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New COVID-19 testing technology is a cheaper, faster alternative to tube-based RT-PCR tests

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain shortages of reagents and test kits have limited the rapid expansion of clinical testing needed to contain the virus.

18 May 2021

A possible human-to-canine transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Now, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified a case of human to animal transmission when SARS-CoV-2 was detected in a healthy poodle dog living with four family members who had COVID-19.

18 May 2021

A magnetofluidic platform for SARS-CoV-2 variant and respiratory pathogen detection

Recent research published on the medRxiv* server has developed a portable, magnetofluidic cartridge platform, for automated PCR testing in <30 min, for rapid multiplexed screening of pathogens. A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine developed these cartridges for multiplexed detection of SARS-CoV-2 with distinctive variant mutations or with Influenza A and B.

13 May 2021

Spread of minority SARS-CoV-2 variants in New York City

Viruses mutate to survive. But not all mutations are beneficial to the virus. On the other hand, some mutations such as N501Y and E484K on the spike protein propelled specific severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants to ‘variant of concern’ status, due to their ability to increase transmission and weaken the response of neutralizing antibodies.

12 May 2021

T cell populations in nasal mucosa expand after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination

A new study released as a bioRxiv* preprint tried to establish how tissues such as the upper respiratory tract (URT) – which harbor the virus and often act as the point of entry – are difficult to access for routine testing, but are responsive to vaccination.

11 May 2021

Case study describes consequences of undetected SARS-CoV-2 infection during mRNA vaccination

Now, a new report describes a case of a coincidental mRNA vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection in a 31-year-old doctor, addressing the theoretical considerations for potential risks and further required actions in case more cases appear in the future.

11 May 2021

Robust passive and active immunity found in infants born to COVID-19 positive mothers

A new study provides evidence that babies born to mothers who were COVID-19 positive two or more months before delivery are protected by maternal antibodies, besides mounting a robust immune response in case they contract the infection in the perinatal period.

5 May 2021

Wyss Institute licenses nasal swab collection technology to Massachusetts-based startup

The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School (HMS) and the Massachusetts-based startup Rhinostics announced today that the University's sample collection swab and high-throughput automation technologies have been licensed to Rhinostics.

4 May 2021

What happens in the first few days of SARS-CoV-2 infection?

New research, published in PLOS Biology, has evaluated SARS-CoV-2 infection in primary cultures of well-differentiated cells to determine how the virus affects the body and how the infection starts. Answers to these questions are essential to forming a general understanding of viral pathogenesis, which helps us develop effective prevention and treatment strategies for COVID-19.

4 May 2021

Rapid and sensitive SARS-CoV-2 detection from saliva using CRISPR

In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server medRxiv by Edward Málaga Trillo et al. (April 29th, 2021), these methods are tested in combination with CRISPR-Cas detection in the field, demonstrating a sensitivity and specificity of 93.8% and 99%, respectively.

4 May 2021

Could COVID-19 rapid antigen tests aid international border control measures?

A recent study has explored the use of rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 at borders to reduce community transmission, and concluded that it would be effective only at lower volumes of passenger traffic.

30 Apr 2021

Researchers review materials used to design biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 detection

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is still causing a dramatic loss of human lives worldwide, constituting an unprecedented challenge for society, public health, and economy, to overcome. Currently, SARS-CoV-2 can be diagnosed in two different ways: i) antigen tests (point-of-care, POC) and ii) molecular tests (nucleic acid, RNA, or PCR-polymerase chain reaction).

30 Apr 2021

Study: LFDs are inaccurate at diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections in individuals with lower viral loads

The United Kingdom government plans to implement mass scale population testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection using Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs), yet the devices' sensitivity is unknown

30 Apr 2021

Human to animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in households is common

Coronaviruses are seen in multiple mammalian species. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, is said to have passed to humans from a mammalian source and to have originated from an animal reservoir as a zoonotic pathogen.

29 Apr 2021

Neonates exposed to SARS-CoV-2 can sustain adverse health outcomes

The incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission from mothers to newborns appears low and may be linked to biological as well as social factors. However, studies focusing on the factors associated with neonatal viral testing outcomes.

27 Apr 2021

NUS study identifies protein that could be targeted to overcome chemoresistance in cancer

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cancer cells in the body. It is a systemic treatment where drugs travel throughout the body and destroy cancer cells that have spread (metastasized) to parts of the body far away from the original (primary) tumor.

27 Apr 2021

First cases of B.1.1.7 variant with E484K mutation in Pennsylvania

The E484K mutation has also been found on the B.1.351 and P.1 variant, contributing to their status as variants of concern. In February 2021, Public Health England published a report of 11 B.1.1.7 genomes that also had the E484K spike mutation. Currently, there are 247 isolates of B.1.1.7 + E484K reported globally, and new research finds the first reports of it in southeastern Pennsylvania.

27 Apr 2021

Study reveals a hidden role of circulating microRNA as a driver of SARS-CoV-2 infection

In a methodological tour-de-force study, a large group of researchers from the USA and the United Kingdom analyzed patient transcriptomic data in-depth and discovered a circulating microRNA (miR-2392) that is directly implicated in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) machinery during the infection process.

26 Apr 2021

New COVID-19 testing strategy can quicken test results for healthcare workers

Fast turnaround of COVID-19 test results for healthcare workers is critical. Investigators have now developed a COVID-19 testing strategy that maximizes the proportion of negative results after a single round of testing, allowing prompt notification of results.

26 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response robust in nursing home residents after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

However, with the waning of the immune response, it is not clear if these older people respond to the vaccine as well as younger individuals do. A recent study explored this question and found that though the antibody levels were somewhat lower in this group, they were still robust. This is a promising observation.

26 Apr 2021

Nasopharyngeal News and Research

New COVID-19 testing technology is a cheaper, faster alternative to tube-based RT-PCR tests

A possible human-to-canine transmission of SARS-CoV-2

A magnetofluidic platform for SARS-CoV-2 variant and respiratory pathogen detection

Spread of minority SARS-CoV-2 variants in New York City

T cell populations in nasal mucosa expand after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination

Case study describes consequences of undetected SARS-CoV-2 infection during mRNA vaccination

Robust passive and active immunity found in infants born to COVID-19 positive mothers

Wyss Institute licenses nasal swab collection technology to Massachusetts-based startup

What happens in the first few days of SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Rapid and sensitive SARS-CoV-2 detection from saliva using CRISPR

Could COVID-19 rapid antigen tests aid international border control measures?

Researchers review materials used to design biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 detection

Study: LFDs are inaccurate at diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections in individuals with lower viral loads

Human to animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in households is common

Neonates exposed to SARS-CoV-2 can sustain adverse health outcomes

NUS study identifies protein that could be targeted to overcome chemoresistance in cancer

First cases of B.1.1.7 variant with E484K mutation in Pennsylvania

Study reveals a hidden role of circulating microRNA as a driver of SARS-CoV-2 infection

New COVID-19 testing strategy can quicken test results for healthcare workers

SARS-CoV-2 antibody response robust in nursing home residents after Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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