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Scientists predict driver mutations of future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

A team of scientists from the USA has recently predicted the driver mutations that may appear in future variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The prediction is based on currently available genetic surveillance data on amino acid mutations present in SARS-CoV-2 variants. A detailed description of the study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

24 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 causes ER-stress-activated unfolded protein response leading to cell death

A new study describes the varying ways in which the virus co-opts the machinery of the host cell following infection to evade or modulate the host immune response, alter the pattern of translation of viral proteins, and the release of new viral particles.

24 Jun 2021

New tablet-sized device can profile multiple COVID-19 antibodies and biomarkers simultaneously

Biomedical engineers at Duke University in the USA have developed a device that detects coronavirus disease (COVID-19) antibodies as well as biomarkers that distinguish between antibodies produced in response to SARS-CoV-2 and four other coronaviruses with complete accuracy.

24 Jun 2021

Green tea catechins might be useful as pan-coronavirus inhibitors

Scientists from the Queen’s University, Canada, have recently uncovered the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of epigallocatechin gallate, a bioactive compound from green tea, against highly pathogenic coronaviruses found in humans and animals. The compound prevents viral infection by interfering with virus-host cell attachment. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

24 Jun 2021

Bivalent DNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induces strong humoral and cellular immunity in mice

A team of UK-based scientists has developed and validated a DNA vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that encodes both spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid of the virus as vaccine immunogens.

24 Jun 2021

A study of circulating biomarkers in hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant

Now, a new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server proposes a rapid method to identify the mutations in B.1.1.7 (N501Y mutation and H69/V70 deletion) and the impact of this variant on various biomarkers in hospitalized patients. This is the first study that correlates the biomarker levels to SARS-CoV-2 variants.

23 Jun 2021

Research suggests people living with HIV/AIDS may be less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in India have conducted a study showing that the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – was lower among people living with HIV and AIDS than among the general population.

23 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in the North American deer mouse

A recent study conducted in Canada reports that the North American deer mouse can be infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from humans.

23 Jun 2021

Repeated vaccination could control infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants among infection-naïve individuals

Researchers have suggested that repeated vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 may enable previously uninfected individuals to cope with viral variants.

23 Jun 2021

Indian SARS-CoV-2 variant has unique infection and immune escape strategy say researchers

Researchers have conducted a study suggesting that the B.1.617 lineage of SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in India has evolved a unique strategy.

23 Jun 2021

Higher levels of antibodies from COVID-19 mRNA vaccine compared to natural SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers found antibody levels in mRNA vaccinated individuals varied with age, gender, and previous coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection.

23 Jun 2021

Vaccinated individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 show robust neutralization of the B.1.1.7 variant

New research published in the journal Viruses suggests recovering from a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection provides immunity against the B.1.1.7 (or UK) variant. The time when the previous infection took place and the variant involved in prior infection influenced cross-neutralization.

23 Jun 2021

Longitudinal study finds SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies decline a year after infection

Research led by Xin Zheng of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, found that about 90% of patients who recovered from COVID-19 continued to have IgG antibodies targeting the N-domain and receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. However, approximately 43% of patients showed signs of neutralizing antibody activity.

23 Jun 2021

Researchers review the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and present treatment methods

A million more questions arise for every answer we have against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Where did it come from? And will it ever go away? A recent article published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology reviews what scientists currently know about the origin, SARS-CoV-2 structure, and potential treatments against this new virus.

23 Jun 2021

More than 16 million Americans had undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections during first wave

As many as 16.8 million Americans had undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections - 5 times the rate of diagnosed infections - by the end of July of 2020, according to an analysis of antibodies from more than 8,000 previously undiagnosed adults collected during the pandemic's first wave.

23 Jun 2021

Engineering nanobodies to fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Scientists are pursuing a new strategy in the protracted fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus by engineering nanobodies that can neutralize virus variants in two different ways.

22 Jun 2021

Do the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines elicit different antibody responses?

A recent study led by scientists from the United States has compared the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody response among clinicians who have been immunized with Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.

22 Jun 2021

Researchers screen Chinese herbal medicines and plant compounds for anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

A review published in Phytotherapy Research discussed the natural anti-SARS-CoV-2 products identified based on in silico prediction. The review’s authors also illustrate the impact of many phytochemicals either alone or in combination with traditional treatments and their potential molecular mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 prevention and treatment.

22 Jun 2021

Is Rand Paul mixing up the vaccine message for Covid survivors?

Last week, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) posted a Twitter thread asserting that people who have survived a Covid-19 infection were unlikely to be reinfected and have better immunity against variants than those who have been vaccinated against — but not infected by — SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid.

22 Jun 2021

The effect of novel insertion mutation in SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein RNA

In a recent study, a group of researchers discuss the functional implications of this specific S protein mutation on SARS-CoV-2.

22 Jun 2021

Spike Protein News and Research

Scientists predict driver mutations of future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

SARS-CoV-2 causes ER-stress-activated unfolded protein response leading to cell death

New tablet-sized device can profile multiple COVID-19 antibodies and biomarkers simultaneously

Green tea catechins might be useful as pan-coronavirus inhibitors

Bivalent DNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induces strong humoral and cellular immunity in mice

A study of circulating biomarkers in hospitalized patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant

Research suggests people living with HIV/AIDS may be less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in the North American deer mouse

Repeated vaccination could control infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants among infection-naïve individuals

Indian SARS-CoV-2 variant has unique infection and immune escape strategy say researchers

Higher levels of antibodies from COVID-19 mRNA vaccine compared to natural SARS-CoV-2 infection

Vaccinated individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 show robust neutralization of the B.1.1.7 variant

Longitudinal study finds SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies decline a year after infection

Researchers review the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and present treatment methods

More than 16 million Americans had undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infections during first wave

Engineering nanobodies to fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Do the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines elicit different antibody responses?

Researchers screen Chinese herbal medicines and plant compounds for anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

Is Rand Paul mixing up the vaccine message for Covid survivors?

The effect of novel insertion mutation in SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein RNA

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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