promote its entry into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). A new study appearing on the bioRxiv preprint server elucidates the conformation of this region of the virus, which will help understand how its form is related to its function in viral entry.

12 Jan 2021

Effect of mutations in the South African SARS-CoV-2 variant on transmission and neutralization

One such strain is the South African 501.V2 and UK B1.1.7 strains, which have been isolated from many countries and seem to spread faster than the ancestral strain. A preprint that recently appeared on the bioRxiv server reports the computational structure of this strain and the possible effect of the mutations on infectivity and neutralization.

12 Jan 2021

Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies from a naïve human Ab library

Now, a new preprint research paper published on the bioRxiv server shows how closely the antibodies formed in exposed humans resemble the germline antibody molecules. This could lead to the development of novel therapeutics to counter the pandemic.

12 Jan 2021

Antibody recognition of linear SARS-CoV-2 epitopes preserved in mutated B.1.1.7 strain

In a recent medRxiv research paper, the US scientists examined the effects of non-synonymous mutations in the circulating B.1.1.7 strain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on linear antibody epitope signal for viral spike glycoprotein and nucleoprotein – and demonstrated that mutations should not result in immune evasion.

11 Jan 2021

Study shows P681H mutation is becoming globally prevalent among SARS-CoV-2 sequences

In a recent bioRxiv preprint study, researchers from the University of Hawaii showed that the S gene of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is continuously mutating according to the sequence and phylogenetic analysis.

10 Jan 2021

Naturally selected mutations of SARS-CoV-2 easily duplicated in vitro

In a recent and timely paper, currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server, researchers from Israel and France demonstrated how in vitro evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor-binding domain (RBD) follows contagious mutation spread – but can also generate an efficient infection inhibitor.

10 Jan 2021

High-affinity SARS-CoV-2 RBD drives mutation spread, forms basis of new COVID-19 inhibitor

Now, an intriguing recent study appeared on the bioRxiv * preprint server describes the use of in vitro evolution to elicit affinity maturation of the viral receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein to bind the host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) with greater affinity.

7 Jan 2021

Antibodies and inflammatory markers are pervasive in colostrum of SARS-CoV-2 infected women

A recent study, currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server, is among the first to reveal the presence of antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in colostrum and to demonstrate elevated cytokine levels in colostrum from women exposed to the virus.

7 Jan 2021

Glycoprotein News and Research

Novel neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 N-terminal domain discovered

New data on impact of spike mutations and B117 UK variant on neutralization by mAbs and sera

Blood group associated with cardiovascular events in COVID-19 patients

Researchers develop new method for charting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein glycosylation

Genomics reveals distinct patterns of emergence of SARS‐CoV‐2 spike variants in Columbus, Ohio

Study reveals possible SARS-CoV-2 escape mutant that may re-infect immune individuals

New antiviral repurposing study finds peptides that could prevent SARS-CoV-2-ACE2 binding

A snake venom enzyme shows anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro

MVA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate shows strong immunogenicity in preclinical trials

Could intranasal SARS-CoV-2 vaccines be a practical alternative to intramuscular shots?

Researchers map genetic changes that may have facilitated SARS-CoV-2’s jump from bats to humans

New N501 SARS-CoV-2 mutation may have been circulating in Italy since August 2020

Structure of SARS-CoV-2 cytoplasmic tail uncovered

Effect of mutations in the South African SARS-CoV-2 variant on transmission and neutralization

Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies from a naïve human Ab library

Antibody recognition of linear SARS-CoV-2 epitopes preserved in mutated B.1.1.7 strain

Study shows P681H mutation is becoming globally prevalent among SARS-CoV-2 sequences

Naturally selected mutations of SARS-CoV-2 easily duplicated in vitro

High-affinity SARS-CoV-2 RBD drives mutation spread, forms basis of new COVID-19 inhibitor

Antibodies and inflammatory markers are pervasive in colostrum of SARS-CoV-2 infected women

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Latest News