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Commercial assays detect mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in most vaccinated participants

A recent study by researchers from Canada aimed to examine the ability of commercial assays to detect vaccine-induced antibodies and recognize the vaccination response.

12 Apr 2021

GACVS COVID-19 reviews rare cases of blood clots following AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination

The COVID-19 subcommittee of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has reviewed reports of rare cases of blood clots with low platelets following vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (including Covishield) since their onset a few weeks ago.

12 Apr 2021

More than 100 economies receive life-saving COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX

More than one hundred economies have received life-saving COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX, the global mechanism for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The milestone comes 42 days after the first COVAX doses were shipped and delivered internationally, to Ghana on 24 February 2021.

12 Apr 2021

Global fundraising campaign to provide resources to health facilities treating COVID-19 patients

Champion goalkeeper Alisson Becker, World Health Organization (WHO) Goodwill ambassador for health promotion, is kickstarting a new global fundraising campaign, titled "Give a Breath for Health," driven by the WHO Foundation and WHO.

12 Apr 2021

Lung microbiome predicts COVID-19 disease severity

A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv* server found changes to the lung microbiome during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection influence COVID-19 disease severity.

12 Apr 2021

mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy provides passive SARS-CoV-2 immunity to neonates 16 days after first dose

Recently, a group of researchers analyzed 122 pregnant women and their neonates at the time of birth. All the women studied received 1 or both doses of a messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccine for COVID-19. Of the 122 women part of the study, 55 had received only the first dose of the vaccine while 67 women had received both doses of the mRNA vaccine by the time they gave birth; 85 women had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and 37 women received the Moderna vaccine. The study is published on the preprint server, bioRxiv.

11 Apr 2021

Researchers unveil new SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor that targets viral immune evasion

In a recent quest for an effective antiviral compound, UK researchers have purified a specific enzyme of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) known as nsp15 and optimized fluorescent biochemical endoribonuclease assays to screen a custom chemical library with over 5,000 commercial compounds. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

11 Apr 2021

L452R and Y453F SARS-CoV-2 mutations increase transmission and evade immunity

Mutations from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have created multiple variants. Some variants, such as those found in South Africa and Brazil, have caused concern for their potential to evade the immune response. While vaccination efforts are underway, the world is racing against the viruses’ ability to evolve under selective pressure.

11 Apr 2021

Pregnant women transmit SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine-induced antibodies to fetus

Pregnant women are at high risk for severe COVID-19 infection and death. Yet, insufficient safety data on babies has led many guidelines to leave the decision-making and potential threats to future mothers. While the vaccine trials did not directly test pregnant women, more real-world data suggests the vaccine may provide immunity benefits to newborns through breastmilk.

11 Apr 2021

Previously approved drugs starting points for COVID-19 therapeutics

Researchers in the United States have identified several clinically approved compounds that could be repurposed for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

11 Apr 2021

New polypeptide could provide universal protection against coronaviruses

Researchers in the United States have developed an inhibitor of the spike protein found on the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that limits its formation in host human cells that would otherwise be the source of newly generated virions.

11 Apr 2021

Job and social strain associated with higher risk of coronary heart disease in women

Psychosocial stress - typically resulting from difficulty coping with challenging environments - may work synergistically to put women at significantly higher risk of developing coronary heart disease, according to a study by researchers at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health, recently published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

9 Apr 2021

SFU mathematics professor to lead new infectious disease modeling network

Simon Fraser University mathematics professor Caroline Colijn will lead a new, national infectious disease modeling network that will inform decisions related to public health threats and better prepare Canada for future pandemics.

9 Apr 2021

Federal funding to help UNT Health Science Center lead health literacy outreach in seven states

Federal funding from the National Institutes of Health will allow The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth to serve as a leader in health literacy outreach.

9 Apr 2021

Analysis highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to COVID-19 vaccine prioritization

It's time for a more nuanced approach to vaccine prioritization, as more contagious COVID-19 variants become prevalent and a third wave of infections threatens to overwhelm hospitals in some provinces, according to an analysis published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

9 Apr 2021

COVID-19 vaccine may precipitate the development of functional neurological disorder

Videos of people experiencing severe neurological symptoms, including convulsions and difficulty walking, purportedly after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, have surfaced on Facebook, YouTube and other social media channels.

9 Apr 2021

Researchers use genetics to identify potential drugs for early management of COVID-19

A new study using human genetics suggests researchers should prioritize clinical trials of drugs that target two proteins to manage COVID-19 in its early stages.

9 Apr 2021

Canada should take a more nuanced approach when setting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine priorities

When setting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine priorities, Canada should take a more nuanced approach that considers geographic and occupational risk exposures, as 75% of Canadian adults have at least 1 risk factor for severe COVID-19, argues an analysis in CMAJ.

9 Apr 2021

Tiny SARS-CoV-2 protein may have big implications for future COVID-19 treatments

A tiny protein of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that gives rise to COVID-19, may have big implications for future treatments, according to a team of Penn State researchers.

9 Apr 2021

WHO calls for urgent action to improve health for all people

COVID-19 has unfairly impacted some people more harshly than others, exacerbating existing inequities in health and welfare within and between countries. For World Health Day, 7 April 2021, WHO is therefore issuing five calls for urgent action to improve health for all people.

9 Apr 2021

covid 19 News and Research

Commercial assays detect mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in most vaccinated participants

GACVS COVID-19 reviews rare cases of blood clots following AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination

More than 100 economies receive life-saving COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX

Global fundraising campaign to provide resources to health facilities treating COVID-19 patients

Lung microbiome predicts COVID-19 disease severity

mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy provides passive SARS-CoV-2 immunity to neonates 16 days after first dose

Researchers unveil new SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor that targets viral immune evasion

L452R and Y453F SARS-CoV-2 mutations increase transmission and evade immunity

Pregnant women transmit SARS-CoV-2 and vaccine-induced antibodies to fetus

Previously approved drugs starting points for COVID-19 therapeutics

New polypeptide could provide universal protection against coronaviruses

Job and social strain associated with higher risk of coronary heart disease in women

SFU mathematics professor to lead new infectious disease modeling network

Federal funding to help UNT Health Science Center lead health literacy outreach in seven states

Analysis highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to COVID-19 vaccine prioritization

COVID-19 vaccine may precipitate the development of functional neurological disorder

Researchers use genetics to identify potential drugs for early management of COVID-19

Canada should take a more nuanced approach when setting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine priorities

Tiny SARS-CoV-2 protein may have big implications for future COVID-19 treatments

WHO calls for urgent action to improve health for all people

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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