Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

How does dexamethasone therapy work in severe COVID-19?

The possible mechanisms that result in dexamethasone being an effective drug against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection are investigated in a new study. The paper’s authors advance the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces cell-specific insensitivity to glucocorticoids, possibly as an unintentional result of the viral replication cycle.

29 Jun 2021

Cationic peptides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cell entry

In a paper recently published in Pathogens, in silico affinity studies by researchers at the University of Illinois, USA, reveal several potential peptide binding sites required for HS-spike protein and ACE2-spike protein bond formation, and synthesis of suitable peptide inhibitors reveals impaired SARS-CoV-2 cell entry.

29 Jun 2021

Nanotechnology and the fight against COVID-19

In a review paper published in the open-access MDPI journal Viruses, a team of researchers explored the potential of nanotechnology to alleviate the current and future coronavirus burden. The team focused on its potential role in the detection, diagnosis, protection, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

29 Jun 2021

Without enough boots on the ground, California’s vaccination efforts falter

Gov. Gavin Newsom routinely boasts that California has "one of the highest vaccination rates in the United States of America."

29 Jun 2021

Analysis: Why we’ll likely never know whether a covid lab leak happened in China

Early in this century, post-SARS, and in a period when China started allowing more students and scientists to study abroad, collaboration and exchange between American and Chinese scientists blossomed.

29 Jun 2021

Clinical observations show acute myocarditis developed after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

Four patients suffering from acute myocarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination suggests that further investigation is needed.

29 Jun 2021

Study explores structure, activity, and inhibition of TMPRSS2 implicated in SARS-CoV-2 activation

Researchers from Canada recently presented an efficient strategy for recombinant production of enzymatically active TMPRSS2 ectodomain, enabling enzymatic characterization and the 1.95 Å X-ray crystal structure. Their work is published on the bioRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer-review.

29 Jun 2021

New spider web mechanism kills pathogens and virus responsible for COVID-19

Immunologists at McMaster University have discovered a previously unknown mechanism which acts like a spider web, trapping and killing pathogens such as influenza or SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

29 Jun 2021

Wayne State awarded NSF grant to investigate how viruses navigate through the mucus barrier

A research team at Wayne State University led by Ashis Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., associate professor of physics and astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, received a three-year, $326,226 grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate fundamental issues related to the passage of viruses through the mucus barrier.

29 Jun 2021

Aerosol generated by playing wind instruments is less than that produced when vocalizing

Aerosol generated by playing woodwind and brass instruments is less than that produced when vocalizing (speaking and singing) and is no different than a person breathing, new research has found.

29 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 test in 20 minutes with FISH

A collaboration from the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick has led to research into a novel method of viral detection through rapid fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in order to effectively detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus within 20 minutes.

29 Jun 2021

Transparent masks can facilitate communication and improve interaction, study shows

The use of transparent masks during communication increases comprehension of speech by about 10% for people with hearing loss and people with normal hearing, according to a study published in the journal Ear and Hearing.

29 Jun 2021

Study finds evidence for adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer detection, surgical treatments

A new study finds evidence for adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on declines in cancer detection and surgical treatments.

29 Jun 2021

Differences in monocyte subsets between severe COVID-19 and long COVID

Researchers in the United States and Costa Rica have identified differences in the proportions of monocyte subsets that occur in severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), often referred to as “Long COVID”.

28 Jun 2021

Study suggests vitamin B12 as a SARS-CoV-2 antiviral

Researchers in the UK and Spain have used a novel drug screening approach to identify compounds that could serve as effective antivirals against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

28 Jun 2021

Study shows rapid expansion of SARS-CoV-2 Delta lineage in Ontario, Canada

A recent short report from Canada, currently available on medRxiv* preprint server, shows a rapid increase in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) cases characterized by the N501Y-/E484K- mutation in the Ontario province, which implies that Delta variant will rapidly overtake the Alpha variant.

28 Jun 2021

Face mask mandates reduced COVID-19 case rates, hospitalizations and deaths in Kansas

Despite facing cultural and political pushback, the evidence remains clear: Face masks made a difference in Kansas.

28 Jun 2021

DNA sequencing from water and leech bloodmeals helps identify novel mammalian viruses

In a new scientific investigation headed by the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, water from African and Mongolian waterholes as well as bloodmeals from Southeast Asian leeches were assessed for the ability to retrieve mammalian viruses without the need to find and catch the mammals.

28 Jun 2021

Study examines the impact of hotel's community support during COVID-19 pandemic

Hotels that opened their doors to homeless people in their community during lockdown generated greater positive word-of-mouth marketing than those that offered free accommodation to frontline healthcare workers, finds new University research.

28 Jun 2021

Novel approach to molecular drug design paves way for promising bladder cancer therapy

A new approach to molecular drug design has yielded a highly promising bladder cancer drug, which induced rapid shedding of tumor cells and resulted in a significant reduction in tumour size when used in clinical trials.

28 Jun 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

How does dexamethasone therapy work in severe COVID-19?

Cationic peptides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 cell entry

Nanotechnology and the fight against COVID-19

Without enough boots on the ground, California’s vaccination efforts falter

Analysis: Why we’ll likely never know whether a covid lab leak happened in China

Clinical observations show acute myocarditis developed after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

Study explores structure, activity, and inhibition of TMPRSS2 implicated in SARS-CoV-2 activation

New spider web mechanism kills pathogens and virus responsible for COVID-19

Wayne State awarded NSF grant to investigate how viruses navigate through the mucus barrier

Aerosol generated by playing wind instruments is less than that produced when vocalizing

SARS-CoV-2 test in 20 minutes with FISH

Transparent masks can facilitate communication and improve interaction, study shows

Study finds evidence for adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer detection, surgical treatments

Differences in monocyte subsets between severe COVID-19 and long COVID

Study suggests vitamin B12 as a SARS-CoV-2 antiviral

Study shows rapid expansion of SARS-CoV-2 Delta lineage in Ontario, Canada

Face mask mandates reduced COVID-19 case rates, hospitalizations and deaths in Kansas

DNA sequencing from water and leech bloodmeals helps identify novel mammalian viruses

Study examines the impact of hotel's community support during COVID-19 pandemic

Novel approach to molecular drug design paves way for promising bladder cancer therapy

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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