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Impact of the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Southern Africa

A new study has focused on the genomic profile and early transmission dynamics of Omicron. This study revealed the dominance of the Omicron variant in regions with high levels of population immunity.

23 Dec 2021

Exploring why children have milder COVID-19 infections compared to adults

A new study has revealed that an activated pre-exposure innate interferon response in airways together with significantly reduced systemic interferon-stimulated populations are associated with relatively milder severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children.

23 Dec 2021

Protein-based nanoparticle vaccines for protection against SARS-CoV-2

A recent review article discusses recent advances in protein-based nanoparticle vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

22 Dec 2021

COVID can affect sperm quality for three months

Researchers determine whether SARS-CoV-2 could cross the blood-testis barrier and be detected in human semen after infection.

22 Dec 2021

Importance of booster vaccine doses for maintaining protection against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

A new study shows that although the Omicron variant exhibits significant immune escape compared to other SARS-CoV-2 variants, antibody neutralization can be largely restored with booster doses of mRNA vaccines.

22 Dec 2021

Role of novel SARS-CoV-2-derived svRNAs and the involvement of tRF in COVID-19

A new study revealed new long sv-COV-2 using T4 PNK pretreatment and qRT-PCR and also identified piRNAs and tRFs as the most abundant sncRNAs in COVID-19 positive samples.

22 Dec 2021

Omicron evades roughly twice the number of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies than Delta

New study results highlight that Omicron has an increased affinity to ACE-2 receptors, therefore, has increased infectivity, viral load, and transmissibility compared to other variants of concern, including the Delta variant.

22 Dec 2021

Defensosomes can act as decoys to protect against SARS-CoV-2

In a new study, researchers from New York University have been examining the ability of defensosomes to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection.

22 Dec 2021

Broad neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by an unconventional antibody fragment

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv* server examines the nature and effects of the spike mutations and identifies a vulnerable point that could help develop broad-spectrum protection against circulating variants.

21 Dec 2021

Molecular mechanism of SARS-Cov-2-induced thrombosis

Researchers demonstrate that the exposure of platelets to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein promotes their activation and adhesion.

21 Dec 2021

An Omicron wave predicted for England from December 2021 to April 2022

A study, published on the medRxiv* preprint server, focuses on the interaction between Omicron variants and public health interventions in England that promote immunity.

20 Dec 2021

New study suggests most monoclonal antibody treatments are ineffective against Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant

The arrival of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant has brought into question the effectiveness of current COVID-19 treatments in preventing infection and death. New research published in the preprint bioRxiv* server suggests the efficacy of most monoclonal antibody treatments are ineffective against Omicron.

20 Dec 2021

New Omicron variant may be better at evading vaccine-induced antibodies, research shows

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 may be significantly better than previous variants at evading vaccine-induced antibodies, according to new research from Cambridge - but preliminary evidence suggests it is less likely to cause severe COVID-19 illness in the lungs.

20 Dec 2021