Respiratory News and Research

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Engineered T cells prevent translational shutdown in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells

In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv* by Schamel et al. (June 25th, 2021) engineered T cells against SARS-CoV-2 are tested against a range of cells in vitro, finding that the treatment could be used to restore cellular immune function and suppress SARS-CoV-2.

1 Jul 2021

Mutations in the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 select for amino acid changes, increasing protein stability

A team of researchers recently demonstrated that mutations in the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 select for amino acid changes that result in a more stable protein than would otherwise be expected.

1 Jul 2021

Cryo-EM structure of neutralizing antibody 5-7 in complex with SARS CoV-2 spike

Researchers from the US recently reported the 3.7 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of an NTD-directed neutralizing antibody 5-7 that forms a complex with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. They also presented the neutralization data against VOC and studied the recognized epitope.

1 Jul 2021

Mustard seed, wall rocket and turmeric extracts show potential against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Researchers in Spain have identified plant extracts that may be of interest in the search for treatments of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and serve as a basis for future chemical, in vivo, and clinical trials.

1 Jul 2021

Anti-malarial drug shows promise in the battle against COVID-19

In the "war" that the world has been fighting against COVID-19, scientists have been scanning their arsenals of previously used drugs in hopes of finding any that can be used to treat the disease.

1 Jul 2021

Grapevine leaf extract inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1 replication in the lab

Researchers in Italy have shown that leaf extract from the common grapevine – Vitis vinifera – exhibits significant antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

1 Jul 2021

High levels of neutrophil extracellular traps found in airways of severely ill Covid-19 patients

When researchers at Lund University in Sweden performed advanced analyses of sputum from the airways of severely ill Covid-19 patients, they found high levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

1 Jul 2021

Study explores lectins from plants, fungi, algae and cyanobacteria as pan-coronavirus inhibitors

In a recently published article scientists have provided a detailed description of the utility of mannose-specific lectins in preventing coronavirus infections. They have specifically explained how mannose-specific lectins derived from plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria selectively bind N-glycans present on the surface of viral spike protein and how such interactions can be medically utilized to control coronavirus transmission.

1 Jul 2021

Study evaluates neutralizing antibody responses elicited by the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

A recent Diagnostics study discusses the specific antibody response that occurred in individuals after they had received the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

1 Jul 2021

Can age, sex, BMI or blood group influence the immunogenicity of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

A group of Belgium researchers recently discuss their findings in the journal Microorganisms, which describe the influence of several factors on vaccine-induced immunogenicity.

1 Jul 2021

Could peridomestic mammals act as zoonotic reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2?

In new research from researchers in the USA and Australia peridomestic mammals, which live in and around human habitations, have been investigated to ascertain how SARS-CoV-2 can affect species external to, but in close proximity to, the human population.

1 Jul 2021

Nurses' perceptions of barriers to mobilizing intubated patients receiving mechanical ventilation

Concerns about safety, competing priorities and uncooperative patients were among the barriers identified by critical care nurses for not mobilizing intubated patients receiving mechanical ventilation, according to a study published in American Journal of Critical Care.

1 Jul 2021

Study shows wearing facial masks do not impose any limitations during physical exercise

A new study demonstrates that wearing an N95 respirator or cloth mask does not limit the capacity to conduct physical exercise among adults.

1 Jul 2021

Zinc-embedded polyamides inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A

The researchers show that the fabric retains its virus-inactivating property and stable zinc content over 50 standardized washes.

1 Jul 2021

COVID mRNA vaccines induce antibodies against three SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers at the Institute of Biomedicine, the University of Turku in Finland showed that the blood of BNT162b2-vaccinated health care workers effectively neutralized the SARS-CoV-2 variant with the D614G substitution and the B.1.1.7 variant (Alpha variant) after the second dose.

1 Jul 2021

Ion channel conserved in coronaviruses a potential new drug target for COVID therapeutics

To this end, a recent study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology discusses the structures of the SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).

30 Jun 2021

Study highlights changes within SARS-CoV-2 variants that could be exploited to design effective inhibitors

A computational study that analyzes and explores the time-based structures of the SARS-CoV-2 variants with specific spike (S) protein mutations is discussed here.

30 Jun 2021

First demonstration of COVID-19-like response by an essential virus encoded protein by SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

Researchers from collaborating universities in Virginia have recently utilized transgenic mice to explore the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on associated lung injury.

30 Jun 2021

Alpha variant mutations help SARS-CoV-2 overcome evolutionary weaknesses

The study, published in the journal Cell Reports, showed that the mutations in the virus, particularly the deletion of two amino acids H69/V70 seen in the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), enables the virus to overcome weaknesses as it evolves.

30 Jun 2021

Moderna's COVID vaccine effective against emerging variants including Delta

Researchers in the United States have analyzed the neutralizing activity of Moderna’s mRNA-1273 vaccine against several variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

30 Jun 2021

Respiratory News and Research

Engineered T cells prevent translational shutdown in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells

Mutations in the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 select for amino acid changes, increasing protein stability

Cryo-EM structure of neutralizing antibody 5-7 in complex with SARS CoV-2 spike

Mustard seed, wall rocket and turmeric extracts show potential against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Anti-malarial drug shows promise in the battle against COVID-19

Grapevine leaf extract inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1 replication in the lab

High levels of neutrophil extracellular traps found in airways of severely ill Covid-19 patients

Study explores lectins from plants, fungi, algae and cyanobacteria as pan-coronavirus inhibitors

Study evaluates neutralizing antibody responses elicited by the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

Can age, sex, BMI or blood group influence the immunogenicity of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?

Could peridomestic mammals act as zoonotic reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2?

Nurses' perceptions of barriers to mobilizing intubated patients receiving mechanical ventilation

Study shows wearing facial masks do not impose any limitations during physical exercise

Zinc-embedded polyamides inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A

COVID mRNA vaccines induce antibodies against three SARS-CoV-2 variants

Ion channel conserved in coronaviruses a potential new drug target for COVID therapeutics

Study highlights changes within SARS-CoV-2 variants that could be exploited to design effective inhibitors

First demonstration of COVID-19-like response by an essential virus encoded protein by SARS-CoV-2 in vivo

Alpha variant mutations help SARS-CoV-2 overcome evolutionary weaknesses

Moderna's COVID vaccine effective against emerging variants including Delta

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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