Respiratory News and Research

RSS

Reduced ambulatory function in cancer survivors associated with increased risk of death

Bottom Line: Cancer survivors had a greater risk of reduced ambulatory function, which was associated with an increased risk of death.

4 Mar 2021

Researchers show potential benefits of delaying second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose

The currently approved mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech help create neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Both companies designed their vaccines to be delivered in two doses. However, given the limited supply of vaccines worldwide, a new modeling study has suggested that vaccinating more people with the first dose and delaying the second could be an alternate route to achieving population immunity that could reduce mortality rates.

4 Mar 2021

Multiple COVID-19 variants of concern have reached Houston, Texas

New research by a team at Houston Methodist Hospital in the United States has modeled the aggressive genomic sequencing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) observed in the United Kingdom to document viral community spread in Houston, Texas.

4 Mar 2021

Cell surface marker CD47 may allow early diagnosis of severe COVID-19

A new study reports the potential of the cell surface marker, CD47, as a biomarker for hyperinflammation, a characteristic feature of severe COVID-19.

4 Mar 2021

Novel host-viral-microbiome interactions during COVID-19 may determine outcome

A new preprint on the medRxiv* server discusses how the underlying disease mechanisms are regulated such that the local or mucosal immune response is distinct from the systemic response.

4 Mar 2021

Researchers detect vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk

A new paper released on the medRxiv* preprint server describes, for the first time, the detection of antibodies to the virus in human breast milk following the vaccination of lactating mothers. This could guide patients, their healthcare providers, and public health policymakers alike as to the deployment of the vaccines in pregnant and lactating mothers.

4 Mar 2021

Coronavirus deranges the immune system in complex and deadly ways

There's a reason soldiers go through basic training before heading into combat: Without careful instruction, green recruits armed with powerful weapons could be as dangerous to one another as to the enemy.

4 Mar 2021

Research looks at COVID vaccine hesitancy and refusal among the U.S. public

Vaccination against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rolled out in many countries, including the United States. As the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continues to rise, vaccinating many people in the population is crucial. Despite campaigns to inform residents of the benefits of vaccines, many are still reluctant to get vaccinated.

4 Mar 2021

Study suggests no protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection from recent exposure to HCoVs

In the study, published on the pre-print server medRxiv*, the researchers found a slight but significantly elevated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with young children between 10 months and five years old. However, recent exposure to human coronaviruses does not reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with young children.

4 Mar 2021

Study reports persistent SARS-CoV-2 with increasing viral variants in pediatric patients

New research, published on medRxiv preprint server, has reported the effect of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised children and young adults.

4 Mar 2021

Rapid point-of-care test used to diagnose respiratory infections can reduce antibiotic prescribing

A rapid microbiological point-of-care test to diagnose respiratory infections has proved popular with GPs and could reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care, according to a National Institute for Health Research funded study by researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol.

4 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants do not substantially affect CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, study shows

Researchers from California in the United States have conducted a study showing that important adaptive immune responses to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not affected by four recently emerged variants of the virus.

3 Mar 2021

Study shows lower antibody cross-reactivity after infection with the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant

In a recent research paper currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, a diverse group of researchers has examined the immunogenicity of antibodies against the variant B.1.1.7 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) initially found in the United Kingdom – and revealed diminished recognition and neutralization of either parental strains or the South African variant.

3 Mar 2021

COVID risk to households and teachers from in person schooling

When researchers analyzed the responses of the COVID-19 Symptom Survey in the United States, they found an increased risk of COVID-19 for household members when children had in-person schooling.

3 Mar 2021

Results from phase 2 trial of Novavax recombinant nanoparticle SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Novavax, Inc., the American vaccine development company, has been developing a recombinant protein nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine currently termed NVX-CoV2373. The full-length spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is created in a baculovirus vector, which is then inserted into a lipid nanoparticle around 50 nm in diameter.

3 Mar 2021

Genetic variation associated with COVID-19 outcome

Host genetics play a role in disease progression and prognosis. A paper recently uploaded to the preprint server medRxiv by Dubé et al. (1st March 2021) identifies several alleles associated with the gene natriuretic peptide receptor C (NPR3) that may impact disease severity.

3 Mar 2021

Study reveals how racial discrimination in home-renting affects environmental inequality

Economists and urban planners generally agree that local pollution sources disproportionally impact racial minorities in the U.S. The reasons for this are largely unclear, but a University of Illinois study provides new insights into the issue.

3 Mar 2021

Low-cost, non-electric ventilator allows non-specialized workers to treat COVID-19 patients

A team of engineers from Loughborough University has designed and built a unique low-cost, non-electric ventilator in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3 Mar 2021

Cigarette smoke toxicity impacts protective biofilm in the lungs, study finds

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Researchers (BGU) have found for the first time that cigarette smoke toxicity impacts the protective biofilm in the lungs, particularly concerning when paired with COVID-19 respiratory issues.

3 Mar 2021

Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effective from day 11 post 1st vaccination

New research from a team of scientists in Australia finds that the second ‘booster’ dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine did not increase vaccine efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The results suggest one dose of the vaccine was sufficient in providing a robust immune response 11 days after inoculation.

3 Mar 2021

Respiratory News and Research

Reduced ambulatory function in cancer survivors associated with increased risk of death

Researchers show potential benefits of delaying second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose

Multiple COVID-19 variants of concern have reached Houston, Texas

Cell surface marker CD47 may allow early diagnosis of severe COVID-19

Novel host-viral-microbiome interactions during COVID-19 may determine outcome

Researchers detect vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk

Coronavirus deranges the immune system in complex and deadly ways

Research looks at COVID vaccine hesitancy and refusal among the U.S. public

Study suggests no protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection from recent exposure to HCoVs

Study reports persistent SARS-CoV-2 with increasing viral variants in pediatric patients

Rapid point-of-care test used to diagnose respiratory infections can reduce antibiotic prescribing

SARS-CoV-2 variants do not substantially affect CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, study shows

Study shows lower antibody cross-reactivity after infection with the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant

COVID risk to households and teachers from in person schooling

Results from phase 2 trial of Novavax recombinant nanoparticle SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

Genetic variation associated with COVID-19 outcome

Study reveals how racial discrimination in home-renting affects environmental inequality

Low-cost, non-electric ventilator allows non-specialized workers to treat COVID-19 patients

Cigarette smoke toxicity impacts protective biofilm in the lungs, study finds

Pfizer SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effective from day 11 post 1st vaccination

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Latest News