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.

Two vaccines elicit durable neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in pre-clinical study

A group of scientists led by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian reported that the Moderna mRNA vaccine and a protein-based vaccine candidate elicited durable neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in pre-clinical research. There were no adverse effects.

16 Jun 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB can serve as model for future situations

Clinical evaluation of three COVID-19 vaccine candidates in 2020-21 during a worldwide pandemic that killed or sickened millions was unprecedented in terms of urgency and scope.

16 Jun 2021

COST Actions provide space to grow ideas in science and technology fields

Over the years, COST Actions have become one the main instrument for research collaboration in Europe.

15 Jun 2021

New AI model could help predict which viruses are likely to spread from animals to humans

A new model that applies artificial intelligence to carbohydrates improves the understanding of the infection process and could help predict which viruses are likely to spread from animals to humans.

15 Jun 2021

ACT Accelerator partnership welcomes commitment of 870 million vaccine doses, highlights funding gaps

At the close of this year’s G7 Leaders’ summit, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland announced a donation of an additional 870 million vaccine doses from attendees, with the majority to be delivered through COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID 19 Tools Accelerator, within the next year.

15 Jun 2021

Global leaders pledge to share COVID-19 vaccine doses internationally at the G7 summit

In a landmark agreement at the G7 summit, held in Cornwall, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, global leaders have pledged to share COVID-19 vaccine doses internationally, in support of global equitable access and to help end the acute phase of the pandemic.

15 Jun 2021

Inclusion of biological uncertainty, latest data can improve prediction accuracy of epidemic models

The inclusion of biological uncertainty and the latest case data can significantly improve the prediction accuracy of standard epidemiological models of virus transmission, new research led by KAUST and the Kuwait College of Science and Technology (KCST) has shown.

15 Jun 2021

Adolescents feel helpless when exposed to online and media-based vicarious racism

This past year has been transformational in terms of not only a global pandemic but a sustained focus on racism and systemic injustice.

15 Jun 2021

SARS-CoV-2 oral vaccine booster shows promise in animal tests

In a recent study published on the pre-print bioRxiv* server, a group of Israeli researchers discusses their progress towards developing an oral multi-antigen SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

15 Jun 2021

SNPRC at Texas Biomed awarded $37 million NIH grant to continue operations into 2026

The Southwest National Primate Research Center at Texas Biomedical Research Institute has been awarded more than $37 million from the National Institutes of Health to continue operations into 2026.

15 Jun 2021

Adapting COVID-19 vaccination strategies based on SARS-CoV-2’s evolution

Given the risk of SARS-CoV-2 developing new variants in unvaccinated individuals, vaccination sites are crucial. However, new research from the University of Michigan, USA, shows current vaccination programs may be worsening regional outbreaks when viral strains and SARS-CoV-2 escape mutations outdo vaccination rates.

15 Jun 2021

Could urine tests predict kidney injury and mortality in COVID-19?

A team of scientists from the Columbia University, New York, has recently identified a potential biomarker to predict acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients. By analyzing urine samples of 444 COVID-19 patients, they have revealed that the urinary level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can be used to determine the severity and duration of acute kidney and tubular injuries, as well as to predict the risk of mortality in acute COVID-19 patients.

15 Jun 2021

RBD and NTD antibody cocktail could prevent the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 escape mutants

A new bioRxiv* preprint demonstrates how a combination of antibodies to two different regions on the viral spike could enhance neutralization efficiency as well as prevent the emergence of resistant variants.

15 Jun 2021

Does SARS-CoV-2 show seasonal variation in transmission in temperate countries?

The need to understand how and why such spread occurs is vital to containing it. A new medRxiv* preprint describes a significant reduction in transmission during the summer (by 42%), which is comparable to the impact of the most effective non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI).

15 Jun 2021

Fusogenicity and resistance of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 compared to D614G

A new study, released as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, describes the biological effects induced by mutations in two circulating VOCs. These are the alpha and beta strains, also called B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, respectively.

15 Jun 2021

Weather conditions made no impact on people’s mental health during Covid-19 pandemic

Come rain or shine, the weather did nothing to ease or worsen the mental health consequences of Covid-19 - according to new research from the University of East Anglia and the University of Essex.

15 Jun 2021

Potent antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 can be produced without T follicular helper cells, suggests study

It has been uncertain whether antibodies produced via this non-canonical pathway are protective against SARS-CoV-2. In a new study, recently released as a preprint on the bioRxiv*server, the neutralization potency of these antibodies is compared with those traditionally produced in germinal center-based antiviral responses.

15 Jun 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

Two vaccines elicit durable neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in pre-clinical study

COVID-19 Vaccine DSMB can serve as model for future situations

COST Actions provide space to grow ideas in science and technology fields

New AI model could help predict which viruses are likely to spread from animals to humans

ACT Accelerator partnership welcomes commitment of 870 million vaccine doses, highlights funding gaps

Global leaders pledge to share COVID-19 vaccine doses internationally at the G7 summit

Inclusion of biological uncertainty, latest data can improve prediction accuracy of epidemic models

Adolescents feel helpless when exposed to online and media-based vicarious racism

SARS-CoV-2 oral vaccine booster shows promise in animal tests

SNPRC at Texas Biomed awarded $37 million NIH grant to continue operations into 2026

Adapting COVID-19 vaccination strategies based on SARS-CoV-2’s evolution

Could urine tests predict kidney injury and mortality in COVID-19?

RBD and NTD antibody cocktail could prevent the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 escape mutants

Does SARS-CoV-2 show seasonal variation in transmission in temperate countries?

Fusogenicity and resistance of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 compared to D614G

Weather conditions made no impact on people’s mental health during Covid-19 pandemic

Potent antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 can be produced without T follicular helper cells, suggests study

Researchers screen dual main protease-cathepsin L inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2

Being vaccinated doesn’t mean you must go maskless. Here’s why.

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