Amino Acid News and Research

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Amino Acid is one of several molecules that join together to form proteins. There are 20 common amino acids found in proteins.

Researchers explore how N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 increases viral transmissibility

Researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center in The Netherlands have explored how and why new variants of SARS-CoV-2 have exhibited heightened infectivity.

24 Feb 2021

Long-lasting B cells do not recognize emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, shows study

A new analysis of B cells and more than 1,000 different monoclonal antibodies from 8 patients with COVID-19 shows that, contrary to previous hypotheses, protective B cell responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein remain stable and continue to evolve over a 5-month period, many months after the initial period of active viral replication.

23 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutations allow escape from clinical monoclonal antibodies

A new research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Jesse D. Bloom et al. (22nd Feb 2021) aims to map all of the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages with resistance towards LY-CoV555 and LY-CoV016, and document the specific mutations that confer resistance, ultimately suggesting that future monoclonal antibody cocktails should target a more diverse range of epitopes.

23 Feb 2021

L452R mutation potentially favors adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2

A team of scientists from the United States recently investigated the mutational signatures in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

23 Feb 2021

Current monoclonal antibodies less potent against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals found that the REGN10933 and REGN10987 combination was 9.1-fold less potent on the B.1.351 variant, which emerged in South Africa, and 16.2-fold less potent on mink cluster 5.

22 Feb 2021

COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows potential against SARS-CoV-2 and potential future zoonotic coronaviruses

A new study sheds light on the threat posed by future zoonotic coronaviruses to make similar leaps across species barriers to infect human beings and cause other pandemics.

22 Feb 2021

Superspreader events trigger emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants in USA

A team of scientists from the USA and Germany has recently studied the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in a representative set of sequences from the USA collected between 2020 and 2021. The findings reveal that the viral genome has accumulated multiple mutations over time with only occasional loss of mutation. The main driving forces behind such genetic variations include widespread infection and superspreader events.

22 Feb 2021

Proteases modulate SARS-CoV-2 spike protein activation and deactivation

A research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Platt et al. (17th Feb 2021) aimed to identify these enzymes by computational screening and molecular docking simulations, with cathepsins B, K, L, S, and V being highlighted as probable leads.

21 Feb 2021

Evolution of the spike gene of SARS-CoV-2 for human adaptation

Researchers have found a 96% similarity in nucleotide sequence between bat coronavirus (RaTG13), isolated from Rhinolophus affinis bats in China in 2013, and SARS-CoV-2 and ~97% amino acid similarity with the Spike (S) protein. This S protein performs two essential roles, i.e., mediates receptor-binding and membrane fusion. Hence, spike protein is regarded as a key coronavirus determinant of host tropism.

21 Feb 2021

Llama-derived nanobodies show neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in vitro

A new study reports the development of nanoantibodies (nAbs) – also called or nanobodiesTM or single-domain antibodies – that effectively bind the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from the ancestral Wuhan variant as well as the recently detected UK and South African variants.

19 Feb 2021

New insights on structural biology may help design more efficient antibodies

In structural biology, some molecules are so unusual they can only be captured with a unique set of tools.

18 Feb 2021

Convalescent plasma shows CD8+ T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study suggesting that individuals who have recovered from or been vaccinated against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) should maintain effective CD8+ T-cell responses against the major variants that have recently emerged.

17 Feb 2021

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site remains a mystery

A new study discusses the origin of the furin cleavage site on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is responsible for the virus’s relatively high infectivity compared to relatives in the betacoronavirus subgenus.

17 Feb 2021

Clonally expanded plasma cell lineages in SARS-CoV-2 produce specific neutralizing antibodies

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server provides a greater understanding of the aspect of humoral immunity against the virus – the plasma cells that pour out a flood of specific antibodies targeting various epitopes on the pathogen.

16 Feb 2021

Pitt scientists develop fast, efficient technique for discovering tiny antibody fragments

By capitalizing on a convergence of chemical, biological and artificial intelligence advances, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists have developed an unusually fast and efficient method for discovering tiny antibody fragments with big potential for development into therapeutics against deadly diseases.

15 Feb 2021

Researchers report a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in Uganda

An interdisciplinary research team from Uganda and the UK report the emergence and spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of the A lineage with multiple protein changes throughout the viral genome.

15 Feb 2021

High-throughput sequencing could allow detection of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater

A new study reports the use of metagenomics to detect the virus from wastewater samples, indicating community-level circulating variants that are not yet identified or are present in very low proportions on clinical databases.

15 Feb 2021

Naïve B cells can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 via RBD recognition

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server demonstrates the potential of using the pre-existing protective responses to produce a broad-spectrum neutralizing response against not just SARS-CoV-2 but other future pathogens.

14 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2's resistance to remdesivir in vitro

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server discusses the emergence of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, allowing it to escape the effects of the most commonly used antiviral drug, remdesivir.

14 Feb 2021

Vaccine candidate containing tetanus toxoid potentially protective against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers from Cuba, China, and France have demonstrated the potential of coupling a viral antigen with the tetanus toxoid protein as a vaccination approach to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

14 Feb 2021

Amino Acid News and Research

Further Reading

Researchers explore how N501Y mutation in SARS-CoV-2 increases viral transmissibility

Long-lasting B cells do not recognize emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, shows study

SARS-CoV-2 mutations allow escape from clinical monoclonal antibodies

L452R mutation potentially favors adaptive evolution of SARS-CoV-2

Current monoclonal antibodies less potent against SARS-CoV-2 variants

COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows potential against SARS-CoV-2 and potential future zoonotic coronaviruses

Superspreader events trigger emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants in USA

Proteases modulate SARS-CoV-2 spike protein activation and deactivation

Evolution of the spike gene of SARS-CoV-2 for human adaptation

Llama-derived nanobodies show neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in vitro

New insights on structural biology may help design more efficient antibodies

Convalescent plasma shows CD8+ T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants

The origin of SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site remains a mystery

Clonally expanded plasma cell lineages in SARS-CoV-2 produce specific neutralizing antibodies

Pitt scientists develop fast, efficient technique for discovering tiny antibody fragments

Researchers report a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in Uganda

High-throughput sequencing could allow detection of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater

Naïve B cells can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 via RBD recognition

SARS-CoV-2's resistance to remdesivir in vitro

Vaccine candidate containing tetanus toxoid potentially protective against SARS-CoV-2

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