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After SARS-CoV-2 booster dose memory B cells adapt to Omicron

Memory B cells never forget recurrent viral exposures and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is no exception, according to a new medRxiv* preprint study.

5 Jan 2022

Scientists discover a division of labor between genetic switches

Two X chromosomes are actually one too many. Female mammalian cells hence switch off one of them – but only when the cells start to specialize into tissues.

5 Jan 2022

Analyzing cell-free RNA could reliably predict preeclampsia

Imaging techniques such as ultrasound technologies and minimally invasive procedures are powerful tools for assessing pregnancy health and progression.

5 Jan 2022

Horizontal gene transfer between viruses and hosts plays a major role in driving evolution

The first comprehensive analysis of viral horizontal gene transfer (HGT) illustrates the extent to which viruses pick up genes from their hosts to hone their infection process, while at the same time hosts also co-opt useful viral genes.

5 Jan 2022

Distrust in state power closely linked vaccine hesitancy

Distrust of the state in Turkey, religion and abortion resistance in the United States. Politics and culture are just as important in explaining vaccine hesitancy as health.

5 Jan 2022

Scientists unravel how LPS prevents or promotes development of allergic disease

Immunologists have long been baffled by LPS, the bacterial lipopolysaccharide that helps form the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria.

5 Jan 2022

New compound could combat multidrug-resistant pathogens in healthcare settings

For years, public-health experts have been sounding the alarm about the next phase in humanity's co-existence with bacteria - a dark future where emerging strains have rendered once-powerful antibiotics useless.

5 Jan 2022

Folic acid-like drug reprograms DNA methylome of aggressive brain tumors

A folic acid-like drug, L-methylfolate, when administered alongside the standard therapy for patients with recurrent glioblastoma, changed aDNA process within their brain tumors, according to results from a phase 1 clinical trial.

5 Jan 2022

Anti-fogging sprays and cloths may contain high levels of PFAS, finds study

The anti-fogging sprays and cloths many people use to prevent condensation on their eyeglasses when wearing a mask or face shield may contain high levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), a new Duke University-led study finds.

5 Jan 2022

Study uncovers a harmful neutrophil behavior linked to cardiovascular disease

Scientists led by Dr. Andrés Hidalgo at the Centro Nacional de Investigadores Cardiovasculares have discovered that circulating neutrophils - a type of immune cell - acquire different behavior patterns during inflammatory processes.

5 Jan 2022

NRL researchers aim to advance understanding of how cells organize and communicate

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory researchers in the Chemistry Division apply their knowledge of biology in conjunction with materials to improve understanding of how cells and tissues organize and apply new methods to affect cell communication.

5 Jan 2022

Researchers develop new tool to predict pre-eclampsia

A study of pregnant women's blood RNA has found specific molecular profiles that identify women at risk of pre-eclampsia. These insights can identify complications before a woman experiences symptoms.

5 Jan 2022

Exploring SARS-CoV-2-like viruses to mitigate the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans

In a new study, a team of researchers developed a genetic assay to evaluate several clade 2 and clade 3 receptor-binding domains (RBD) of spike (S) protein sequences of genus sarbecovirus.

5 Jan 2022

Exploring vaccine-induced cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

In a new study, researchers determined CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in 51 individuals vaccinated with the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based Pfizer and adenovirus vector-based Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

5 Jan 2022

Comparison of the mutational profile of Omicron with other SARS-CoV-2 lineages

Researchers from nference labs in Massachusetts have been examining the origins of a particular mutation in the Omicron variant.

5 Jan 2022

Efficacy of COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy in patients with hematological malignancies and COVID-19

Scientists recently demonstrated the efficacy of COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy in improving the survival rate among patients with B-cell lymphoid malignancy and COVID-19.

5 Jan 2022

Oral bacteria-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine platform

In a new study, researchers engineered the bacterial strain, Salmonella, to express differently-sized antigens to serve as vaccine platforms.

5 Jan 2022

Drugs that block mineralocorticoid receptor may help protect bone cells during aging

Drugs we take like prednisone can weaken our bones and so can aging, and scientists working to prevent both have some of the first evidence that the best target may not be the logical one.

5 Jan 2022

Nucleocapsid protein preferentially binds to structured and longer RNA to deliver viral proteins in host circulation

Results from a new study could be crucial in studying the molecular and biochemical basis of SARS-CoV-2 infection at a more granular level and help in strategizing therapeutic solutions to treat and manage COVID-19 effectively.

5 Jan 2022

Researchers compare survival rates of AML patients treated with two forms of transplantation methods

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common type of blood cancer that has a relatively low survival rate. It is particularly deadly for patients suffering from refractory and relapsed AML (R/R AML), meaning their cancer has stopped responding to treatment and has returned after a period of remission.

5 Jan 2022