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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

Unique nanoparticle can deliver genome editing technology to endothelial cells

The lab of Youyang Zhao, PhD, from Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago developed a unique nanoparticle to deliver genome editing technology, including CRISPR/Cas9, to endothelial cells, which are cells that line blood vessel walls.

4 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant highly resistant to vaccine-elicited and therapeutic antibodies

Researchers analyzed convalescent sera and sera from immunized individuals to demonstrate the evasion of antibodies by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

3 Jan 2022

At least 3 exposures to vaccine or virus needed for minimum protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

Researchers determine the serum neutralizing and binding activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in individuals with different levels of immunity.

29 Dec 2021

Exploring the plasma neutralization properties of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

A new study determines the ability of individuals with varying exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination, to neutralize SARS- CoV-2 pseudotypes.

16 Dec 2021

Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in mothers and infants

A new study assessed nAb activities against five strains of SARS-CoV-2 in paired maternal and infant cord blood samples.

15 Dec 2021

Researchers introduce new method for observing cell interactions

Researchers created a system that allows scientists to ‘log’ a cell’s reactions to external stimuli within the cell’s genetic material.

2 Dec 2021

Severe COVID-19 may result in premature aging in recovered patients

As COVID-19 has been found to cause frontal cortex impairment similar to aging, the scientists in a recent study attempted to investigate if severe COVID-19 resulted in aging-related molecular signatures in the brain. The findings from this study are published as a preprint on the medRxiv* server.

28 Nov 2021

Antigenic cocktail produced in Nicotiana benthamian plant as a potential COVID-19 vaccine candidate

Scientists utilize N. benthamiana for producing the N-protein and an antigenic cocktail containing the N-protein and SARS-CoV-2 S RBD.

23 Nov 2021

A nasal COVID vaccine using a weakened influenza vector

The authors of a new study, published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, constructed a COVID-19 nasal vaccine candidate by inserting a gene encoding the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, named CA4-dNS1-nCoV-RBD (dNS1-RBD) in a live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vector.

18 Nov 2021

Novel strategy to produce SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein for serological testing

New research discusses an alternative method of purifying the SARS-CoV-2 N protein using only metal exchange chromatography and denaturing conditions.

18 Nov 2021

Interactions between SARS-CoV-2 S protein and ACE2 receptor using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Researchers used advanced two-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy to demonstrate the interaction between human ACE2 and the S1 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV.

17 Nov 2021

Discovery of new receptor that interacts with SARS-CoV-2 spike, suppresses infection

Researchers recently conducted a study to identify host factors affecting cellular interactions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

16 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 finds SARS-CoV-2 infection is proportional to cell surface ACE2 levels

Researchers from Oregon State University have developed a system to assess the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to bind to ACE2 orthologs.

26 Oct 2021

Replication of SARS-CoV-2 variants in different cell and organ models

In this study, the replication of B.1.1.7 viruses was analyzed in different cell and organ models and dwarf hamsters.

22 Oct 2021

Suggested mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibition by Mitoxantrone

A group of researchers performed a drug repurposing screen on an FDA-approved anti-cancer drug named Mitoxantrone.

20 Oct 2021

Two defense systems in bacteria work in a complementary manner to protect from viruses

A new study led by a team of bioscientists from Durham University, UK, in collaboration with University of Liverpool, Northumbria University and New England Biolabs, hopes to exploit newly characterized defense systems in bacteria to compare changes to the human genome.

18 Oct 2021

Phase 1 open-label trial shows SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine induces durable immune response

The efficacy and safety of a DNA-based vaccine are investigated, finding that the unique vaccine imparts a robust and long-lasting immunogenic response.

15 Oct 2021

Study reveals a highly effective COVID-19 screening system utilizing a live cell-based assay

A new study reports a cell-based assay that involved the isolation and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in human cells in the absence of other proteins.

14 Oct 2021