Polymerase Chain Reaction News and Research

RSS

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.

Case report on Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis and SARS-CoV-2 concomitant infection

In a recent case report published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, researchers reported a case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis concomitant infection.

27 Mar 2023

New study suggests broad neutralizing antibody could provide three years of COVID protection

In a recent article published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers showed that a novel, lab-engineered monoclonal antibody (mAb), adintrevimab conferred up to 50% protection against symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Furthermore, it demonstrated this exceptional efficacy in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–naïve individuals even at titers as low as 1:30.

27 Mar 2023

Demographic, geographic, and temporal variables associated with C. auris cases in Italy

A recent study reported growing cases of Candida auris in North Italy.

27 Mar 2023

Menin protein protects against aging and cognitive decline

In a recent study published in the journal PLoS Biology, researchers from the University of Xiamen, China, explored the role of the hypothalamic menin in driving aging and associated cognitive decay.

23 Mar 2023

Monovalent vs. bivalent vaccines – Which is more effective against SARS-CoV-2?

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers in France compared the efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech Original/BA.4-5 bivalent vaccine compared to messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) Original (ancestral) monovalent vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

22 Mar 2023

Dampened mucosal response against SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant individuals

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers examined associations between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes and mucosal antibody responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and viral RNA levels in pregnant individuals.

22 Mar 2023

International trade of colistin in animal feed continues unabated

Researchers investigate Enterobacterales species resistance to colistin in Pakistan.

22 Mar 2023

Emergence and persistency of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.3.7 in Taiwan

Researchers utilize whole-genome surveillance to monitor community transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Taiwan.

22 Mar 2023

Loss of smell following COVID-19 recovery: How long could it last?

In a recent study posted to the Preprints with The Lancet* server, researchers in China conducted a multi-center, retrospective study to gather data on the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction (OD) after three years of recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Mar 2023

Paxlovid is 80% effective when taken within 5 days of severe COVID

In a recent study published in The Lancet’s Infectious Diseases, researchers in the United States evaluated nirmatrelvir–ritonavir treatment effectiveness against hospitalizations and deaths among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outpatients in the United States of America (USA).

21 Mar 2023

The effectiveness of mRNA vaccines during Omicron BA.4/5 predominance

Researchers evaluate vaccine effectiveness for two, three, and four doses of COVID-19 mRNA first-generation vaccines.

21 Mar 2023

H5N1 avian influenza found in stranded harbor porpoise

In a recent study published in the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, researchers from Sweden described the detection of the hemagglutinin type 5 and neuraminidase type 1 (H5N1) avian influenza virus in a stranded harbor porpoise, indicating a potential spillover of this highly pathogenic avian influenza virus into cetacean species.

20 Mar 2023

Does vitamin D play an anti-viral role against SARS-CoV-2?

Researchers screened various compounds for anti-viral properties against SARS-CoV-2.

17 Mar 2023

Venous thromboembolism is rare among non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients

In a recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers in the United States assessed the risk and aimed to identify the independent predictors of venous thromboembolism events in outpatients who had less severe manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

16 Mar 2023

Research highlights the potential risk of secondary SARS-CoV-2 transmission from wild rats

In a recent study published in the journal mBio, researchers in the United States evaluated rat exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in New York City (NYC).

16 Mar 2023

Research highlights the importance of ventilation and air filtration to reduce pathogen transmission

Testing of ambient air can be used to monitor the community circulation of respiratory pathogens.

16 Mar 2023

Multiplex PCR panels associated with reduced administration of antibiotics to hospitalized GI patients

Acute gastroenteritis afflicts adults of all ages, causing significant suffering and inflicting significant costs on the American healthcare system.

16 Mar 2023

Study identifies link between oral and gut microbiomes and depression

Researchers investigate the role of the oral-gut-brain axis in anxiety and depression.

14 Mar 2023

Study shows SARS-CoV-2 causes DNA damage and elicits an altered DNA damage response

Researchers assessed the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and DNA damage and cellular senescence.

14 Mar 2023

Oral host responses to SARS-CoV-2 predict progression of COVID-19

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers at the University of North Carolina and the National Institutes of Health determined the associations between oral severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), oral antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms.

14 Mar 2023