Protein News and Research

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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

Scientists develop a high-throughput, cell-free screening platform for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody discovery

Scientists from Northwestern University, USA, have recently developed a high-throughput, automated screening platform to rapidly identify anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

8 Nov 2021

Study reveals cellular mechanism behind older adults' susceptibility to COVID-19

Among the populations most significantly affected by COVID-19 are the elderly and patients with preexisting medical conditions including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung diseases like COPD and asthma.

8 Nov 2021

Inhalation of CO2 after a traumatic experience enhances fear memory in mice

The inhalation of carbon dioxide (CO2) by mice a few hours after they formed a new fearful memory makes that memory stronger, so that the mice show more distress when they are prompted to 'retrieve' (ie, recall) it.

8 Nov 2021

Researchers link elevated levels of galectin-1 with increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg now associate elevated levels of the protein galectin-1 with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes about 18 years later.

8 Nov 2021

International Alzheimer’s trial to evaluate a combination of drugs targeting two brain proteins

Trial participant Rachel Habiger meets in 2018 with Randall J. Bateman, MD, the director of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

8 Nov 2021

Discovery of potent neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

In a recent study, the researchers identify and characterize mAbs that are effective against the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 strain and B.1.351 variant.

8 Nov 2021

Hemin as a potential therapy for COVID-19

The current study explores the antiviral activity of HO-1 induced by hemin against SARS-CoV-2 and attempts to describe the mechanism of its anti-viral action.

8 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1 deletions affect protein stability and translation inhibition

A new study discusses the purification of various Nsp1 proteins isolated from several mutated variants of SARS-CoV-2.

8 Nov 2021

Study reveals the role of SPOP protein in an inherited form of ALS

The damaging effects of toxic proteins created in one inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are mediated by a protein called SPOP, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences.

8 Nov 2021

Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in England

Researchers from Public Health England have been investigating how one of the most dangerous variants, the Delta variant, spreads within households in England.

8 Nov 2021

Ad26.COV2.S vaccine effectiveness for preventing COVID-19

A group of multi-national researchers has expanded on previous research to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine via HER data.

8 Nov 2021

Study finds SARS-CoV-2 infection of endothelial cells unlikely

Researchers from the University of Queensland have investigated whether infection of endothelial cells with SARS-CoV-2 is possible.

8 Nov 2021

Identification of a candidate effector gene at COVID-19 risk locus

A new study focuses on developing a comprehensive platform to decode the effects of sequence variation identified by GWAS.

8 Nov 2021

Study looks at how lupus genetics intersects with COVID-19

The study “Interferon pathway lupus risk alleles modulate risk of death from acute COVID-19” was recently published on the preprint medRxiv* server.

8 Nov 2021

Researchers explain why decaying SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in blood are not a problem after vaccination

A new study published in the preprint bioRxiv* server suggests vaccination helps to inflate the number of somatic hypermutations acquired by B cells. The increase in somatic hypermutations allows for an accumulation of highly matured bone marrow plasma cells.

8 Nov 2021

Pacific oyster shows antiviral activity against human coronavirus HCoV-229E

Not only are Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) a seafood delicacy, but they may also be key for helping scientists figure out how to stop the spread of coronaviruses.

7 Nov 2021

Rapid antibody response induced by mRNA COVID vaccines in mice

A new study posted in the bioRxiv* preprint server used mouse models to investigate how mRNA vaccines elicit a rapid antibody response. Their findings show two different mRNA vaccines successfully boost antibody levels — IL-5, IL-6, and MCP-1 —5 days after administration.

7 Nov 2021

Pacific oyster as a weapon against SARS-CoV-2

According to an article published in the journal Reviews in Medical Virology, the effectiveness of mollusc-derived antiviral agents has been proven in many different laboratory and animal studies, while its efficacy against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has also been proposed by recent in silico studies.

7 Nov 2021