Severe Acute Respiratory News and Research

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Can melatonin help prevent severe COVID-19?

A team of researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada has found that melatonin can be an adjuvant to augment the efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. They believe that the drug is a potential “silver bullet” to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

3 Dec 2020

Household composition and ethnicity may contribute to higher COVID-19 mortality: a UK case study

A new study by researchers in the UK found that older people living with relatives are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19 and death. They also revealed that living in a multi-generational household, where extended family members live, was tied to increased COVID-19 mortality.

3 Dec 2020

High seroprevalence of short-lived anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Paris

A recent study indicates a high seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among individuals working in a Paris-based institute.

3 Dec 2020

Designed proteins assemble antibodies into modular nanocages

With cues from nature, designing functional molecules enables scientists to nanoengineer and customize for specific uses.

3 Dec 2020

Nanoparticles with neutralizing antibodies can inactivate SARS-CoV-2

Using nanoparticles conjugated with SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies, researchers demonstrated that intense local heating could inactivate the virus.

3 Dec 2020

Pomegranate extract could inhibit the virus that causes COVID-19

Researchers have conducted a study demonstrating the potential antiviral effects of pomegranate extract against SAR-CoV-2.

3 Dec 2020

Novel “multitope” vaccine shows promise in the fight against COVID-19

Researchers have demonstrated the potential of a protein-peptide vaccine to protect against infection with SARS-CoV-2, the agent that causes COVID-19.

3 Dec 2020

New insight into role of autophagy in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection

A team of researchers at the University of Manitoba in Canada said that nanoparticle targeting of autophagy at the sites could be a potent tool to effectively overcome COVID-19 while preventing the common adverse effects of the drug.

2 Dec 2020

Emergence of new zoonotic infections like SARS-CoV-2 is inevitable

A team of researchers at the ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute explored the role of animals, the veterinary, and associated zoonotic links of SARS-CoV-2 and prevention and control strategies based on 'One Health' approaches. The research is published in the journal Veterinary Quarterly.

2 Dec 2020

The UK approves Pfizer vaccine for December 2020 roll out

The UK approves Pfizer vaccine and schedules phased vaccination process, commencing December 2020.

2 Dec 2020

Spanish-originated SARS-CoV-2 variant A222V shows rapid spread in Lazio, Italy

A startling new study reports the rapid rise to dominance of a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain in Italy. This strain, termed the GV clade, is characterized by a single point mutation.

2 Dec 2020

A new potential COVID-19 vaccine candidate: YF-S0

A recent study published in the journal Nature describes the safety and efficacy of a live-attenuated yellow fever 17D (YF17D) vector-based vaccine candidate expressing a non-cleavable form of the spike protein of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2).

2 Dec 2020

New and sudden headaches may be a symptom of COVID-19

Researchers report a case of a young male patient who came in with a headache to an emergency room. He had increased intracranial pressure and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, suggesting new headaches during the pandemic should not be ignored.

2 Dec 2020

Scientists detect a sarbecovirus phylogenetically related to SARS-CoV-2 from bats in Japan

A team of researchers at the University of Tokyo in Japan have detected a sarbecovirus, called Rc-o319, which is phylogenetically positioned in the same clade as SARS-CoV-2 in Rhinolophus cornutus bats in Japan.

2 Dec 2020

Particulate matter levels can play a significant role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission

A new study has found that particulate matter (PM) plays a role in providing surfaces for SARS-CoV-2 transmission and interaction, enabling fomite transmission through deposition.

2 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 deletion mutations may have attenuated infectivity in some strains

A team of researchers at the University of Hong Kong has identified a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants, called Del-mut, which contains a deletion in the S1/S2 junction. Upon investigating one of the deleted variants in animal models, they found that Del-mut-1 is attenuated in its ability to cause disease or pathological changes.

2 Dec 2020

New, improved probes could make it easier to validate rapid COVID-19 diagnostic tests

Nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego have developed new and improved probes, known as positive controls, that could make it easier to validate rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests for COVID-19 across the globe.

2 Dec 2020

PTC299 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication and suppresses production of inflammatory cytokines

In an article published in the journal Virus Research, a team of researchers from various US institutions discussed their study that evaluated the antiviral activity of PTC299 against a group of RNA viruses in vitro.

1 Dec 2020

Nanomedicine's giant step into the fight against the COVID-19

A recent editorial in Nature Nanotechnology discusses the enormous feat of scientific innovation, with messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines developed to deliver the gene sequence of specific SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins into host cells using nanotechnology platforms.

1 Dec 2020

Research suggests plant flavonols could serve as effective antivirals for SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in Algeria have reviewed some of the evidence suggesting that flavonols commonly found in many plants and vegetables could be used as a therapeutic approach to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

1 Dec 2020