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New estimate of total immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in Texas

According to researchers in Texas, a lack of appropriate testing in the US has led to an underestimation of seroprevalence in the U.S., thus making it difficult to estimate population immunity to SARS-CoV-2 or vaccination.

10 Aug 2021

Controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 at a large public university

Researchers from the U.S. recently reported a multimodal "SHIELD: Target, Test, and Tell" program that helped mitigate the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at a large public university. The program also prevented community transmission and helped the continuation of in-person classes during the pandemic. This study is available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

9 Aug 2021

First data-driven deep learning model can predict COVID-19 outbreak two weeks in advance

People's social behavior, reflected in their mobility data, is providing scientists with a way to forecast the spread of COVID-19 nationwide at the county level.

8 Aug 2021

Invasive 'famine weed' could escalate the spread of malaria

An invasive weed could escalate the spread of malaria in East Africa after scientists found new evidence that it creates a favourable breeding ground for female mosquitoes, which transmit malaria.

5 Aug 2021

Study offers genetic insights into the underlying biology of reproductive aging

The age at which women go through menopause is critical for fertility and impacts healthy ageing in women, but reproductive ageing has been difficult for scientists to study and insights into the underlying biology are limited.

4 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 interacts with unusual RNA structures in human cells

The study, published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, demonstrated that G4 ligands, the chemical that binds with G4s, prevent this interaction. The results could pave the way for developing inhibitors of these interactions as potential antiviral compounds.

26 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by cats

Researchers in The Netherlands have warned that domestic cats may play a role in the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Jul 2021

COVID-19 vaccination remains Australia's best option for a return to normal, say researchers

Researchers in Australia and the United States have advised that the recent decision in Australia to prioritize older vulnerable age groups for vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents the optimal strategy for reducing deaths caused by the disease.

20 Jul 2021

Researchers develop new tool to simulate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 strains and vaccines

The MOMAT research group from Universidad Complutense de Madrid has worked with Universidad de Almería, to develop a mathematical model that simulates the impact of SARS-CoV-2 strains and vaccines together, combined with many other biological and social processes in the propagation of COVID-19.

19 Jul 2021

Computer simulation model identifies key factors for successful transit of sperm in the genital tract

A research team at the Humboldt University Berlin and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research developed an agent-based computer model to simulate the journey of sperm cells through the female genital tract.

16 Jul 2021

High individual-level variability in SARS-CoV-2 shedding may explain superspreading

Researchers in the United States have provided a high-resolution description of the viral dynamics involved in acute infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

14 Jul 2021

Eggs and embryos go through a more dynamic and complex journey than previously thought

The journey of the egg and the embryo through the fallopian tube or oviduct toward the uterus is not well understood, mainly because it is inaccessible for direct imaging.

14 Jul 2021

The progressive increase in transmissibility and virulence of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants could lead to a significantly more deadly pandemic

Researchers from Toronto University, Canada, recently showed that these emerging VOCs were linked to increased virulence, as determined by hospitalization risk, ICU admission, and mortality. This study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

12 Jul 2021

Researchers model probability of extinction of SARS-CoV-2 variant in an outbreak

However, it cannot be confirmed for certain that the strain has been eliminated, raising the question of how long a strain must go undetected before being considered, in all probability, extinct.

9 Jul 2021

Do lockdowns exert selection pressure on overdispersion of SARS-CoV-2 variants?

New research recently released on the medRxiv* preprint server describes a mathematical model that has been developed to evaluate competitions between variants that differ in their level of overdispersion (k) and their mean infectiousness.

8 Jul 2021

New genetic approach offers clues to the regulation of Wolbachia proliferation

Despite having been formalized as a species in 1936, Wolbachia pipientis remains an elusive microbe. The reason why relates to the relationship it establishes with its hosts.

8 Jul 2021

B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 is more transmissible than B.1.526

A new paper available on the medRxiv* preprint server presents evidence that the B.1.1.7 VOC is more transmissible than the B.1.526 strain.

7 Jul 2021

New open-source camera system captures the mouse's view of natural environment

Researchers based in Munich and Tuebingen have developed an open-source camera system that images natural habitats as they appear to rodents.

2 Jul 2021

What role did the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant play in India’s devastating second wave?

A detailed report, available on the preprint server medRxiv*, describes the various facets of the second wave that set it apart from the first. The report also contains the findings of an extended SIR model that explored the potential effects of intervention at various time points in the second wave.