Coronavirus News and Research

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Two repurposed drugs inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry factors in a synergistic manner

A preprint paper uploaded to the bioRxiv* server shows how combining drugs targeting different entry factors of the host cell may prevent infection by the virus.

3 Jun 2021

Mast cell activation may underlie inflammation in severe COVID-19

A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv* server points to mast cells as major culprits in the etiology of severe and critical COVID-19. This could suggest suitable therapeutic and preventive interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality of this viral illness.

3 Jun 2021

Alzheimer's disease increases a threefold risk of contracting severe COVID-19 and death

Neurodegenerative disorders that cause dementia increase the risk of contracting severe COVID-19 and dying from the disease.

3 Jun 2021

Heterologous AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines induce strong immune response and T cell reactivity against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers from Germany recently analyzed a cohort of 26 individuals in the age range of 25 to 46 (median 30.5) years who had received a ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 prime vaccine followed by a BNT162b2 boost vaccine after a 56-day interval due to changing vaccine recommendations in Germany. There were 16 females and 10 males in the cohort, and they were assessed for immune responses, reactogenicity, and T cell reactivity. This study is published on the medRxiv* preprint server.

3 Jun 2021

Scientists identify many existing drugs with antiviral activity against coronavirus

Mining the world's most comprehensive drug repurposing collection for COVID-19 therapies, scientists have identified 90 existing drugs or drug candidates with antiviral activity against the coronavirus that's driving the ongoing global pandemic.

3 Jun 2021

How can nanomaterials help in the fight against COVID-19?

Researchers have reviewed different types of nanomaterials and how they can be used for the detection, prevention, and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

3 Jun 2021

Many new moms get kicked off Medicaid 2 months after giving birth. Illinois will change that.

The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in which the maternal death rate has been rising. Each year, about 700 deaths are due to pregnancy, childbirth or subsequent complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

3 Jun 2021

Expanding insurance coverage is top priority for new Medicare-Medicaid chief

The new head of the federal agency that oversees health benefits for nearly 150 million Americans and $1 trillion in federal spending said in one of her first interviews that her top priorities will be broadening insurance coverage and ensuring health equity.

3 Jun 2021

Researchers develop rapid antibody screening method for novel COVID-19 therapeutics development

New research undertaken by researchers in the USA describes two parallel but distinct in vivo approaches for the accelerated discovery of antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

3 Jun 2021

Study compares Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccine-elicited response to SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new study has been published on the bioRxiv preprint server which focuses on the correlation between the vaccine-triggered Immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and neutralization titers against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Further, neutralization activities against the variants (B.1.1.7, B.1.525, and B.1.351), using Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, sera were assessed.

3 Jun 2021

Scientists assess the filtration efficacy of 227 models of face masks sold in Brazil

The novel coronavirus is transmitted mainly via inhalation of saliva droplets or respiratory secretions suspended in air, so that face covering and social distancing are the most effective ways to prevent COVID-19 until enough vaccines are available for all.

3 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 exploits metal-dependent mechanism to evade immune surveillance

Scientists from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have discovered a mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 exploits changes in metal ion concentrations to disguise itself in the body. Varying concentrations of metal ions -- positively charged atoms such as magnesium, manganese and calcium -- are observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

3 Jun 2021

Centivax and US Naval Medical Research Center to begin Phase I clinical trial of antibody therapeutics

Centivax Inc. announced today that it has entered into a strategic partnership with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) for Phase I clinical development of Centi-B9, Centivax's SARS-CoV-2 broad-spectrum injectable antibody therapeutic and prophylactic.

3 Jun 2021

New survey highlights key role of ECT for treating severe depression, other conditions

When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in North America in March 2020, health care facilities stopped providing all but "essential" care, to reduce infection risks and preserve protective gear known as PPE.

3 Jun 2021

Single mutation to bat virus spike protein allows cell entry using human ACE2

In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Kirchhoff et al. (May 31st, 2021) it is demonstrated that a single mutation to the RaTG13 spike protein results in significantly greater affinity towards the human receptor, indicating that the presence of a positively charged amino group at this position better facilitates interaction with the human ACE2 receptor, and helping to identify other viruses with zoonotic potential.

3 Jun 2021

A study of the COVID fatality rates in India during waves 1 and 2

A team of researchers at the Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan estimated the underreporting factor for infections using publicly available data released by the Indian Council of Medical Research on the reported number of cases and national seroprevalence surveys.

3 Jun 2021

COVID-19 mortality in Israel and Europe after vaccination

The study, which appeared on the pre-print server, medRxiv*, confirms the potent efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination based on real-life public data in terms of protection against death.

2 Jun 2021

Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin therapy at a higher dose improved survival by nearly 200% in ventilated COVID patients

However, a fascinating new study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server suggests that such disappointment may have been both premature and unwarranted, based on a re-analysis of over 250 patients on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) during the first two months of the pandemic.

2 Jun 2021

Nanopore sequencing contradicts human genome integration of SARS-CoV-2

Now a new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv* server dismisses the possibility, raised by that study, that the virus inserts its genetic material into the host cell’s genome.

2 Jun 2021

Predictors of COVID vaccination uptake in the U.S.

A recent preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv server describes the changing patterns of vaccine uptake in the USA and offers short-term forecasts to help create strategies of vaccine supply as required.

2 Jun 2021

Coronavirus News and Research

Two repurposed drugs inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry factors in a synergistic manner

Mast cell activation may underlie inflammation in severe COVID-19

Alzheimer's disease increases a threefold risk of contracting severe COVID-19 and death

Heterologous AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines induce strong immune response and T cell reactivity against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants

Scientists identify many existing drugs with antiviral activity against coronavirus

How can nanomaterials help in the fight against COVID-19?

Many new moms get kicked off Medicaid 2 months after giving birth. Illinois will change that.

Expanding insurance coverage is top priority for new Medicare-Medicaid chief

Researchers develop rapid antibody screening method for novel COVID-19 therapeutics development

Study compares Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccine-elicited response to SARS-CoV-2 variants

Scientists assess the filtration efficacy of 227 models of face masks sold in Brazil

SARS-CoV-2 exploits metal-dependent mechanism to evade immune surveillance

Centivax and US Naval Medical Research Center to begin Phase I clinical trial of antibody therapeutics

New survey highlights key role of ECT for treating severe depression, other conditions

Single mutation to bat virus spike protein allows cell entry using human ACE2

A study of the COVID fatality rates in India during waves 1 and 2

COVID-19 mortality in Israel and Europe after vaccination

Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin therapy at a higher dose improved survival by nearly 200% in ventilated COVID patients

Nanopore sequencing contradicts human genome integration of SARS-CoV-2

Predictors of COVID vaccination uptake in the U.S.

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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