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Novel antibody engineering approach

Scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA, have recently developed an Antibody Display technology by grafting the second extracellular domain of tetraspanin12 (Tspan12EC2) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein on the heavy chain complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3).

2 Jun 2021

Global land-use changes are creating "hot spots" for potential emergence of new coronaviruses

Global land-use changes -- including forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion and concentrated livestock production -- are creating "hot spots" favorable for bats that carry coronaviruses and where conditions are ripe for the diseases to jump from bats to humans, finds an analysis published this week by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) and Massey University of New Zealand.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

They have identified a group of kite-shaped compounds that are highly specific to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. These compounds demonstrate high potency in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection at early entry steps. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers find natural metabolites help SARS-CoV-2 escape antibodies

An international team of scientists has identified a human molecule — biliverdin — as a potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) target. The binding of the heme metabolite to the N-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the virus’s ability to dodge the immune system by suppressing antibody binding to the spike protein.

2 Jun 2021

CDC study finds contact tracing helps prevent further cases of COVID-19

The study “Estimates of cases and hospitalizations averted by COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing in 14 health jurisdictions in the United States” is available as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

1 Jun 2021

Direct action of SARS-CoV-2 on organs may lead to exacerbated inflammatory response in pediatric patients

Besides common symptoms such as fever, cough and respiratory distress, some children have an atypical form of COVID-19 known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), characterized by persistent fever and inflammation of several organs, such as the heart and intestines, as well as the lungs to a lesser extent.

1 Jun 2021

Study reveals potential mechanism for how traumatic brain injury leads to neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists have revealed a potential mechanism for how traumatic brain injury leads to neurodegenerative diseases, according to a study in fruit flies, and rat and human brain tissue, published today in eLife.

1 Jun 2021

Study confirms poor immunogenicity in hemodialysis patients receiving single dose BNT162b2 vaccine

Researchers from Ontario, Canada, recently conducted a prospective observational study to determine the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in chronic hemodialysis patients following one vs. two doses of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. The results were compared to health care worker controls and convalescent serum.

1 Jun 2021

Research offers new hope for people affected by the microdeletion of chromosome 22

One person in 2000 suffers from a microdeletion of chromosome 22 that can lead to the development of psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, in adolescence.

1 Jun 2021

Scientists explain possible causes of anaphylaxis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

New research from a team of scientists at the Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University in Canada, has aimed to determine the potential causes of anaphylaxis or allergic reactions reported in some individuals after receiving COVID-19 vaccines, including the mRNA vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

1 Jun 2021

Mice study shows life expectancy can be increased by an average of 30%

Aging is associated with an overall decline in health and increased frailty, and is a major risk factor for multiple chronic diseases.

1 Jun 2021

Compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and neutralizing antibodies in domestic cats in Peru

Although Peru is one of the countries most affected by the pandemic, no studies had been conducted to investigate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among domestic cats. Recently, researchers from Peru demonstrated the presence of neutralizing antibodies for the receptor binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cats in Lima, Peru. The owners of the cats in the study had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

1 Jun 2021

Antibody cocktail effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in the rhesus macaque model

Researchers from the US tested the prophylactic potential of a combination of 2 mAbs administered 3 or 75 days before respiratory challenge in rhesus macaques. They used the rhesus macaque model to test the added benefit of combinatory parenteral administration of 2 high-affinity anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs - C144-LS and C135-LS. These mAbs were developed to neutralize the virus and tweaked to improve their pharmacokinetics.

1 Jun 2021

ALG-097111 potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in Syrian Hamster model in vivo

A team of researchers from the US and Belgium applied a structure-based approach with early monitoring of cathepsin L inhibition along with SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibition. They identified a potent and selective SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitor, ALG-097111, which has proven activity against SARS-CoV-2 in SARS-CoV-2 hamster models in vivo. This study is published in the journal, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.

1 Jun 2021

Study offers longitudinal roadmap of immune activation and resolution in mild COVID-19

Researchers from the US recently profiled the longitudinal immune response in mild COVID-19 patients starting with early time points of 1-15 days post-infection through convalescence to over 100 days after onset of symptoms.

1 Jun 2021

Researchers identify common epitopes across SARS-CoV-2 viral variants

While several COVID-19 vaccine candidates have been developed and deployed to arrest the spread of SARS-CoV-2, concern among scientists and public health authorities is mounting over the immunity escape potential of emerging viral variants. To address this problem, a group of scientists in Germany has undertaken research to identify molecular targets across viral variants to aid in the development of second and third-generation vaccines and novel therapeutics.

1 Jun 2021

Little-known illnesses turning up in Covid long-haulers

The day Dr. Elizabeth Dawson was diagnosed with covid-19 in October, she awoke feeling as if she had a bad hangover. Four months later she tested negative for the virus, but her symptoms have only worsened.

1 Jun 2021

FDA approves investigational monoclonal antibody therapy sotrovimab for COVID-19

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light on the investigational monoclonal antibody therapy, sotrovimab, as a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment.

1 Jun 2021

Using Sotrovimab to treat COVID-19 early

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server hypothesized that a monoclonal antibody that has the capability to neutralize all sarbecoviruses could also be used to target a highly conserved epitope. This conserved sequence has a high probability of remaining unchanged in SARS-CoV-2 variants.

31 May 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants have higher transmissibility and a longer infectious period

Researchers analyzed data on three variants of concern and found that viral loads were higher and infection lasted longer for the B.1.1.7 variant. They all were more infectious than the original strain, and transmissibility also depended on population demographics.

31 May 2021

Syndrome News and Research

Novel antibody engineering approach

Global land-use changes are creating "hot spots" for potential emergence of new coronaviruses

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

Researchers find natural metabolites help SARS-CoV-2 escape antibodies

CDC study finds contact tracing helps prevent further cases of COVID-19

Direct action of SARS-CoV-2 on organs may lead to exacerbated inflammatory response in pediatric patients

Study reveals potential mechanism for how traumatic brain injury leads to neurodegenerative diseases

Study confirms poor immunogenicity in hemodialysis patients receiving single dose BNT162b2 vaccine

Research offers new hope for people affected by the microdeletion of chromosome 22

Scientists explain possible causes of anaphylaxis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

Mice study shows life expectancy can be increased by an average of 30%

Compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and neutralizing antibodies in domestic cats in Peru

Antibody cocktail effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 in the rhesus macaque model

ALG-097111 potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in Syrian Hamster model in vivo

Study offers longitudinal roadmap of immune activation and resolution in mild COVID-19

Researchers identify common epitopes across SARS-CoV-2 viral variants

Little-known illnesses turning up in Covid long-haulers

FDA approves investigational monoclonal antibody therapy sotrovimab for COVID-19

Using Sotrovimab to treat COVID-19 early

SARS-CoV-2 variants have higher transmissibility and a longer infectious period

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Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

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