Polymerase Chain Reaction News and Research

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Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a revolutionary laboratory technique that enables the replication of a specific DNA sequence. Using PCR, millions of copies of a target DNA can be easily synthesized within a short period of time.

COVID-19 swab testing may not be good for people with a history of sinus or skull-base surgery

People who have had major sinus surgery should consult their ENT doctor before undergoing COVID-19 swab testing, new research indicates.

4 Mar 2021

Delayed detection of oral fluid anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies increases the time to viral clearance

A prospective observational study has revealed that the late appearance of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in oral fluid, absence of fever as an early symptom, and elevated BMI are associated with delayed clearance of viral RNA in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients.

4 Mar 2021

Study suggests no protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection from recent exposure to HCoVs

In the study, published on the pre-print server medRxiv*, the researchers found a slight but significantly elevated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with young children between 10 months and five years old. However, recent exposure to human coronaviruses does not reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with young children.

4 Mar 2021

Study reports persistent SARS-CoV-2 with increasing viral variants in pediatric patients

New research, published on medRxiv preprint server, has reported the effect of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised children and young adults.

4 Mar 2021

Liquid-handling robots for wastewater surveillance help predict COVID-19 cases in San Diego

In earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, before diagnostic testing was widely available, it was difficult for public health officials to keep track of the infection's spread, or predict where outbreaks were likely to occur.

3 Mar 2021

Researchers examine long-term immune responses following COVID-19 across clinically diverse cohort

A new study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, discusses the different aspects of long-term immune responses in a wide sample of patients, as well as how they vary in clinical severity and sequelae.

3 Mar 2021

Quantifying SARS-CoV-2 viral load in hospitalized patients

A new paper, published on the medRxiv preprint server, investigates the role of subgenomic RNA transcripts in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Earlier, scientists believed that subgenomic RNA could be traceable infective markers to monitor infectivity.

2 Mar 2021

Optimal storage protocols of wastewater samples for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection

A new preprint released on the medRxiv* server by researchers at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, takes this further in order to establish the limits of storage procedures while working on viral surveillance in this area.

2 Mar 2021

Moderna vaccine reduces viral spread by at least 60 percent, finds study

An interesting new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the U.S. suggests that the currently used Moderna vaccine reduces viral shedding by about 60%.

2 Mar 2021

Single-dose of BNT162b2 vaccine may not be protective without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study by researchers at Imperial College London, UK, discusses the effect of a vaccine dose, specifically the BNT162b2 candidate (also known as the ‘Pfizer-BioNTech’ vaccine), on neutralizing antibody titers in individuals who have already been infected with the virus.

1 Mar 2021

Could SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests before first vaccine dose help increase coverage and protection?

A new study by scientists in the UK raises the very useful hypothesis that natural infection may help spread the vaccine thinner without loss of efficacy.

1 Mar 2021

Researchers assess SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination risks in hospital setting

Researchers analyzed the surface swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and the infectivity in a hospital setting by both qRT-PCR and a viral culture assay. They also determined the suitability for sequence analysis and phylogenetically identifying the source of the virus.

1 Mar 2021

Free-ranging minks exhibit high titers of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Utah

Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report outbreaks of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on mink farms in Utah, United States. They surveyed around farms for evidence of exposure and found high SARS-CoV-2 titers, suggesting a possible viral transmission pathway to native wildlife.

28 Feb 2021

KAUST researchers develop a safe, fast and cheap testing method to detect viruses

A safe, fast and cheap testing method that uses magnetic nanoparticles to detect viruses in both clinical and wastewater samples has been developed by KAUST researchers.

25 Feb 2021

AI-mediated analysis of vaccinated patients affirms safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

A new study provides a timely answer to many of these fears, by reporting on the results of an analysis of over 31,000 vaccine recipients with respect to immediate adverse effects, reported within 21 days, of the first and/or second doses of the vaccine.

25 Feb 2021

Neuroinvasiveness of SARS-CoV-2 shown by viral RNA and inflammation in the brain

A new study describes the results of a macaque study that showed the development of neurological features of inflammation, following infection by SARS-CoV-2.

25 Feb 2021

Novel single-particle digital assay using plasmonic nanobubbles

An interdisciplinary team from the University of Texas applied DIAMOND to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) diagnostics and demonstrated that DIAMOND is 150 times more sensitive than commercial lateral flow assays. They found that the measurements are completed within 2 minutes. The results of this study are published on the medRxiv* preprint server.

25 Feb 2021

Is the CDC 10-day COVID-19 quarantine guideline enough?

Researchers at the University of Florida and the Florida Department of Health evaluated test positivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 infection among student contacts. The team found that nine days are not enough to ascertain that the student did not contract the virus.

24 Feb 2021

Study shows antibody responses persisting 10 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers in Italy have conducted a study showing that patients who had tested positive for infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still had neutralizing antibodies against the virus 10 months later.

24 Feb 2021

COVID-19 hospitalizations still high in England despite recent decline in cases, says study

Results from the latest round of the real-time assessment of community transmission study (REACT-1) study in England indicate that although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases have decreased, the number of hospitalizations remains high.

24 Feb 2021

Polymerase Chain Reaction News and Research

Further Reading

COVID-19 swab testing may not be good for people with a history of sinus or skull-base surgery

Delayed detection of oral fluid anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies increases the time to viral clearance

Study suggests no protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection from recent exposure to HCoVs

Study reports persistent SARS-CoV-2 with increasing viral variants in pediatric patients

Liquid-handling robots for wastewater surveillance help predict COVID-19 cases in San Diego

Researchers examine long-term immune responses following COVID-19 across clinically diverse cohort

Quantifying SARS-CoV-2 viral load in hospitalized patients

Optimal storage protocols of wastewater samples for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection

Moderna vaccine reduces viral spread by at least 60 percent, finds study

Single-dose of BNT162b2 vaccine may not be protective without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

Could SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests before first vaccine dose help increase coverage and protection?

Researchers assess SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination risks in hospital setting

Free-ranging minks exhibit high titers of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Utah

KAUST researchers develop a safe, fast and cheap testing method to detect viruses

AI-mediated analysis of vaccinated patients affirms safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

Neuroinvasiveness of SARS-CoV-2 shown by viral RNA and inflammation in the brain

Novel single-particle digital assay using plasmonic nanobubbles

Is the CDC 10-day COVID-19 quarantine guideline enough?

Study shows antibody responses persisting 10 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

COVID-19 hospitalizations still high in England despite recent decline in cases, says study

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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