Coronavirus News and Research

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SARS-CoV-2 inhibits the cellular response to interferon

Researchers have explored the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the function of RIG-I and MDA5, and ultimately on interferon production.

31 Mar 2021

Development of a model of substrate coordination to Zn-bound ACE2

The ongoing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has claimed more than 2.8 million lives worldwide. Authorities are facing difficulty in preventing the spread of disease due to the highly infectious nature of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, reducing the virus's ability to infect an individual's respiratory epithelial cells could prove an effective measure to prevent disease transmission.

31 Mar 2021

Study of twins reveals differences in adaptive immunity towards SARS-CoV-2

Twins may look alike on the outside, but not so much on the inside. That's one takeaway from a new preprint study posted to the medRxiv server where Brazilian researchers observed different T-cell responses in two pairs of identical twins exposed to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One twin who was reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 four months after had low recognition of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell epitopes.

31 Mar 2021

New coronavirus variant with E484K mutation detected in Arizona

Arizona joins the ever-growing list of American states harboring a variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A study led by Efrem S. Lim of Arizona State University confirms evidence of the B.1.243.1 with an E484K mutation on the spike protein.

30 Mar 2021

Impact of COVID-19 on mental health in the US: CDC report

The study, published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), underlies the importance of evaluating the impact of strategies addressing adult mental health status during the pandemic. This way, these can help plan strategies and interventions for the affected groups.

30 Mar 2021

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective among front liners, CDC study shows

The study, published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), highlights the efficacy of mRNA vaccines in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

30 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutation T478K spreading at alarming speed in Mexico

Several SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged, posing a renewed threat to COVID-19 containment and to vaccine and drug efficacy. In this study, we analyzed more than 820,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences deposited up to March 26, 2021 and identified a novel T478K mutation located on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein.

30 Mar 2021

New research shows how to make people follow pandemic restrictions without fear

Making people fear the coronavirus may motivate us to wash our hands, keep our distance and wear a face mask. But fear also takes a heavy toll on our mental health and is fertile ground for discrimination and prejudice.

30 Mar 2021

Comparing the transmission routes of two SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

The research team had previously identified the UK variant as having higher viral RNA shedding than the D614G variant. However here, they wanted to compare the transmission of such variants through different routes of potential infection: direct contact, aerosol (airborne droplets), and fomite (objects which may be contaminated and therefore spread infectious agents).

30 Mar 2021

COVID-related smoking cessation messages effective in encouraging smokers to quit

An international survey that included 600 smokers in the UK has found that cessation messaging focused on easing the burden on our health system is most effective in encouraging people to quit.

30 Mar 2021

Microbiota-derived molecules do not change the entry or replication of SARS-CoV-2 in intestinal cells

A study conducted at the University of Campinas in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, shows that compounds produced by gut microbiota (bacteria and other microorganisms) during fermentation of insoluble fiber from dietary plant matter do not affect the ability of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 to enter and replicate in cells lining the intestines.

30 Mar 2021

Researchers examine the evolutionary race between SARS-CoV-2 and human defenses

Researchers have analyzed this evolution of the virus based on evolutionary ecology theory. Using the virus genomes available in the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database, the researchers focused their inquiry on mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

30 Mar 2021

Researchers develop novel test that screens for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

A team of scientists from the United States has recently developed a single-tube duplex molecular assay for rapid detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants containing E484K and N501Y spike mutations.

30 Mar 2021

Imported COVID-19 cases responsible for spread of the UK and Brazil SARS-CoV-2 variants in Italy

A new study examines a major consequence of the second wave of COVID-19 infection—namely, the rapid emergence of new viral lineages and variants.

30 Mar 2021

Single dose of Pfizer and Oxford vaccines shows 60% efficacy in elderly care home residents

A new study deals with the effect of two widely used vaccines in eliciting humoral immunity against the virus in this group. These are the Oxford/AstraZeneca viral-vectored vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19), and the Pfizer/BioNTech’s messenger RNA-based vaccine (BNT162b2). Both express the viral spike antigen, and both are currently being employed in the UK’s vaccination program.

30 Mar 2021

Study finds rapid increase in IgG and IgA antibody levels following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination

A new study describes the kinetics of the antibody response to the earliest approved vaccines against COVID-19, which were developed on an mRNA platform.

30 Mar 2021

Researchers report on novel SARS-CoV-2 Israeli strain with unique spike glycoprotein

Researchers from Israel describe a novel SARS-CoV-2 strain with a non-synonymous mutation in its spike glycoprotein, designated as P681H; nevertheless, its emergence has not been associated with increased infections rate, facilitated spread or vaccine evasion.

30 Mar 2021