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.

Research suggests importance of vitamin D for good health in the context of COVID-19

A researcher at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina revealed that avoiding vitamin D deficiency may help reduce the risk of severe COVID-19.

29 Nov 2020

Virusend TX-10 detergent rapidly reduces SARS-CoV-2 infectivity

Researchers at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have conducted a study showing that a novel disinfectant called Virusend TX-10 is highly effective at inactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - the agent responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

29 Nov 2020

Study exposes human olfactory and brain cells as genuine viral targets of SARS-CoV-2

In a study published in the iScience journal, a research group from Switzerland shows that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptors and entry genes are expressed in the human olfactory neuroepithelial cells and brain by observing key molecular players implicated in the infectious process

29 Nov 2020

New system allows for individual supply of disinfected air in enclosed spaces for daily use

Researchers from the University of Alicante Institute of Chemical Processes Engineering have developed a procedure that allows for the individual supply of disinfected air in enclosed spaces for daily use.

27 Nov 2020

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein shows slow but stable evolution, study finds

A new preprint published in November 2020 describes the seven different clades into which the virus has diversified.

27 Nov 2020

Could beta-blockers be a potential treatment for COVID-19?

News-Medical spoke to researchers about their latest research into beta-blockers, and how they could potentially be used to treat COVID-19.

27 Nov 2020

Study looks at the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on pediatric emergency admissions

Decreases in hospital attendances and admissions amid fears of COVID-19 may result in avoidable harm for under 16s say researchers, who warn against the "unintended consequences of pandemic control measures".

27 Nov 2020

N439K mutation of SARS-CoV-2 may be more infectious and antibody resistant than Wuhan strain

Researchers from the Harbin Institute of Technology, China, modeled the complexes formed between the RBD and the human ACE2 and monoclonal antibodies.

27 Nov 2020

Asian countries need support to get equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines

As three pharma majors, Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc announced this month the effectiveness of their experimental vaccines in preventing COVID-19, there were no guarantees that developing countries will get their fair share.

27 Nov 2020

Ipom-F inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

An international team of researchers showed the small molecule inhibitor, ipomoeassin F (Ipom-F), blocks the translocation/insertion of the three protein targets for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

27 Nov 2020

COVID-19 studies have neglected to focus on mucosal immunity, researchers argue

Researchers suggest that COVID-19 studies should focus on how mucous membranes in the mouth and nose develop immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

27 Nov 2020

Salient Bio launches robotics driven COVID-19 mass testing platform

UK diagnostics firm Salient Bio has announced the commercial roll out of its robotics driven COVID-19 mass testing platform.

27 Nov 2020

Lemann Foundation hails "spirit of co-operation' during wide-scale Brazilian clinical trial of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine

Denis Mizne, CEO of the Lemann Foundation, today hailed the “spirit of co-operation” during the wide-scale Brazilian clinical trials that helped deliver the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, following the news that it is up to 90% per cent effective after passing phase-3 global trials.

27 Nov 2020

Zonitise launches antimicrobial surface coating that constantly eliminates harmful pathogens

A biotech company has launched an antimicrobial surface treatment proven to kill harmful bacteria and viruses including TGEV coronavirus, the model virus for SARS COV 2, for up to twelve months after one application.

27 Nov 2020

Monash project aims to address post-pandemic mental health challenges of teenagers

A Monash University project will look at reducing the long-term risk of adolescent mental health problems by enhancing parents’ ability to support their children throughout the pandemic.

27 Nov 2020

Siemens Healthineers SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test demonstrates ability to detect neutralizing antibodies

Siemens Healthineers has announced its SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Test has proven to measure neutralizing antibodies and has achieved CE Mark. The test is an enhanced version of the assay which became available globally this summer.

From Siemens Healthineers 27 Nov 2020

Immunonutrition may improve COVID-19 patients' recovery

Researchers duo Emma Derbyshire and Joanne Delange from the Nutritional Insight, Surrey, United Kingdom, explore the role of immunonutrition – nutrition that boosts or influences the immune system for those over 65 years of age in COVID-19. Their study titled, “COVID-19: is there a role for immunonutrition, particularly in the over 65s?,” was released in the latest issue of the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health.

26 Nov 2020

Body mass index and severe COVID-19

French researchers led by first author Abdallah Al-Salameh from the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Nutrition, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France, have published findings of their study titled, “The association between body mass index class and coronavirus disease 2019 outcomes,” in the latest issue of the International Journal of Obesity.

26 Nov 2020

Novel early-warning framework for evaluating control and elimination of SARS-CoV-2 in NZ

Researchers from the Imperial College London and the University of Oxford recently proposed a new framework for de-noising inter-wave data, showing how timely introduction of NPIs in New Zealand achieved local epidemic elimination and avoided dangerous resurgence of infection.

26 Nov 2020

Novel cannabis plant extracts could protect against COVID-19

Researchers in Canada have conducted a study suggesting that novel Cannabis sativa extracts may decrease levels of the host cell receptor that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) uses to gain viral entry to target tissues.

26 Nov 2020

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Research suggests importance of vitamin D for good health in the context of COVID-19

Virusend TX-10 detergent rapidly reduces SARS-CoV-2 infectivity

Study exposes human olfactory and brain cells as genuine viral targets of SARS-CoV-2

New system allows for individual supply of disinfected air in enclosed spaces for daily use

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein shows slow but stable evolution, study finds

Could beta-blockers be a potential treatment for COVID-19?

Study looks at the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on pediatric emergency admissions

N439K mutation of SARS-CoV-2 may be more infectious and antibody resistant than Wuhan strain

Asian countries need support to get equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines

Ipom-F inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

COVID-19 studies have neglected to focus on mucosal immunity, researchers argue

Salient Bio launches robotics driven COVID-19 mass testing platform

Lemann Foundation hails "spirit of co-operation' during wide-scale Brazilian clinical trial of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine

Zonitise launches antimicrobial surface coating that constantly eliminates harmful pathogens

Monash project aims to address post-pandemic mental health challenges of teenagers

Siemens Healthineers SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test demonstrates ability to detect neutralizing antibodies

Immunonutrition may improve COVID-19 patients' recovery

Body mass index and severe COVID-19

Novel early-warning framework for evaluating control and elimination of SARS-CoV-2 in NZ

Novel cannabis plant extracts could protect against COVID-19

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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