Polymerase News and Research

RSS

Emergence and persistency of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.3.7 in Taiwan

Researchers utilize whole-genome surveillance to monitor community transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Taiwan.

22 Mar 2023

Loss of smell following COVID-19 recovery: How long could it last?

In a recent study posted to the Preprints with The Lancet* server, researchers in China conducted a multi-center, retrospective study to gather data on the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction (OD) after three years of recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Mar 2023

Paxlovid is 80% effective when taken within 5 days of severe COVID

In a recent study published in The Lancet’s Infectious Diseases, researchers in the United States evaluated nirmatrelvir–ritonavir treatment effectiveness against hospitalizations and deaths among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outpatients in the United States of America (USA).

21 Mar 2023

The effectiveness of mRNA vaccines during Omicron BA.4/5 predominance

Researchers evaluate vaccine effectiveness for two, three, and four doses of COVID-19 mRNA first-generation vaccines.

21 Mar 2023

Discovery of 16th century coronavirus in France

In a recent study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers conducted paleoserological tests on dental pulp samples of skeletons excavated from the Abbey Saint-Pierre in the village of Baume-Les-Messieurs in France.

20 Mar 2023

Research reports spillover of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) into marine mammals in the northeastern United States

A recent study published in the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal Emerging Infectious Diseases reported the outbreak of the highly pathogenic hemagglutinin type 5 and neuraminidase type 1 (H5N1) avian influenza virus among New England gray and harbor seals in the United States (U.S.)

20 Mar 2023

H5N1 avian influenza found in stranded harbor porpoise

In a recent study published in the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, researchers from Sweden described the detection of the hemagglutinin type 5 and neuraminidase type 1 (H5N1) avian influenza virus in a stranded harbor porpoise, indicating a potential spillover of this highly pathogenic avian influenza virus into cetacean species.

20 Mar 2023

Does vitamin D play an anti-viral role against SARS-CoV-2?

Researchers screened various compounds for anti-viral properties against SARS-CoV-2.

17 Mar 2023

Venous thromboembolism is rare among non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients

In a recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers in the United States assessed the risk and aimed to identify the independent predictors of venous thromboembolism events in outpatients who had less severe manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

16 Mar 2023

Research highlights the potential risk of secondary SARS-CoV-2 transmission from wild rats

In a recent study published in the journal mBio, researchers in the United States evaluated rat exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in New York City (NYC).

16 Mar 2023

Research highlights the importance of ventilation and air filtration to reduce pathogen transmission

Testing of ambient air can be used to monitor the community circulation of respiratory pathogens.

16 Mar 2023

Multiplex PCR panels associated with reduced administration of antibiotics to hospitalized GI patients

Acute gastroenteritis afflicts adults of all ages, causing significant suffering and inflicting significant costs on the American healthcare system.

16 Mar 2023

Scientists discover mechanism used by cancer cells to repair DNA damage induced by radiotherapy

A team of scientists led by Dr. Kei-ichi TAKATA from the Center for Genomic Integrity within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), has discovered a new type of DNA repair mechanism that cancer cells use to recover from next-generation cancer radiation therapy.

16 Mar 2023

PBD Biotech’s new lyophilized PCR reaction bead offers easy ambient shipping, extends global reach of active TB test

Tuberculosis testing and treatment needs to happen close to the point of infection. PBD Biotech has developed a lyophilized PCR reaction bead for its Actiphage® blood test for active TB.

16 Mar 2023

‘Glow-in-the-dark’ proteins could make disease diagnosis quicker and easier

Despite recent advancements, many highly sensitive diagnostic tests for viral diseases still require complicated techniques to prepare a sample or interpret a result, making them impractical for point-of-care settings or areas with few resources.

15 Mar 2023

Study identifies link between oral and gut microbiomes and depression

Researchers investigate the role of the oral-gut-brain axis in anxiety and depression.

14 Mar 2023

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 causes DNA damage and elicits an altered DNA damage response

Researchers assessed the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and DNA damage and cellular senescence.

14 Mar 2023

Oral host responses to SARS-CoV-2 predict progression of COVID-19

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers at the University of North Carolina and the National Institutes of Health determined the associations between oral severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), oral antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms.

14 Mar 2023