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.

When COVID-19 is severe, rogue antibodies attack body tissues and organs

The study, published in the journal Nature, sheds light on the disease mechanism of COVID-19 and how the virus causes a faulty immune system.

21 May 2021

Modeling SARS-CoV-2 spike/human ACE2 complex identifies high-affinity variants that cause greater transmissibility

The study, published in the Journal of Molecular Biology, shows promise in detecting potential new variants that can cause the faster spread of COVID-19. The recent mutations and variants detected have caused the rapid spread of the infection in many countries.

21 May 2021

Plant-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 shows promise

Researchers at Canadian biotechnology company Medicago report that Phase 1 trials of a plant-based vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 are underway and showing promise.

21 May 2021

Investigators map how drugs were used on people hospitalized with COVID-19 infection

A record of medicine utilization patterns assembled by an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of California, Irvine and the UC San Diego School of Medicine reveals the thought, care and scientific rigor clinicians at UC Health medical centers applied in their treatment of patients with COVID-19 in 2020.

21 May 2021

Campylobacter infection can also be spread through sexual contact

Campylobacter infection, one of the most common foodborne illnesses in the Western world, can also be spread through sexual contact, according to a new research discovery by an OU Hudson College of Public Health faculty member, working in conjunction with colleagues in Denmark.

21 May 2021

If you are vaccinated, you can dance the night away

Marissa Castrigno was walking through downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, when she spotted the sign in the window of one of her favorite dance clubs.

21 May 2021

Parents and young adults urged to get HPV vaccination back on track

Sanford Burnham Prebys has joined doctors and scientists across America at National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers and other organizations to issue a joint statement urging the nation's physicians, parents and young adults to get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination back on track.

21 May 2021

Novel broad-spectrum antiviral compounds effective against Zika and SARS-CoV-2

A research team at the University of Alberta, Canada, led by Dr. Daniel Limonta, has described two novel molecules with broad antiviral properties that are effective against a range of virus types, including SARS-CoV-2.

21 May 2021

How do common mutations in SARS-CoV-2’s spike affect its binding affinity with host cell receptors?

Antibodies produced during a previous case of COVID-19 or vaccine-induced immunity are targeted towards S protein, where the neutralizing antibodies attach to the Spike RBD domain. Some of the variants have mutations in their RBD domain, causing resistance to the neutralizing antibodies. However, the effect of these mutations on the affinity and kinetics of the binding of Spike RBD to ACE2 is not clear. A new study has been published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, which deals with the study of affinity and kinetic analysis of the interface between Spike RBD and ACE2 at physiological temperatures.

21 May 2021

Risk factors for rare COVID-19 complications in children (MIS-C)

While the earlier waves of COVID-19 relatively spared children, some of the affected children have developed a systemic inflammatory condition, with occasionally fatal outcomes. Called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), its pathogenesis and risk factors are the subject of a new study on the medRxiv* preprint server.

21 May 2021

Can SARS-CoV-2 trigger amyloidosis?

A new study, released as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, describes the results of an analysis of the role played by the virus in amyloid formation, with its subsequent effects on the health of various organs and of the whole organism.

21 May 2021

Scientists discover novel defensive response to SARS-CoV-2

Scientists from Hokkaido University have discovered a novel defensive response to SARS-CoV-2 that involves the viral pattern recognition receptor RIG-I. Upregulating expression of this protein could strengthen the immune response in COPD patients.

21 May 2021

Electrospun nanofibrous filters capture 99.9 percent of coronavirus aerosols, study finds

Researchers at The George Washington University and the University of California in the U.S. compared the efficacy of surgical and cotton masks, a neck gaiter, and electrospun nanofiber membranes to capture coronavirus aerosols and prevent airborne transmission.

21 May 2021

Colorado will pay hospitals to close expensive free-standing ERs

Colorado health officials so abhor the high costs associated with free-standing emergency rooms they're offering to pay hospitals to shut the facilities down.

21 May 2021

As pandemic eases, many seniors have lost strength, may need rehabilitative services

Ronald Lindquist, 87, has been active all his life. So, he wasn't prepared for what happened when he stopped going out during the coronavirus pandemic and spent most of his time, inactive, at home.

21 May 2021

Masks and physical distancing could reduce SARS-CoV-2 spread to 1% among essential food plant workers, says study

The food supply is an essential service. Yet, workers in this industry are at high risk of acquiring infection with the novel coronavirus in their workplace unless proper mitigation measures are put in place. A new study, released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, shows that the risk of infection may be reduced to less than 1% with proper precautions.

21 May 2021

Facets of SARS-CoV-2 infection and animal models

A new study in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology discusses the ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome of the virus, and the mechanisms by which it establishes infection within the host cell. The researchers also summarize the development of animal models of COVID-19, which will both help understand the clinical features of the illness, and indicate new approaches for the treatment of the infection.

21 May 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

When COVID-19 is severe, rogue antibodies attack body tissues and organs

Modeling SARS-CoV-2 spike/human ACE2 complex identifies high-affinity variants that cause greater transmissibility

Plant-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 shows promise

Investigators map how drugs were used on people hospitalized with COVID-19 infection

Campylobacter infection can also be spread through sexual contact

If you are vaccinated, you can dance the night away

Parents and young adults urged to get HPV vaccination back on track

Novel broad-spectrum antiviral compounds effective against Zika and SARS-CoV-2

How do common mutations in SARS-CoV-2’s spike affect its binding affinity with host cell receptors?

Risk factors for rare COVID-19 complications in children (MIS-C)

Can SARS-CoV-2 trigger amyloidosis?

Scientists discover novel defensive response to SARS-CoV-2

Electrospun nanofibrous filters capture 99.9 percent of coronavirus aerosols, study finds

Colorado will pay hospitals to close expensive free-standing ERs

As pandemic eases, many seniors have lost strength, may need rehabilitative services

Masks and physical distancing could reduce SARS-CoV-2 spread to 1% among essential food plant workers, says study

Facets of SARS-CoV-2 infection and animal models

Nearly 1 million more deaths relating to COVID-19 occurred in high-income countries

University of Leeds and WHO to create global strategy to prevent future pandemic threats

Study analyzes the risk of other medical conditions after recovery from COVID-19

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

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