Coronavirus News and Research

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Drugging RNA synthesis in SARS-CoV-2 as novel therapeutic avenue

In a new study, the role of a coronavirus-specific protein domain in SARS-CoV-2 viral synthesis initiation is investigated, and potential therapeutic solutions have been explored.

25 Mar 2021

Study observes correlation between COVID-19 mortality and autoantibodies in corticosteroid treated patients

Corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs have been applied to COVID-19 patients over the course of the pandemic, though the results are mixed. In a recent study, the outcomes for such patients are collated, demonstrating a striking correlation between the development of autoantibodies and mortality.

25 Mar 2021

Identification of specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with cross-neutralization potency

A team of scientists from the USA and Canada recently characterized the cross-neutralizing potency of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies isolated from COVID-19 patients. The findings reveal that some of the isolated antibodies targeting the spike RBD and the S2 subunit are capable of cross-neutralizing other members of the human beta-coronavirus family.

25 Mar 2021

Nosing in on kids who had Covid and lost their sense of smell

Orange. Eucalyptus. Lavender. Peppermint. Doctors at Children's Hospital Colorado and Seattle Children's Hospital will use scents like these to treat children who lost their sense of smell to Covid-19. Parents will attend clinics and go home with a set of essential oils for their child to sniff twice a day for three months. Clinicians will check their progress monthly.

25 Mar 2021

Stop blaming Tuskegee, critics say. It’s not an ‘excuse’ for current medical racism.

For months, journalists, politicians and health officials — including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Dr. Anthony Fauci — have invoked the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study to explain why Black Americans are more hesitant than white Americans to get the coronavirus vaccine.

25 Mar 2021

Inmates’ distrust of prison health care fuels distrust of Covid vaccines

One November night in a Missouri prison, Charles Graham woke his cellmate of more than a dozen years, Frank Flanders, saying he couldn't breathe. Flanders pressed the call button. No one answered, so he kicked the door until a guard came.

25 Mar 2021

Dual-antigen COVID-19 vaccine elicits humoral and cellular immune responses in mice

The scientific consensus is that safe and highly effective vaccines are required to end the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. A new study describes a new vaccine that presents two viral antigens to the human immune system, in order to elicit a more efficacious response.

25 Mar 2021

Could an mRNA vaccine second dose reduce cellular immunity in previously infected individuals?

A new study, which was released on the bioRxiv* preprint server, shows the differential effect that a standard vaccine protocol may have on individuals, based on their history of prior infection with the virus.

25 Mar 2021

Could dry swabs provide cheaper, safer and faster material for SARS-CoV-2 testing?

A new study deals with the feasibility of using dry swab samples to isolate the virus, as compared to wet swabs, to reduce costs while improving safety.

25 Mar 2021

Researchers examine SARS-CoV-2 RNA interactome

A new study focuses on the identification of RNA-binding protein by mass spectrometry (ChIRP-M/S) approach. This study develops a global map that contains the complete set of host proteins that involve the SARS-CoV-2 genome during infection. This study has successfully identified new SARS-CoV-2 host dependency factors by merging proteomics data with gene silencing experiments. Such a discovery has paved new roads to develop more antiviral therapies.

25 Mar 2021

Food preservative may harm the immune system, shows new study

A food preservative used to prolong the shelf life of Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats, Cheez-Its and almost 1,250 other popular processed foods may harm the immune system, according to a new peer-reviewed study by Environmental Working Group.

25 Mar 2021

Shame and stigmatization of contracting COVID-19 are linked to lower compliance of social distancing

New research from the University of Kent and Leeds Beckett University has found that feelings of shame and stigmatization at the idea of contracting Covid-19 are linked to lower compliance of social distancing and the likelihood of reporting infection to authorities and potential contacts in Italy, South Korea, and the USA.

25 Mar 2021

Changing upper respiratory microbiome in children related to SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility

Researchers tested the nasopharyngeal microbiome of children up to 21 years old and found the microbiome changes with age. Specific bacteria, whose abundance also changes with age, are associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection susceptibility and severity.

25 Mar 2021

Alzheimer’s symptoms linked to COVID-induced brain injury

New research shows further evidence between COVID-19 infection and the development of long-term neurological symptoms. The findings found COVID-induced neuroinflammation and microvascular injury contributed to dementia-like symptoms. However, they also found evidence indicating a low possibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) directly invading the brain.

24 Mar 2021

Fluoxetine (Prozac) performs strongly in vitro against SARS-CoV-2 (including mutants)

Researchers from Finland, to expand on these studies, tested some of these drugs against the new SARS-CoV-2 variants. The study is published on the preprint server bioRxiv.

24 Mar 2021

Study finds rapid spread of B.1.1.220 variant with E484K mutation in New York

New research led by Patrick McGann from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research found the first cases of the B.1.1.220 variant with an E484K mutation on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein. Their results suggest the variant recently emerged as B.1.1.220 was not found in New York before December 2020. Still, it quickly made up 25% of coronavirus strains in late January and early February.

24 Mar 2021

Increased replicative fitness of SARS-CoV-2 UK strain in human bronchial cells

A recent study from France showed that the UK variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – also known as B.1.1.7 variant – can replicate much more efficiently in a reconstituted human bronchial epithelium, which may explain why it spreads so rapidly in the human population. The study is currently freely available on the bioRxiv preprint server.

24 Mar 2021

Coronavirus News and Research

Drugging RNA synthesis in SARS-CoV-2 as novel therapeutic avenue

Study observes correlation between COVID-19 mortality and autoantibodies in corticosteroid treated patients

Identification of specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with cross-neutralization potency

Nosing in on kids who had Covid and lost their sense of smell

Stop blaming Tuskegee, critics say. It’s not an ‘excuse’ for current medical racism.

Inmates’ distrust of prison health care fuels distrust of Covid vaccines

Dual-antigen COVID-19 vaccine elicits humoral and cellular immune responses in mice

Could an mRNA vaccine second dose reduce cellular immunity in previously infected individuals?

Could dry swabs provide cheaper, safer and faster material for SARS-CoV-2 testing?

Researchers examine SARS-CoV-2 RNA interactome

Food preservative may harm the immune system, shows new study

Shame and stigmatization of contracting COVID-19 are linked to lower compliance of social distancing

Changing upper respiratory microbiome in children related to SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility

Alzheimer’s symptoms linked to COVID-induced brain injury

Fluoxetine (Prozac) performs strongly in vitro against SARS-CoV-2 (including mutants)

Study finds rapid spread of B.1.1.220 variant with E484K mutation in New York

Increased replicative fitness of SARS-CoV-2 UK strain in human bronchial cells

Older adults left home mainly for physical exercise during COVID-19 first wave

Deep learning tool predicts hosts based on early SARS-CoV-2 samples

Researchers propose a new group testing method for COVID-19

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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