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COVID mRNA vaccines induce antibodies against three SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers at the Institute of Biomedicine, the University of Turku in Finland showed that the blood of BNT162b2-vaccinated health care workers effectively neutralized the SARS-CoV-2 variant with the D614G substitution and the B.1.1.7 variant (Alpha variant) after the second dose.

1 Jul 2021

Ion channel conserved in coronaviruses a potential new drug target for COVID therapeutics

To this end, a recent study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology discusses the structures of the SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).

30 Jun 2021

Study highlights changes within SARS-CoV-2 variants that could be exploited to design effective inhibitors

A computational study that analyzes and explores the time-based structures of the SARS-CoV-2 variants with specific spike (S) protein mutations is discussed here.

30 Jun 2021

First demonstration of COVID-19-like response by an essential virus encoded protein by SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

Researchers from collaborating universities in Virginia have recently utilized transgenic mice to explore the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on associated lung injury.

30 Jun 2021

Alpha variant mutations help SARS-CoV-2 overcome evolutionary weaknesses

The study, published in the journal Cell Reports, showed that the mutations in the virus, particularly the deletion of two amino acids H69/V70 seen in the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), enables the virus to overcome weaknesses as it evolves.

30 Jun 2021

Antibody development against SARS-CoV-2 following Moderna vaccine

In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server medRxiv* by Belda et al. (June 27th, 2021) two seroconversion panels containing the sera of individuals that received the Moderna (mRNA-1273) vaccine are compared, and the impact on neutralizing IgG antibody titers in these individuals is analyzed.

30 Jun 2021

Study provides important insights into early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers in the UK have provided important new insights into the early stages of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

30 Jun 2021

Intranasal COVID-19 vaccine developed from bacterial extracellular vesicle induces robust antibody response in preclinical trials

A team of US-based scientists recently developed a novel vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of COVID-19. The vaccine is composed of extracellular vesicles of Salmonella typhimurium incorporated with the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. Upon intranasal administration in hamsters, the vaccine induces strong blood antibody titers and protects against severe COVID-19.

30 Jun 2021

Alpha (B.1.1.7) SARS-CoV-2 variant associated with more severe disease in hospitalized women

Researchers in the UK have conducted a study showing that infection with the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) lineage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may be associated with an increased risk of death or intensive care unit (ITU) admission among women, compared with non-B.1.1.7 infection.

29 Jun 2021

Widespread SARS-CoV-2 mutation escapes vaccine- and infection-induced CD8 T-cell responses

Researchers in the UK have warned that a widespread mutation that has arisen in the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appears to escape recognition by CD8 T-cell responses in both convalescent patients and recipients of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.

29 Jun 2021

More evidence that mixing COVID-19 vaccines may help elicit a robust immune response

Eight volunteers who received a complete dose or a single dose of an mRNA vaccine or the ChAdOx1 vaccine after a dose of a trial gorilla adenovirus vaccine showed a significantly high level of antibodies and T cell response against SARS-CoV-2.

29 Jun 2021

The technology behind face masks that can diagnose COVID-19

Researchers have recently incorporated technology into standard face masks to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2.

29 Jun 2021

Cationic peptides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cell entry

In a paper recently published in Pathogens, in silico affinity studies by researchers at the University of Illinois, USA, reveal several potential peptide binding sites required for HS-spike protein and ACE2-spike protein bond formation, and synthesis of suitable peptide inhibitors reveals impaired SARS-CoV-2 cell entry.

29 Jun 2021

Nanotechnology and the fight against COVID-19

In a review paper published in the open-access MDPI journal Viruses, a team of researchers explored the potential of nanotechnology to alleviate the current and future coronavirus burden. The team focused on its potential role in the detection, diagnosis, protection, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

29 Jun 2021

Study explores structure, activity, and inhibition of TMPRSS2 implicated in SARS-CoV-2 activation

Researchers from Canada recently presented an efficient strategy for recombinant production of enzymatically active TMPRSS2 ectodomain, enabling enzymatic characterization and the 1.95 Å X-ray crystal structure. Their work is published on the bioRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer-review.

29 Jun 2021

H69/V70 deletion in Alpha variant enables SARS-CoV-2 to overcome chinks in its armor

One of the key mutations seen in the 'Alpha variant' of SARS-CoV-2 - the deletion of two amino acids, H69/V70 - enables the virus to overcome chinks in its armor as it evolves, say an international team of scientists.

29 Jun 2021

Immune response to FDA-approved vaccines is strong and potentially long-lasting

The first two COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employed a technology that had never before been used in FDA-approved vaccines.

29 Jun 2021

Differences in monocyte subsets between severe COVID-19 and long COVID

Researchers in the United States and Costa Rica have identified differences in the proportions of monocyte subsets that occur in severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), often referred to as “Long COVID”.

28 Jun 2021

Novel approach to molecular drug design paves way for promising bladder cancer therapy

A new approach to molecular drug design has yielded a highly promising bladder cancer drug, which induced rapid shedding of tumor cells and resulted in a significant reduction in tumour size when used in clinical trials.

28 Jun 2021

Vaccines and drugs must be adapted to combat emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, says study

A new review of the emerging variants of concern (VOCs) of the SARS-CoV-2, which has caused the COVID-19 pandemic, shows that there is a major need to constantly re-evaluate the utility of existing therapeutics and vaccines against the virus and to develop new ones.

28 Jun 2021

Spike Protein News and Research

COVID mRNA vaccines induce antibodies against three SARS-CoV-2 variants

Ion channel conserved in coronaviruses a potential new drug target for COVID therapeutics

Study highlights changes within SARS-CoV-2 variants that could be exploited to design effective inhibitors

First demonstration of COVID-19-like response by an essential virus encoded protein by SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

Alpha variant mutations help SARS-CoV-2 overcome evolutionary weaknesses

Antibody development against SARS-CoV-2 following Moderna vaccine

Study provides important insights into early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Intranasal COVID-19 vaccine developed from bacterial extracellular vesicle induces robust antibody response in preclinical trials

Alpha (B.1.1.7) SARS-CoV-2 variant associated with more severe disease in hospitalized women

Widespread SARS-CoV-2 mutation escapes vaccine- and infection-induced CD8 T-cell responses

More evidence that mixing COVID-19 vaccines may help elicit a robust immune response

The technology behind face masks that can diagnose COVID-19

Cationic peptides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cell entry

Nanotechnology and the fight against COVID-19

Study explores structure, activity, and inhibition of TMPRSS2 implicated in SARS-CoV-2 activation

H69/V70 deletion in Alpha variant enables SARS-CoV-2 to overcome chinks in its armor

Immune response to FDA-approved vaccines is strong and potentially long-lasting

Differences in monocyte subsets between severe COVID-19 and long COVID

Novel approach to molecular drug design paves way for promising bladder cancer therapy

Vaccines and drugs must be adapted to combat emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, says study

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