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SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion mutations may evade current vaccine candidates, study finds

A thought-provoking new study reports that the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike antibodies elicited by natural infection may not be able to neutralize emerging strains that display deletion mutations in their genomic RNA.

23 Nov 2020

Researchers develop recombinant SARS-CoV-2 model to aid vaccine and antiviral research

Researchers have developed a fluorescent reporter gene-bearing recombinant form of SARS-CoV-2, which is capable of replication.

23 Nov 2020

Chicago seroprevalence study shows COVID-19 cases 16 times higher than currently predicted

A startling new case study of Chicago, led by a team of researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois, USA, suggests a 16-fold higher incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection than previously thought. This is judging from seroprevalence (antibody presence blood testing) figures, rather than the number of RT-PCR-positives reported there (via swab sample testing of symptomatic patients).

23 Nov 2020

Move to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars could benefit the health of professional drivers

As the Government announced today it will bring forward a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars by five years to 2030, new research shows professional drivers would benefit from improvements to their respiratory health, reducing their risks of cancers caused by their work.

20 Nov 2020

New model provides better understanding of lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis

For young people with cystic fibrosis, lung infection with Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, is common and is treated with antibiotics in the hope that this will prevent a decline in lung function.

19 Nov 2020

Detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 120 days post-infection in Chicago case study

In a recent study, a team of researchers at Northwestern University, USA, had found that nearly 20 percent seroprevalence in the United States metropolitan site, Chicago, over the summer, during a period when lockdown restrictions were eased. They found that three-quarters of seropositive individuals retained detectable antibodies for at least 120 days or four months.

19 Nov 2020

New technique gives a "street view" of vital lipid membranes surrounding organelles

The ability to "see" the inner workings of structures (organelles) within cells, in real time, offers the promise of advancements in disease diagnosis and treatment.

18 Nov 2020

New approach uses a nanosensor to speed up early-stage disease diagnosis

Catching deadly diseases like cancer early on is key to improving patient survival odds. However, diseases are much harder to diagnose in their preliminary stages because people often haven't developed symptoms yet and only trace amounts can be found in their bodies.

18 Nov 2020

Bioelectronic rapid test for COVID-19

A recent study presents a bioelectronic sensor platform to detect protein at the single-molecule level that is simple, rapid, and robust enough for widespread POC (point-of-care) or bedside application.

18 Nov 2020

Patients' own stem cells can be used to grow new bones, study shows

A new, groundbreaking study from the University of Bergen shows that a patients' own stem cells can be used to grow new bone.

16 Nov 2020

Professional drivers regularly exposed to hazardous levels of diesel emissions, study finds

While taxi drivers wearing face masks have become a common sight in our cities, new research shows there’s a longer-standing threat to the health of professional drivers than coronavirus.

16 Nov 2020

PARP inhibitor, stenoparib inhibits pre- and post-entry processes of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

A team of researchers from the Northern Arizona University evaluated a new PARP inhibitor, stenoparib, which has recently advanced to Stage II of clinical trials to treat ovarian cancer. Their study, an initial report on in vitro stenoparib activity against human coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, has been published on the preprint server bioRxiv*.

15 Nov 2020

Research looks at aerobiomes, trees and implications for public health

In a recent bioRxiv preprint paper, Jake M. Robinson and colleagues study the dynamics of 'aerobiome' - the collection of microorganisms in a given airspace, with respect to the height from the ground level.

12 Nov 2020

SARS-CoV-2-induces temporary loss of smell in mice

Now, a new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in November 2020 presents the onset of olfactory dysfunction (loss of smell) in mice infected with the virus, examining this process at the cellular level. In doing so, this study throws more light on this curious symptom and COVID-19’s manifestations outside the lungs.

12 Nov 2020

Rhesus monkeys and cats potential spillover reservoirs for COVID-19 virus

A team of researchers from Switzerland, Costa Rica and Germany has conducted a study showing which animal species could potentially serve as spillback reservoirs of severe acute repertory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

12 Nov 2020

"Cat's claw" extract inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Researchers in Columbia and Peru have shown that Uncaria tomentosa – a woody vine native to South America known of as "Cat's claw" – exerts in vitro antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

12 Nov 2020

London-based Veraco launches product range to reduce microbes on frequently touched surfaces

London based Veraco has designed and manufactured a range of Antimicrobial adhesive pads and wraps to be used on frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles, shopping trolleys and handrails.

12 Nov 2020

Implantable smart wrap may help people who have under-active bladders

An implantable smart wrap that fits safely and securely around the bladder may one day help people who have under-active bladders, a condition that hinders patients from urinating regularly and comfortably, according to an international team of researchers.

11 Nov 2020

Promising new antivirals target arboviruses and SARS-CoV-2: Nodosome inhibitors

A new study describes two promising small molecules that inhibit a host cell factor, called nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), that inhibits the replication and spread of many arboviruses. This could lead to the development of broad-spectrum antivirals. The study's findings have been published on the preprint server bioRxiv*.

10 Nov 2020

Open-source online platform offers better insight into biomedical images

Recent years have seen dramatic improvements in imaging technologies that result in higher resolutions and faster acquisition times.

10 Nov 2020

micro News and Research

SARS-CoV-2 spike deletion mutations may evade current vaccine candidates, study finds

Researchers develop recombinant SARS-CoV-2 model to aid vaccine and antiviral research

Chicago seroprevalence study shows COVID-19 cases 16 times higher than currently predicted

Move to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars could benefit the health of professional drivers

New model provides better understanding of lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis

Detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 120 days post-infection in Chicago case study

New technique gives a "street view" of vital lipid membranes surrounding organelles

New approach uses a nanosensor to speed up early-stage disease diagnosis

Bioelectronic rapid test for COVID-19

Patients' own stem cells can be used to grow new bones, study shows

Professional drivers regularly exposed to hazardous levels of diesel emissions, study finds

PARP inhibitor, stenoparib inhibits pre- and post-entry processes of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Research looks at aerobiomes, trees and implications for public health

SARS-CoV-2-induces temporary loss of smell in mice

Rhesus monkeys and cats potential spillover reservoirs for COVID-19 virus

"Cat's claw" extract inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

London-based Veraco launches product range to reduce microbes on frequently touched surfaces

Implantable smart wrap may help people who have under-active bladders

Promising new antivirals target arboviruses and SARS-CoV-2: Nodosome inhibitors

Open-source online platform offers better insight into biomedical images

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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