Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

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 find evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infects cells in the mouth

An international team of scientists has found evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, infects cells in the mouth.

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

NCCN Annual Conference discusses new ways to improve cancer care

New recommendations to advance racial equity, ways to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care, and ongoing strategies for preventing and controlling HPV-associated cancers led the conversation at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) 2021 Virtual Annual Conference March 18-20.

25 Mar 2021

Researchers are testing wearable devices to detect early Alzheimer's, other neurodegenerative diseases

The development of a wearable to detect early Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases years before symptoms show has taken a step closer to reality today, as UK charity Alzheimer's Research UK announces a partnership with Boston University that will see the first digital data flowing into its global Early Detection of Neurodegenerative diseases (EDoN) initiative.

25 Mar 2021

New resource textbook can help improve behavioral science, health disparities

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), part of the National Institutes of Health, has published an authoritative resource textbook designed to help researchers better understand the framework for conducting minority health and health disparities science.

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

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

‘COVID-19 fears’ prevent many Africans from accessing malaria treatment

Fears of contracting COVID-19 are preventing people accessing vital health services, experts say.

24 Mar 2021

New initiatives expand COVID-19 saliva-based testing to underserved schools in Illinois

The University of Illinois System, with a $1.4 million grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, announces the expansion of its SHIELD Illinois and SHIELD CU COVID-19 testing initiatives to help safely reopen underserved K-12 schools in communities across the state using the covidSHIELD test, an innovative, saliva-based test developed at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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

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

In spring 2020, when the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic hit Finland, older adults drastically reduced their out-of-home activities.

24 Mar 2021

Researchers characterize a potential therapeutic target to weaken COVID-19

When invaded by a virus, our body cells launch an alert to neighboring cells to increase their antiviral defenses to prevent the infection from spreading.

24 Mar 2021

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

The study, which appeared on the pre-print server bioRxiv*, revealed how DeepHoF could help prevent future outbreaks that may become as large as the current pandemic.

24 Mar 2021

Researchers propose a new group testing method for COVID-19

Researchers Mario Guarracino from the HSE Laboratory of Algorithms and Technologies for Networks Analysis in Nizhny Novgorod and Julius Žilinskas and Algirdas Lančinskas from Vilnius University, have proposed a new method of testing for COVID-19.

24 Mar 2021

New copper-based foam filter could be used in facemasks or air filtration systems

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have grown accustomed to wearing facemasks, but many coverings are fragile and not easily disinfected. Metal foams are durable, and their small pores and large surface areas suggest they could effectively filter out microbes. Now

24 Mar 2021

Survey finds a steady increase in acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers

A survey of Geisinger employees conducted over two weeks in December 2020 found a steady increase in intent among healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

24 Mar 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

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 find evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infects cells in the mouth

Researchers examine SARS-CoV-2 RNA interactome

Food preservative may harm the immune system, shows new study

NCCN Annual Conference discusses new ways to improve cancer care

Researchers are testing wearable devices to detect early Alzheimer's, other neurodegenerative diseases

New resource textbook can help improve behavioral science, health disparities

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

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

‘COVID-19 fears’ prevent many Africans from accessing malaria treatment

New initiatives expand COVID-19 saliva-based testing to underserved schools in Illinois

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

Researchers characterize a potential therapeutic target to weaken COVID-19

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

Researchers propose a new group testing method for COVID-19

New copper-based foam filter could be used in facemasks or air filtration systems

Survey finds a steady increase in acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers

Best practices - optimize qPCR processes for pathogen detection eBook

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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