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 increase potency of HIV-1 antibody, identify new ways to develop vaccines

Much like coronavirus, circulating HIV-1 viruses mutate into diverse variants that pose challenges for scientists developing vaccines to protect people from HIV/AIDS.

12 Mar 2021

Spike protein mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants help resist antibody neutralization

Researchers based in Beijing and Shenzhen, China, report that they have identified mutations in the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that may allow variant strains to avoid neutralization by monoclonal antibodies and convalescent blood plasma.

11 Mar 2021

N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 responsible for increased viral transmission

Researchers at the University of Texas, USA, have confirmed the specific mutation in the B.1.1.7 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has allowed for it to be more transmissible than the ancestral strain. The N501Y substitution is one of 8 spike protein substitutions present in the UK variant and has also appeared convergently in the Brazil (P.1) and South Africa (B.1.351) variants.

11 Mar 2021

Structure and function of locked conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein identified

A new preprint research paper, posted to the bioRxiv* server, uncovered more information on the different structural conformations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The findings suggest the spike protein turns into a locked state to stabilize the spike protein during virus egress.

11 Mar 2021

Delaying second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may be feasible in some cases

Researchers in Spain have conducted the most extensive study to date investigating the effectiveness of vaccinating healthcare workers with a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

11 Mar 2021

Study addresses glycosylation concerns in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine design

An international team of researchers has found that glycosylation patterns are conserved across the native spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – and the recombinant spike proteins made in laboratories for use in vaccines.

11 Mar 2021

Newly discovered cellular stress enzyme may be a target for neurodegenerative disease treatments

An enzyme called MARK2 has been identified as a key stress-response switch in cells in a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

11 Mar 2021

Princeton researchers elucidate how hepatitis B virus establishes chronic infection

Researchers at Princeton have determined how five cellular proteins contribute to an essential step in the life cycle of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

11 Mar 2021

Researchers discover new protein that may play a key role in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the underlying condition that causes heart attacks and strokes. Researchers at Radboudumc in the Netherlands have discovered a protein that appears to play an important role in atherosclerosis.

11 Mar 2021

Novel CRISPR-based gene editor developed to correct mutations that cause genetic disorders

A team of researchers from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*STAR) Genome Institute of Singapore have developed a CRISPR-based gene editor, C-to-G Base Editor (CGBE), to correct mutations that cause genetic disorders.

11 Mar 2021

People previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 may achieve immunity after one mRNA vaccine dose, finds study

A team of researchers led by Thomas W. McDade of Northwestern University suggests people who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, may require only one dose of the mRNA vaccine to obtain immunity.

11 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can infect blood monocytes and trigger inflammation, finds study

Researchers found about 10% of blood monocytes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These monocytes then die, leading to the release of cytokines – a feature associated with severe and critical COVID-19.

11 Mar 2021

Promega launches XpressAmp™ Direct Amplification Reagents

Promega Corporation has released XpressAmp™ Direct Amplification Reagents that facilitate RNA extraction-free sample preparation that is automation-friendly.

From Promega Corporation 11 Mar 2021

Is a single mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose enough for recovered individuals?

A new study deals with the evaluation of adaptive immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in candidates who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

11 Mar 2021

Researchers develop assay for qualitative assessment of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies

To address the need for a high-quality neutralization assay against SARS-CoV-2, researchers from the NIAID modified and optimized a previously established fluorescence reduction neutralization assay (FRNA) to provide a quantitative assessment of a large number of infected cells through the use of a high-content imaging system.

11 Mar 2021

Nanobody works against all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in animal model

Researchers based in Belgium have developed a new antibody drug that is highly successful at neutralizing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Syrian hamsters. The new biologic was administered to the rodents and was found to be equally successful at neutralizing the original severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain, and also the new mutant variants, such as the South African and UK strains.

11 Mar 2021

Researchers use EPR spectroscopy to learn more about "Parkinson protein"

The protein α-synuclein is one of the most abundant proteins in the human brain. It is often referred to as the "Parkinson protein", as deposition of this protein in brain cells is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease.

11 Mar 2021

Information from ancient teeth could reveal new insights about the past

There's a surprising amount of information stored in the hardened plaque, or calculus, between teeth. And if that calculus belongs to the remains of a person who lived in ancient times, the information could reveal new insights about the past.

11 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit induces hypercoagulability

The vascular complications of the condition include a range of various coagulopathies that cause bleeding and thrombocytopenia or a hypercoagulable state. A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv server describes the role of a fibrinogen-related protein in inducing these clinical features of COVID-19.

10 Mar 2021

Newly-discovered bat coronavirus 94.5% identical to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in China and Australia have reported the discovery of novel bat coronaviruses that further reveal the diversity and complex evolutionary history of these viruses.

10 Mar 2021

Protein News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists increase potency of HIV-1 antibody, identify new ways to develop vaccines

Spike protein mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants help resist antibody neutralization

N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 responsible for increased viral transmission

Structure and function of locked conformation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein identified

Delaying second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may be feasible in some cases

Study addresses glycosylation concerns in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine design

Newly discovered cellular stress enzyme may be a target for neurodegenerative disease treatments

Princeton researchers elucidate how hepatitis B virus establishes chronic infection

Researchers discover new protein that may play a key role in atherosclerosis

Novel CRISPR-based gene editor developed to correct mutations that cause genetic disorders

People previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 may achieve immunity after one mRNA vaccine dose, finds study

SARS-CoV-2 can infect blood monocytes and trigger inflammation, finds study

Promega launches XpressAmp™ Direct Amplification Reagents

Is a single mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose enough for recovered individuals?

Researchers develop assay for qualitative assessment of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies

Nanobody works against all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in animal model

Researchers use EPR spectroscopy to learn more about "Parkinson protein"

Information from ancient teeth could reveal new insights about the past

SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit induces hypercoagulability

Newly-discovered bat coronavirus 94.5% identical to SARS-CoV-2

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