Contamination News and Research

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Potential sea animal reservoirs for coronaviruses?

The COVID-19 pandemic has focused, yet again, intense research interest on coronaviruses, due to the high toll the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has taken on human life, health, economic well-being, and social activity. A recent paper published on the server Preprints in September 2020 reviews what is known about this viral infection in water life.

13 Sep 2020

Bedrails, door handles and ECG monitors hotspots for SARS-CoV-2 in hospital wards

A new study published in the journal Science of The Total Environment in September 2020 reports that the virus can be detected rapidly using already available technology, which will help to monitor viral spread within healthcare facilities more closely and enable better control of the pandemic.

10 Sep 2020

Hospitals, nursing homes fail to separate COVID patients, putting others at risk

Nurses at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center were on edge as early as March when patients with COVID-19 began to show up in areas of the hospital that were not set aside to care for them.

10 Sep 2020

Are micro and nanoplastics accumulating in human organs and tissues?

A team of researchers spoke to News-Medical about their latest research investigating whether micro and nanoplastics are accumulating in human tissues.

10 Sep 2020

Scientists claim serious data discrepancies in RaTG13 sequence

Even as the COVID-19 pandemic enters its ninth month, scientists continue to debate the origin of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) intensely. A new preprint published in September 2020 discusses the current issues with the bat coronavirus (CoV) strain that is often considered to have very close homology with the above-mentioned virus, concluding that there are inadequate grounds to consider it to be the ancestral pool of SARS-CoV-2.

10 Sep 2020

PCR Biosystems introduces RiboShield RNase Inhibitor for use in RNA-sensitive applications

PCR Biosystems has today launched RiboShield RNase Inhibitor. Already an important component of several PCR Biosystems kits, this robust and reliable RNase inhibitor is, for the first time, available as a standalone product.

From PCR Biosystems Ltd. 10 Sep 2020

SARS-CoV-2 does not pose a food safety risk, health agency says

Now, a new report by the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF) highlights the link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and food safety. ICMSF is a global non-government organization that aims to provide information on food safety and human health.

8 Sep 2020

UV researchers patent a kit to detect GHB in alcoholic beverages and soft drinks

The MODeLiC (Organic Materials for Controlled Detection and Release) research team led by Ana María Costero, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Valencia (UV), has developed a system with colorimetric sensors that change color when there is γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in a beverage.

8 Sep 2020

New biocontainment unit could help healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients

The U.S. Army partnered with the University of Pittsburg Medical Center to create a biocontainment unit that could help healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients.

3 Sep 2020

BioChromato’s compact, benchtop Smart Evaporator C1 for DMSO and DMF samples

BioChromato Inc. reports on installation of over 1200 units of its Smart Evaporator C1 - a compact system that delivers rapid concentration or complete drying of samples in even high boiling solvents such as DMSO, DMF or water.

From BioChromato Inc. 3 Sep 2020

Novel technique to detect the fungus responsible for causing severe pneumonia

Research staff of the University of Valencia and the Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of the Valencian Community, among other institutions, have developed a very sensitive and fast in-vitro method for the diagnosis of infection by Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus that causes severe pneumonia.

2 Sep 2020

SARS-CoV-2 is more resistant on surfaces in spring and autumn than in summer

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint paper, researchers from Kansas State University demonstrate astonishing persistence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on various types of surfaces – especially under spring/fall climate conditions.

1 Sep 2020

Silicon nitride shows potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralization capability

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in August 2020 shows that the man-made compound silicon nitride, which is used in medical implants and high mechanical performance engineering applications, is capable of inactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at varying concentrations without causing cell cytotoxicity. This finding should be investigated to develop disinfectants to clear the virus from surfaces, preventing its spread.

1 Sep 2020

Canada announces $10 million core funding to tackle world water crisis

Canada today announced a CDN$10 million extension of core funding through 2025 for the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, a research organization at the forefront of pressing global water challenges.

29 Aug 2020

Environmental surface testing at radiation oncology clinic showed no detectable SARS-CoV2

A Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey study shows environmental surface testing at the center's Radiation Oncology Department located within Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state showed no detectable SARS-CoV2 – the virus that causes COVID-19

28 Aug 2020

Current poultry food safety guidelines for preventing salmonellosis are inadequate

Current poultry food safety guidelines for Salmonella, the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks, are inadequate.

26 Aug 2020

Novel device rapidly measures trace levels of toxic lead in sediments

Rutgers researchers have created a miniature device for measuring trace levels of toxic lead in sediments at the bottom of harbors, rivers and other waterways within minutes - far faster than currently available laboratory-based tests, which take days.

26 Aug 2020

Effective buccal swab RNA extraction for COVID-19 diagnostic testing

Porvair Sciences announces a special version of its popular Homogeniser Spin Column optimized for RNA extraction from buccal swabs.

From Chromatrap® - Porvair Sciences Ltd 26 Aug 2020

Sociopaths less likely to comply with COVID mask, hygiene and social distancing

Now, a new study by researchers from Brazil has found that people who are unconcerned with adhering to measures to mitigate the COVID-19 spread tend to manifest higher levels of traits tied to antisocial personality disorder, which is also known as sociopathy.

24 Aug 2020

New, low-cost technology for subcutaneous injection of viscous formulations

MIT researchers have developed a simple, low-cost technology to administer powerful drug formulations that are too viscous to be injected using conventional medical syringes.

24 Aug 2020

Contamination News and Research

Potential sea animal reservoirs for coronaviruses?

Bedrails, door handles and ECG monitors hotspots for SARS-CoV-2 in hospital wards

Hospitals, nursing homes fail to separate COVID patients, putting others at risk

Are micro and nanoplastics accumulating in human organs and tissues?

Scientists claim serious data discrepancies in RaTG13 sequence

PCR Biosystems introduces RiboShield RNase Inhibitor for use in RNA-sensitive applications

SARS-CoV-2 does not pose a food safety risk, health agency says

UV researchers patent a kit to detect GHB in alcoholic beverages and soft drinks

New biocontainment unit could help healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients

BioChromato’s compact, benchtop Smart Evaporator C1 for DMSO and DMF samples

Novel technique to detect the fungus responsible for causing severe pneumonia

SARS-CoV-2 is more resistant on surfaces in spring and autumn than in summer

Silicon nitride shows potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralization capability

Canada announces $10 million core funding to tackle world water crisis

Environmental surface testing at radiation oncology clinic showed no detectable SARS-CoV2

Current poultry food safety guidelines for preventing salmonellosis are inadequate

Novel device rapidly measures trace levels of toxic lead in sediments

Effective buccal swab RNA extraction for COVID-19 diagnostic testing

Sociopaths less likely to comply with COVID mask, hygiene and social distancing

New, low-cost technology for subcutaneous injection of viscous formulations

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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