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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

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine induces robust T cell-based immunity

A recent study conducted by an international team of scientists has revealed that the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, AZD1222, is capable of inducing strong spike-specific CD4+ T cell helper type 1 (Th1) and CD8+ T-cell responses in vaccinated individuals. A detailed description of AZD1222-induced cellular immunity is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

28 Jun 2021

Why SARS-CoV-2 delta variant is more infectious

German experts recently explained why the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) delta variant is more infectious and pathogenic than its ancestor. By conducting a series of in vitro experiments, they have revealed that increased ability to induce cell-to-cell fusion (syncytia) and reduced susceptibility to vaccine and infection-induced antibodies make the delta variant more infectious than previously circulating variants. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

28 Jun 2021

Swedish study reveals how long immunity lasts after mild COVID

As a result of the ongoing pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated disease, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the global public health at risk has never been more dire.

27 Jun 2021

Oxford study sheds light on level of antibodies needed to protect against COVID-19 symptoms

Researchers in the UK have reported on the relationship between humoral (antibody) responses and protection against infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following immunization with AstraZeneca’s ChAdOx1 vaccine.

27 Jun 2021

Lambda lineage of SARS-CoV-2 has potential to become variant of concern

Researchers have described the first reported infection with the C.37 (Lambda) lineage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Southern Brazil.

27 Jun 2021

Structural studies of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reveal new properties of Alpha and Beta variants

New SARS-CoV-2 variants are spreading rapidly, and there are fears that current COVID-19 vaccines won't protect against them.

25 Jun 2021

Novel biosensor offers rapid quantitative variant of concern-independent serology for SARS-CoV-2

Even as herculean efforts are being made to extend the reach of vaccination against COVID-19 to all the regions of the world, there is a dire need for rapid and sensitive tests to assess the antibody response to the various vaccines used and to monitor antibody titers over time. A new preprint describes a new approach to this problem which could be applied to other molecules of interest as well, both in laboratories and at the point of care.

25 Jun 2021

Study shows how SARS-CoV-2 virus enters cells to cause infection

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists identified how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, gets inside cells to cause infection.

24 Jun 2021

Researchers develop a low-cost automated rapid test for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

During the continued progression of the Corona pandemic, rapid, inexpensive, and reliable tests will become increasingly important to determine whether people have the associated antibodies - either through infection or vaccination.

24 Jun 2021

Spike Protein News and Research

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

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine induces robust T cell-based immunity

Why SARS-CoV-2 delta variant is more infectious

Swedish study reveals how long immunity lasts after mild COVID

Oxford study sheds light on level of antibodies needed to protect against COVID-19 symptoms

Lambda lineage of SARS-CoV-2 has potential to become variant of concern

Structural studies of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reveal new properties of Alpha and Beta variants

Novel biosensor offers rapid quantitative variant of concern-independent serology for SARS-CoV-2

Study shows how SARS-CoV-2 virus enters cells to cause infection

Researchers develop a low-cost automated rapid test for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

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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