Respiratory News and Research

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A combination of oral bacteria and intranasal vaccine provide protection from influenza A virus and COVID-19

A new study published in the journal mBio focuses on the role of nasal bacteria in eliciting virus-specific adaptive immunity.

20 Aug 2021

MHRA approves first monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 in the UK

Following on from a thorough review of the evidence carried out by the MHRA, and recommendation by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), the government's independent expert scientific advisory body, the MHRA has approved Ronapreve as the first monoclonal antibody combination product indicated for use in the prevention and treatment of acute COVID-19 infection for the UK.

20 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutations alter dynamics of neutralizing antibodies

A new study describes how monoclonal antibodies raised against SARS-CoV-2 are affected by mutations in the antibody binding site.

20 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 lambda variant escapes immune response via spike mutations

A new study explores the mechanism by which the SARS-CoV-2 lambda variant has acquired immune evasion capabilities above that of the wildtype.

20 Aug 2021

How can COVID-19 affect the skin?

A new review published in the journal Canadian Family Physician describes skin diseases caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

20 Aug 2021

Risk of household SARS-CoV-2 transmission may be equal among children and adults, says study

A team of scientists in the United States recently estimated the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission from primary cases to household contacts.

20 Aug 2021

Low-cost point of emission air purifiers can reduce airborne transmission of pathogens, says study

In a study conducted at the Monash University, Australia, scientists have examined the efficacy of portable air purifiers combined with a hood in reducing virus aerosol transmission and protecting healthcare workers from workplace contamination. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

20 Aug 2021

Researchers recommend urgent adaptation plans to mitigate heat-related deaths and illnesses

Extreme heat is an increasingly common occurrence worldwide, with heat-related deaths and illnesses also expected to rise.

20 Aug 2021

Millions of Africans are at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to lack of public health tools

Millions of people across the African continent are at risk of contracting COVID-19 because of a lack of the most basic public health tools to protect themselves - including the essentials of soap and water.

20 Aug 2021

Research finds potential overuse of antibiotics in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia

Only 21 percent of patients with severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) have a documented bacterial superinfection at the time of intubation, resulting in potential overuse of antibiotics, according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

20 Aug 2021

Chemical Insights, Underwriters Laboratories and GSU launch research initiative on vaping and e-cigarettes

Chemical Insights Research Institute, Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and Georgia State University's School of Public Health announced the launch of a research initiative on understanding human exposure and the potential health effects of vaping and e-cigarettes.

20 Aug 2021

Researchers discover glycan 'gates' that open to allow SARS-CoV-2 entry

Since the early days of the COVID pandemic, scientists have aggressively pursued the secrets of the mechanisms that allow severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to enter and infect healthy human cells.

19 Aug 2021

Existing drugs block or reduce SARS-CoV2 infection in cells

Since the beginning of the pandemic, researchers worldwide have been looking for ways to treat COVID-19. And while the COVID-19 vaccines represent the best measure to prevent the disease, therapies for those who do get infected remain in short supply.

19 Aug 2021

Vaccine quickly reduced COVID-19 infections among health care workers

A UC Davis Health retrospective study published recently in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology shows how quickly COVID-19 infections were reduced among health care workers when vaccines were first distributed late last year.

19 Aug 2021

Study highlights the importance of better face masks and good ventilation to mitigate COVID-19 indoors

A new study is highlighting a need for widespread use of better face masks and the importance of good ventilation to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 indoors.

19 Aug 2021

Experts recommend key steps to make re-opening of universities safer in autumn

Offering covid-19 vaccinations on campus, delayed or phased autumn re-openings, and mandatory face mask wearing are among the steps universities and colleges could take to make them safer places for students returning to, or starting, their studies this autumn, say public health experts in an opinion piece in The BMJ.

19 Aug 2021

Small study suggests a mix-and-match COVID-19 booster produces robust antibody levels

In a small study published in the medRxiv* preprint server, people given a booster Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot showed elevated and robust antibody levels.

19 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies found to neutralize bat coronavirus (RaTG13) in new study

A striking new study examines how far antibodies elicited by vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), or by natural infection, can neutralize the closely related bat coronavirus (CoV) RaTG13.

19 Aug 2021

How does the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant’s spike drive membrane fusion and immunity evasion?

A fascinating and timely new study shows how the Delta variant of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) achieved higher transmissibility and resistance to neutralization.

19 Aug 2021

Durable highly protective T cell response to AAV-spike vaccine against COVID-19 pneumonia in mice

New research, available as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, has focused on the role played by T cell immunity, particularly CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, on preventing lethal infection with SARS-CoV-2 in mice infused with peptide-loaded antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs).

19 Aug 2021

Respiratory News and Research

A combination of oral bacteria and intranasal vaccine provide protection from influenza A virus and COVID-19

MHRA approves first monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 in the UK

SARS-CoV-2 mutations alter dynamics of neutralizing antibodies

SARS-CoV-2 lambda variant escapes immune response via spike mutations

How can COVID-19 affect the skin?

Risk of household SARS-CoV-2 transmission may be equal among children and adults, says study

Low-cost point of emission air purifiers can reduce airborne transmission of pathogens, says study

Researchers recommend urgent adaptation plans to mitigate heat-related deaths and illnesses

Millions of Africans are at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to lack of public health tools

Research finds potential overuse of antibiotics in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia

Chemical Insights, Underwriters Laboratories and GSU launch research initiative on vaping and e-cigarettes

Researchers discover glycan 'gates' that open to allow SARS-CoV-2 entry

Existing drugs block or reduce SARS-CoV2 infection in cells

Vaccine quickly reduced COVID-19 infections among health care workers

Study highlights the importance of better face masks and good ventilation to mitigate COVID-19 indoors

Experts recommend key steps to make re-opening of universities safer in autumn

Small study suggests a mix-and-match COVID-19 booster produces robust antibody levels

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies found to neutralize bat coronavirus (RaTG13) in new study

How does the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant’s spike drive membrane fusion and immunity evasion?

Durable highly protective T cell response to AAV-spike vaccine against COVID-19 pneumonia in mice

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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