SARS CoV 2 News and Research

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Study finds rapid increase in IgG and IgA antibody levels following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination

A new study describes the kinetics of the antibody response to the earliest approved vaccines against COVID-19, which were developed on an mRNA platform.

30 Mar 2021

Researchers report on novel SARS-CoV-2 Israeli strain with unique spike glycoprotein

Researchers from Israel describe a novel SARS-CoV-2 strain with a non-synonymous mutation in its spike glycoprotein, designated as P681H; nevertheless, its emergence has not been associated with increased infections rate, facilitated spread or vaccine evasion.

30 Mar 2021

Researchers develop broadly neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 ferritin nanoparticle vaccine

In the continued need for next-generation vaccines that confer broad protection against COVID-19, scientists developed an adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle (SpFN) vaccine.

30 Mar 2021

Determination of vaccine-elicited SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breastmilk

A new study has analyzed the levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies elicited by the novel COVID-19 vaccines in breastmilk.

30 Mar 2021

Nanoparticles elicit neutralizing antibodies to diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants

Spike-protein-based nanoparticle vaccine candidates were retained longer in follicular dendritic cells and showed higher germinal center reactions in lymph node follicles compared to soluble spike protein vaccine.

30 Mar 2021

Using ACE2 structure to predict SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in animals

Researchers based at the Rice University, Texas, USA, have now demonstrated a novel method of predicting a species' susceptibility to contracting COVID-19, based on the animal's structure of ACE2.

30 Mar 2021

New diagnostic test can detect COVID-19 virus even when it mutates

A team of scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has developed a diagnostic test that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even after it has gone through mutations.

30 Mar 2021

Scientists study the sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants to neutralize antibodies

The B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants of SARS-CoV-2 were first detected in the UK and South Africa respectively, and have since spread to many other countries.

29 Mar 2021

Arginine methylation important in SARS-CoV-2 viral replication

Researchers show that methylation of arginine in the virus nucleocapsid protein controls the protein's functions and plays a role in the life cycle of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

29 Mar 2021

Vaccine-induced 2C08 antibody protects against SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new preprint study posted to the bioRxiv* server led by Ali H. Ellebedy from the Washington University School of Medicine found that the monoclonal antibody 2C08 produced by the Pfizer vaccine could help neutralize COVID-19 variants.

29 Mar 2021

Have scientists found SARS-CoV-2's Achilles' heel?

Have scientists uncovered the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Achille's heel? New preclinical research from Cell neutralizing antibodies targeting the N-terminal domain of the coronavirus could be a potential target for antibodies to bind and effectively neutralize SARS-CoV-2.

29 Mar 2021

New study reports increased spread of B.1.1.7 variant in Houston, Texas

Research led by Jimmy Gollihar from the CCDC Army Research Laboratory-South in Austin, Texas found the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.7 —first detected last fall in England — increased in Houston, Texas. The B.1.1.7 variant is rapidly spreading with a case doubling time of 6.9 days.

29 Mar 2021

Emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and co-mutations in India

The study "Genomic surveillance and phylodynamic analyses reveal the emergence of a novel mutation and co-mutation patterns within SARS-CoV2 variants prevalent in India" is available as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

29 Mar 2021

FDA-approved cancer drug blunts SARS-CoV-2 protein's detrimental effects

University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers have identified the most toxic proteins made by SARS-COV-2 - the virus that causes COVID-19 – and then used an FDA-approved cancer drug to blunt the viral protein's detrimental effects. In their experiments in fruit flies and human cell lines, the team discovered the cell process that the virus hijacks, illuminating new potential candidate drugs that could be tested for treating severe COVID-19 disease patients.

29 Mar 2021

Study investigates SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic dental patients

Asymptomatic carriage of SARS-CoV-2 is a potentially significant source of transmission, yet remains relatively poorly understood.

29 Mar 2021

Advanced technology provides a fine-grained picture of lung pathology in COVID-19

A team led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian has used advanced technology and analytics to map, at single-cell resolution, the cellular landscape of diseased lung tissue in severe COVID-19 and other infectious lung diseases.

29 Mar 2021

UVA-led researchers urge rapid action to better prepare for the next pandemic

An international team of researchers led by a University of Virginia School of Medicine professor is warning that scientists must better prepare for the next pandemic - and has developed a plan to do just that.

29 Mar 2021

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine causes steep drop in COVID-19 among healthcare workers

A team of scientists from Spain has recently evaluated the efficacy of an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2). Their findings reveal that a 2-dose regimen of BNT162b2 vaccine is capable of providing almost 100% protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers.

29 Mar 2021

Corticosteroid therapy in pregnant women with COVID-19

A new study describes the outcome of corticosteroid use in pregnancy.

29 Mar 2021

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted birth statistics in the U.S.?

A new study examines national-level changes in fertility, preterm birth and other obstetric outcomes, in the U.S., over the period of the pandemic throughout 2020.

29 Mar 2021