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.

A new SARS-CoV-2 variant (HMN.19B) has been identified in France

New research published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s journal Emerging Infectious Diseases has confirmed the emergence of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant called HMN.19B from the viral clade 19B in France. The 19B viral clade — which includes the D614G variant — was prevalent in late 2019 but had since been rarely observed since early 2020 because of newer viral clades.

3 May 2021

Vaccine candidate targeting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein elicits protective immune response in animal model

New preclinical results from a study led by David Masopust of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, USA, show that a Had5-based vaccine targeting the nucleocapsid protein can also elicit a protective immune response.

3 May 2021

Competitive multiplex binding assay can monitor SARS-CoV-2 immune responses using nanobodies

Researchers at the Eberhard Karls University and the University of Tübingen in Germany described 11 unique nanobodies (Nbs) specific for the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD), of which 8 Nbs potentially inhibit the connection of RBD with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

3 May 2021

Study estimates true number of COVID-19 deaths by U.S. county

Every country has been affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has spawned a pandemic. For several factors, the United States has been hit hard by the number of coronavirus cases and death. The country currently leads the world with over 32.4 million infections and more than 577,000 COVID-19 deaths.

3 May 2021

2018 legislation calls for assessment tool to predict recidivism in federal prison inmates

Passed in 2018, the First Step Act sought to address re-entry challenges for inmates in the federal prison system. The legislation called for developing an assessment tool to identify inmates for release who had the lowest likelihood of recidivism.

3 May 2021

Study reveals new broadly neutralizing and protective antibody against coronaviruses

In the setting of potentially reduced vaccine efficacy against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to emerging viral variants, the deployment of effective treatments based on monoclonal antibodies may be an additional strategy to help control the pandemic. A new study by US researchers, currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, describes the action of a specific antibody known as DH1047.

3 May 2021

Researchers identify novel SARS-CoV-2 variant with mutations in membrane protein-encoding gene

A recent study published in the Journal Emerging Microbes and Infections has highlighted the emergence of a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant with mutations in the membrane protein-encoding gene. Two potential mutations, M:I82T and M:V70L, have been identified within the transmembrane helices, which are expected to improve viral fitness by modulating glucose uptake during replication.

3 May 2021

Study implies a likely rise of future SARS-CoV-2 recombinants

A recent astonishing feat by US researchers revealed that recombination is not only widespread in the evolutionary history of SARS-like coronaviruses, but it can also increase fitness traits of seasonal coronaviruses. Their paper is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server and sets the stage for phylogenetic tracking of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

2 May 2021

Live "attenuated" influenza virus vaccine protects animals against respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States and Austria have demonstrated the potential of a modified influenza virus as a vaccine to protect against viral respiratory pathogens, including the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

2 May 2021

Previously infected vaccinees broadly neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study demonstrating the effectiveness of first-generation vaccines at protecting against variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals who have previously been infected with the virus.

2 May 2021

UTEP researchers use real-time 3D animation to study motor impairments in children with autism

For more than a year, researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso's Stanley E. Fulton Gait Research & Movement Analysis Lab in the College of Health Sciences have been using real-time 3D animation to investigate motor impairments in children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

30 Apr 2021

New technology enables faster and more accurate tracing of COVID-19 and other viruses

Jeremy Edwards, director of the Computational Genomics and Technology (CGaT) Laboratory at The University of New Mexico, and his colleagues at Centrillion Technologies in Palo Alto, Calif. and West Virginia University, have developed a chip that provides a simpler and more rapid method of genome sequencing for viruses like COVID-19.

30 Apr 2021

The Lancet study: Minority ethnic groups in the UK at increased risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes

Minority ethnic groups had higher risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and of COVID-19-related hospitalizations, intensive care (ICU) admissions and death compared with white groups in England, according to an observational study published in The Lancet.

30 Apr 2021

Scientists develop an ultrasonic imaging system to visualize cell abnormalities in 3D

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed an ultrasonic imaging system, which can be deployed on the tip of a hair-thin optical fiber, and will be insertable into the human body to visualize cell abnormalities in 3D.

30 Apr 2021

Vaccines can save lives and safeguard health and well-being

Effectively and safely protecting against disease--this is what makes vaccines a vital and successful public health tool that saves lives and safeguards health and well-being. Today, vaccines shield us from more than 20 life-threatening diseases.

30 Apr 2021

Social factors not a barrier in families' choice to use telehealth during the pandemic

Social, economic, and demographic factors that can influence health did not affect families' acceptance of telehealth for their children's cardiac care during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study presented at the Pediatric Academic Society 2021 Virtual Meeting.

30 Apr 2021

Furin cleavage site crucial in SARS-CoV-2 for viral transmission in ferrets, finds study

Researchers based at Imperial College London, UK, have recently highlighted the effects of these deleterious CS mutations through a ferret animal model, demonstrating that furin cleavage sites are a necessary component in the virus’ ability to replicate.

30 Apr 2021

Vaccine hesitancy is not a barrier to vaccination efforts, says study

A team of researchers from the USA, Germany and Norway recently found that the main barrier to vaccination is not vaccine hesitancy but a supply shortage and unequal distribution of the vaccines themselves.

30 Apr 2021

The vulnerable homebound are left behind on vaccination

It was April, more than three months into the vaccination campaign against covid-19, and Jim Freeman, 83, still had not gotten his first dose.

30 Apr 2021

Mental health services wane as insurers appear to skirt parity rules during pandemic

Therapists and other behavioral health care providers cut hours, reduced staffs and turned away patients during the pandemic as more Americans experienced depression symptoms and drug overdoses, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

30 Apr 2021

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

A new SARS-CoV-2 variant (HMN.19B) has been identified in France

Vaccine candidate targeting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein elicits protective immune response in animal model

Competitive multiplex binding assay can monitor SARS-CoV-2 immune responses using nanobodies

Study estimates true number of COVID-19 deaths by U.S. county

2018 legislation calls for assessment tool to predict recidivism in federal prison inmates

Study reveals new broadly neutralizing and protective antibody against coronaviruses

Researchers identify novel SARS-CoV-2 variant with mutations in membrane protein-encoding gene

Study implies a likely rise of future SARS-CoV-2 recombinants

Live "attenuated" influenza virus vaccine protects animals against respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2

Previously infected vaccinees broadly neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

UTEP researchers use real-time 3D animation to study motor impairments in children with autism

New technology enables faster and more accurate tracing of COVID-19 and other viruses

The Lancet study: Minority ethnic groups in the UK at increased risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes

Scientists develop an ultrasonic imaging system to visualize cell abnormalities in 3D

Vaccines can save lives and safeguard health and well-being

Social factors not a barrier in families' choice to use telehealth during the pandemic

Furin cleavage site crucial in SARS-CoV-2 for viral transmission in ferrets, finds study

Vaccine hesitancy is not a barrier to vaccination efforts, says study

The vulnerable homebound are left behind on vaccination

Mental health services wane as insurers appear to skirt parity rules during pandemic

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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