Computational Modeling News and Research

RSS

IGVF consortium receives NIH funding to study how genomic variation influences biological function

The National Institutes of Health is providing approximately $185 million over five years to the Impact of Genomic Variation on Function consortium, initiated and funded by NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute.

9 Sep 2021

Study uses computational modeling of coronavirus spike proteins to examine dynamics responsible for immunogenicity and immune escape

A new study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server focused on the development of dynamic computational models for a large subset of S proteins of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2.

23 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 lambda variant escapes immune response via spike mutations

A new study explores the mechanism by which the SARS-CoV-2 lambda variant has acquired immune evasion capabilities above that of the wildtype.

20 Aug 2021

Study offers molecular views on how olfactory receptors work

All senses must reckon with the richness of the world, but nothing matches the challenge faced by the olfactory system that underlies our sense of smell.

4 Aug 2021

Improvements in neural learning processes linked to reduced symptoms of depression

Virginia Tech scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have identified neural learning processes to be associated with symptoms of depression and linked improvements in these processes to improved symptoms in research participants being treated for depression.

28 Jul 2021

Study assesses the impact of tic suppression on brain functional connectivity in Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder, causes motor and phonic "tics" or uncontrollable repeated behaviors and vocalizations. People affected by Tourette syndrome can often suppress these tics for some time before the urges become overwhelming, and researchers have long wondered at the neural underpinnings of the suppression effort.

7 Jul 2021

Varenicline blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells and animal models

A new paper released on the bioRxiv* preprint server suggests that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nACHR) agonist, varenicline tartrate, has antiviral activity against the virus.

5 Jul 2021

New model identifies effective dissemination strategies for Type 2 diabetes guidelines

Health care workers often don't adopt new guidelines for best practices in medical care until well after those guidelines are established.

17 Jun 2021

Sophisticated brain models can predict language recovery in Hispanic stroke survivors

At Boston University, a team of researchers is working to better understand how language and speech is processed in the brain, and how to best rehabilitate people who have lost their ability to communicate due to brain damage caused by a stroke, trauma, or another type of brain injury.

7 Jun 2021

New study undermines the link between neural electrical activity and free will

For decades, researchers have debated whether the buildup of certain electrical activities in the brain indicates that human beings are unable to act out of free will.

4 Jun 2021

Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin therapy at a higher dose improved survival by nearly 200% in ventilated COVID patients

However, a fascinating new study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server suggests that such disappointment may have been both premature and unwarranted, based on a re-analysis of over 250 patients on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) during the first two months of the pandemic.

2 Jun 2021

Could GRP78 be a therapeutic target against COVID-19?

A new study by a team of researchers at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA, reports a potentially important therapeutic target in the form of a molecule called GRP78 that promotes the entry and protein production by many viruses. The team's paper has been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

26 May 2021

Novel natural compounds may help treat COVID-19, study suggests

A new study in the journal Chemistry Europe reports two natural compounds identified by virtual screening and computational modeling as having great promise for the development of drugs against SARS-CoV-2.

24 May 2021

Virtual analysis identifies a potential natural inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15

A new paper reports the discovery of promising antiviral hit compounds through the use of computational modeling studies on natural compounds.

19 May 2021

Designer SARS-CoV-2 RBD vaccine produces dramatically improved antibody response in preclinical trials

The importance of computational modeling in the prediction of the course of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as evaluating multiple potential drug leads, has never been more clear. Now, a new study describes a set of designer vaccine antigens that may improve vaccine stability as well as enhance the neutralizing antibody response.

13 May 2021

Evidence that elevated blood glucose is a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19

The literature analysis pointed to elevated blood glucose levels as a leading facilitator in the progression of COVID-19. Evidence linking elevated glucose to various steps in the life cycle of the virus and presentation of COVID-19 symptoms were also found.

3 May 2021

Cleaning frequency key to limiting SARS-CoV-2 spread at theme parks

A new preprint research paper provides some insights into how this may be done using computational modeling. The study, which appeared on the medRxiv server, deals with the mitigation strategies that must be implemented in order to contain the virus.

22 Apr 2021

Markers of fear recall differ between sexes, but in a hormone-dependent manner

A new study shows that markers of fear recall differ between men and women, but in a hormone-dependent manner.

16 Apr 2021

Modeling study suggests how different SARS-CoV-2 mutations prevent antibody binding

This suggests a cocktail of antibodies will work better at neutralizing the virus than a single antibody alone. In a study published in the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers report the structure of binding complexes of the different classes of antibodies to the spike RBD using computational modeling, which may also help explain how the virus generates escape mutations.