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What safety measures have food suppliers implemented in response to COVID-19?

Researchers surveyed small to large food companies in 16 countries on food safety attributes and emergency plans. They found that less than half the food companies had documented putting emergency plans in place for pandemics and public health crises.

9 Dec 2020

Neutrophils may play a key role in COVID-19-related thrombosis

A team of researchers in Italy have published a study suggesting that rather than platelets, neutrophils could be playing the lead role in thrombotic complications associated with COVID-19.

9 Dec 2020

Considerable COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in UK may affect herd immunity, study finds

Scientists from the Imperial College London and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, UK, have conducted a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey to evaluate the public’s willingness to receive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and their attitude toward prioritization.

9 Dec 2020

Predicting SARS-CoV-2 protein sequences

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, consists of an assembly of proteins that determine its infectious and immunological behavior.

9 Dec 2020

Interim results show Oxford COVID-19 vaccine protects against symptomatic disease

First full results from interim analysis confirm that the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine (AZD1222) has an acceptable safety profile and is efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 disease, with no hospitalizations or severe disease reported in the COVID-19 vaccine group so far.

9 Dec 2020

Researchers compare data from blood donors to infer the attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 virus

Researchers studying data from blood donors in Manaus, Brazil, who experienced high mortality from SARS-CoV-2, estimate that more than 70% of the population was infected approximately seven months after the virus first arrived in the city.

9 Dec 2020

Scientists determine key molecular processes used by coronavirus to infect human cells

When a coronavirus--including SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19--infects someone, it hijacks the person's cells, co-opting their molecular machinery for its own survival and spread.

9 Dec 2020

Researchers assess the binding behavior of SARS-CoV-2 virus

The binding of a SARS-CoV-2 virus surface protein spike -- a projection from the spherical virus particle -- to the human cell surface protein ACE2 is the first step to infection that may lead to COVID-19 disease.

8 Dec 2020

Amilorides reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in vitro

A new U.S. study published on the bioRxiv preprint server reports the use of an amiloride-based scaffold that targets a viral RNA structure known to be essential in viral replication in the 5’-untranslated region (UTR) of the virus. The researchers say this heralds the application of these molecules as chemical probes to explore viral biology and produce specific antivirals targeting RNA regions of the coronavirus genome.

8 Dec 2020

UC Davis Health joins with Novavax to test a new experimental coronavirus vaccine

Despite the encouraging news of potentially successful COVID-19 vaccine trials, there is not yet an FDA-approved vaccine available. Research into other effective coronavirus vaccines continues, including at UC Davis Health.

8 Dec 2020

FASLG gene may drive cytokine-linked adverse COVID-19 outcomes with age

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in December 2020 reveals the role played by certain genetic factors in this group, in particular the FASLG gene belonging to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family.

8 Dec 2020

Troublesome COVID-19 symptoms could last more than 6 weeks

Physicians in Geneva have shown that some of the troublesome symptoms of COVID-19 could last more than 6 weeks, even in patients without underlying risk factors.

8 Dec 2020

High-performing multi-immunoassay for early diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in December 2020 indicates the ability of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and time of induction to differentiate between severe and mild COVID-19 and could lead to the development of a prognostic biomarker for use early in the course of the illness.

8 Dec 2020

Why is COVID-19 more severe among adults than children?

Researchers in Switzerland and Australia have reviewed some of the mechanisms proposed regarding why coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is generally less severe among children than among adults.

8 Dec 2020

Researchers find elevated biomarker for blood vessel damage in children with SARS-CoV-2

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have found elevated levels of a biomarker related to blood vessel damage in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection, even if the children had minimal or no symptoms of COVID-19.

8 Dec 2020

Reducing aerosol transmission could help tackle COVID-19 pandemic

Aerosols and their spread play an essential role in the transmission of COVID-19. However, the risk of transmission could be significantly reduced if more could be done to reduce indoor airborne viruses.

8 Dec 2020

COVID-19 may be linked to acute appendicitis in children

Researchers at the University of Virginia have recently presented a case series pointing to a potential association between infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the development of acute appendicitis in children.

8 Dec 2020

Lipid storm in severe COVID-19 linked to high COX/LOX pathway activity

A potentially valuable new study discusses the role of lipids in the hyper-inflammatory phenomena that take place within the lungs of patients with severe or critical COVID-19. Involving a large variety of specialized lipids with biological activity, this process includes the generation and release of pro and anti-inflammatory lipids.

8 Dec 2020

Transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in children: an Indian case study

Researchers have studied the primary contacts of COVID-19 positive children in India in May 2020 and found all children to be asymptomatic, and only four of the parents became positive. Although this suggests lower transmission from children, no recommendations can be made yet on school reopening.

8 Dec 2020

Peracetic acid fumigation as powerful and cost-effective disinfectant of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces

In a recent study, researchers at the Public Health Agency of Canada found that dry fog fumigation using peracetic acid (PAA) completely deactivated SARS-CoV-2 on all nine of their test surfaces.

8 Dec 2020