Pandemic News and Research

RSS

A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

Targeting MCL-1 protein could pave way to new treatments for breast cancer

A protein frequently found in high levels in breast cancer cells helps tumours to survive and grow, and could be targeted with a new type of drug that is already being tested for other cancers, new research reveals.

1 Apr 2021

Researchers develop a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain trimer vaccine candidate

New research deals with the development of RBD trimer as a potent target for SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccines. This study revealed the development of a trimeric RBD subunit vaccine candidate that could induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses in nonhuman primates (NHPs), namely, rhesus macaques.

1 Apr 2021

Comorbidities lead to an increased risk of death from Covid-19, research shows

Comorbidities such as heart disease, respiratory disease, renal disease and cancer lead to an increased risk of death from Covid-19 according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).

1 Apr 2021

FDA takes action to advance OTC and other screening test development

Following recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration actions to support test development, the FDA took swift action this week to get more tests for screening asymptomatic individuals on the market. Today, the agency authorized several tests for over-the-counter (OTC) use without a prescription when used for serial screening.

1 Apr 2021

Study investigates U.S. public support for COVID-19 vaccine donation to less prosperous countries

The pandemic is affecting every country, but not every country has equal access to the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines. Recent estimates show that high-income countries -- which have just one-fifth of the global adult population -- have purchased more than half of the world's total vaccine doses, resulting in disparities for low- and middle-income countries.

1 Apr 2021

Temperature difference in the upper and lower respiratory tract influences SARS-CoV-2 replication

A team of researchers from the Institute for Infectious Diseases (IFIK) at the University of Bern and the Federal Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) have assessed virus growth and activation of the cellular defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract.

1 Apr 2021

Study highlights persistent shortage of preventive medicine physicians in the U.S.

The United States is facing a persistent and worsening shortage of physicians specializing in preventive medicine, reports a study in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

1 Apr 2021

Discovery of cryptic pocket in SARS-CoV-2 may lead to pan-coronavirus therapies

A new research paper published in the Biophysical Journal describes a novel binding pocket used by a viral non-structural protein (nsp) to form an activated complex with its partner nsp. In so doing, it may have revealed a common target that may be useful in the development of a broad-spectrum antiviral drug against all coronaviruses.

1 Apr 2021

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in pregnancy

A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv* server shows that while pregnant women are seriously worried about their risk of contracting the infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but are also hesitant to take the vaccine.

1 Apr 2021

Antibodies produced from infection with SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 protect against other variants

A recent paper in the journal Nature shows that while earlier lineages do not elicit antibodies capable of efficiently neutralizing the newly emerged South African variant, SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), the converse does occur.

31 Mar 2021

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine effective against B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant

Published in The Lancet, the study explores if the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine works well in protecting against the B.1.1.7 variant, otherwise known as the U.K. variant.

31 Mar 2021

Africa's health systems are failing to meet the needs of vulnerable groups

Less than half the population of Africa are not receiving the health services they need, with vulnerable groups including gay and disabled people left behind, says a report.

31 Mar 2021

Study reports on two cats that caught COVID-19

Our feline friends are also vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, according to new research posted to the preprint server bioRxiv. The researchers diagnosed two cats living in France with mild symptomatic COVID-19 illness. The virus was most likely transmitted from their owners.

31 Mar 2021

CDC and NIH launch community COVID-19 testing initiative

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, has launched an innovative community health initiative called "Say Yes! COVID Test" starting in Pitt County, North Carolina, and coming soon to Chattanooga/Hamilton County Tennessee.

31 Mar 2021

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 from reinfected individuals with previous infection or vaccination

A technical report recently published by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has summarized all available literature regarding the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission from asymptomatic reinfected individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination.

31 Mar 2021

Study explores racial differences in outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU

In a study that looked at racial differences in outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit, researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit found that patients of color had a lower 28-day mortality than white patients.

31 Mar 2021

New portable viral screening test can diagnose COVID-19 in minutes and track variants

Clinicians using a new viral screening test can not only diagnose COVID-19 in a matter of minutes with a portable, pocket-sized machine, but can also simultaneously test for other viruses--like influenza--that might be mistaken for the coronavirus.

31 Mar 2021

Nearly 25% of graduate nursing students report elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression

Researchers at the University of Colorado College of Nursing have found that nearly one-quarter of graduate nursing students have reported elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression, compounded in the past year by the COVID-19 pandemic.

31 Mar 2021

Study details COVID-19 risk factors among long-stay nursing home residents in the U.S.

Risks of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection for long-stay nursing home residents were mainly dependent on factors in their nursing homes and surrounding communities, according to a large study led by a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

31 Mar 2021

2021 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting goes virtual for the first time

The worlds of work, education, and networking have changed drastically in the past year, and the American Geriatrics Society is evolving with them.

31 Mar 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Targeting MCL-1 protein could pave way to new treatments for breast cancer

Researchers develop a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain trimer vaccine candidate

Comorbidities lead to an increased risk of death from Covid-19, research shows

FDA takes action to advance OTC and other screening test development

Study investigates U.S. public support for COVID-19 vaccine donation to less prosperous countries

Temperature difference in the upper and lower respiratory tract influences SARS-CoV-2 replication

Study highlights persistent shortage of preventive medicine physicians in the U.S.

Discovery of cryptic pocket in SARS-CoV-2 may lead to pan-coronavirus therapies

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in pregnancy

Antibodies produced from infection with SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 protect against other variants

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine effective against B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant

Africa's health systems are failing to meet the needs of vulnerable groups

Study reports on two cats that caught COVID-19

CDC and NIH launch community COVID-19 testing initiative

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 from reinfected individuals with previous infection or vaccination

Study explores racial differences in outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU

New portable viral screening test can diagnose COVID-19 in minutes and track variants

Nearly 25% of graduate nursing students report elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression

Study details COVID-19 risk factors among long-stay nursing home residents in the U.S.

2021 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting goes virtual for the first time

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

Latest News