Omicron News and Research

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Study suggests SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike mediated immune escape and tropism shift

A new study showed that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike binds to its receptor with enhanced affinity and yet evades vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies and that a booster mRNA vaccine broadened the neutralization of Omicron.

21 Jan 2022

Patient, beware: Some states still pushing ineffective covid antibody treatments

As the omicron variant completes its sweep across the U.S., states with scarce supplies of monoclonal antibody therapies continue to use two treatments that federal health officials warn no longer work against the highly contagious version of the virus that causes covid-19.

21 Jan 2022

Nano-bubbles containing ACE2 protein can block infection from broad strains of SARS-CoV-2

Scientists at Northwestern Medicine and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified natural nano-bubbles containing the ACE2 protein (evACE2) in the blood of COVID-19 patients and discovered these nano-sized particles can block infection from broad strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus in preclinical studies.

21 Jan 2022

PAXLOVID shown to be highly effective against all SARS-CoV-2 variants

A recent study, currently available on bioRxiv* preprint server, shows that a novel protease inhibitor known as nirmatrelvir has potent activity against Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but also other variants evaluated in this paper – which supports its potential role in reducing the disease burden from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Jan 2022

Indian study suggests significant decrease in protection from vaccine or natural immunity against Omicron variant

Researchers present evidence for early community transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in New Delhi, India.

20 Jan 2022

Research shows benefits of hybrid immunity to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers examine the effects of previous SARS-CoV-2 infections on the immunity offered by SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

20 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections elicit potent neutralizing antibody responses

A recent study looked at the strength, durability and breadth of neutralizing antibody responses generated by breakthrough infections in individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV2.

20 Jan 2022

Scientists explore the possibility of Omicron ending the COVID-19 pandemic

A new analysis parses out what scientists currently know about the Delta variant and predicts what the end of the COVID-19 pandemic might look like.

20 Jan 2022

RASCL: new analytic pipeline for investigating selective forces acting on viral genes in SARS-CoV-2 sequences

A study revealed a new analytical pipeline to assess the clades of SARS-CoV-2 by molecular sequence analysis.

20 Jan 2022

Natural extracellular vesicles containing ACE2 protein could fight new SARS-CoV-2 variants

Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Northwestern Medicine have identified natural extracellular vesicles containing the ACE2 protein (evACE2) in the blood of COVID-19 patients that can block infection from broad strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus in preclinical studies. The study was published today in Nature Communications.

20 Jan 2022

Study finds Omicron infection effectively induces immunity against itself and enhances protection against other variants in vaccinated individuals

Researchers investigated the effectiveness of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-variant induced immunity, whether it is cross-protective against other variants, and if earlier infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant offers protection against Omicron.

20 Jan 2022

Wildfires and omicron prompt a special health insurance enrollment period in Colorado

A wildfire displaced thousands of Coloradans just as the omicron surge began sweeping through the state, so health insurance was likely not on many people's minds when the regular enrollment period for the state's health insurance marketplace ended Jan. 15.

20 Jan 2022

Families complain as states require covid testing for nursing home visits

As covid-19 cases rise again in nursing homes, a few states have begun requiring visitors to present proof that they're not infected before entering facilities, stoking frustration and dismay among family members.

20 Jan 2022

The effect of different heterologous vaccination intervention strategies on the winter 2020 COVID-19 wave in the US

Researchers demonstrated the effect of different heterologous vaccine interventions on COVID-19 caseloads, hospitalization, and mortality in the US.

20 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections milder in children compared to Delta

The clinical severity of COVID-19 was found to be lower in children younger than five years of age after the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

20 Jan 2022

A novel assay for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new study discusses a new assay method designed by researchers to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants.

20 Jan 2022

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 and preventive strategies

A recent review article published in the journal Advanced Science reviewed the features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants. Using a physical and materials science perspective, the review also summarizes the most significant variants of SARS-CoV-2 encountered to date as well as possible preventive strategies.

19 Jan 2022

Plan B measures to be removed in England following the success of the booster program

The government has today announced that England will fully return to Plan A on Thursday 27 January thanks to the success of the booster program, with ministers urging anyone who has still not had a top-up jab to come forward and Get Boosted Now.

19 Jan 2022

‘Decoy’ protein mitigates lung damage, death induced by aggressive SARS-CoV-2 variants

A drug treatment that acts as a decoy against SARS-CoV-2 was highly effective at preventing death and lung damage in humanized animal models of severe COVID-19 disease, according to a Nature Chemical Biology study from researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago.

19 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of convalescents suggested to boost neutralization capacity against variants

A new study assessed the neutralization capacity of sera from convalescents—some even vaccinated—against the Wuhan (D614G), Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

19 Jan 2022

Omicron News and Research

Study suggests SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant spike mediated immune escape and tropism shift

Patient, beware: Some states still pushing ineffective covid antibody treatments

Nano-bubbles containing ACE2 protein can block infection from broad strains of SARS-CoV-2

PAXLOVID shown to be highly effective against all SARS-CoV-2 variants

Indian study suggests significant decrease in protection from vaccine or natural immunity against Omicron variant

Research shows benefits of hybrid immunity to SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections elicit potent neutralizing antibody responses

Scientists explore the possibility of Omicron ending the COVID-19 pandemic

RASCL: new analytic pipeline for investigating selective forces acting on viral genes in SARS-CoV-2 sequences

Natural extracellular vesicles containing ACE2 protein could fight new SARS-CoV-2 variants

Study finds Omicron infection effectively induces immunity against itself and enhances protection against other variants in vaccinated individuals

Wildfires and omicron prompt a special health insurance enrollment period in Colorado

Families complain as states require covid testing for nursing home visits

The effect of different heterologous vaccination intervention strategies on the winter 2020 COVID-19 wave in the US

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections milder in children compared to Delta

A novel assay for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 and preventive strategies

Plan B measures to be removed in England following the success of the booster program

‘Decoy’ protein mitigates lung damage, death induced by aggressive SARS-CoV-2 variants

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of convalescents suggested to boost neutralization capacity against variants

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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