Respiratory News and Research

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Temperature difference in the upper and lower respiratory tract influences SARS-CoV-2 replication

A team of researchers from the Institute for Infectious Diseases (IFIK) at the University of Bern and the Federal Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) have assessed virus growth and activation of the cellular defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract.

1 Apr 2021

Discovery of cryptic pocket in SARS-CoV-2 may lead to pan-coronavirus therapies

A new research paper published in the Biophysical Journal describes a novel binding pocket used by a viral non-structural protein (nsp) to form an activated complex with its partner nsp. In so doing, it may have revealed a common target that may be useful in the development of a broad-spectrum antiviral drug against all coronaviruses.

1 Apr 2021

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in pregnancy

A new preprint research paper posted to the medRxiv* server shows that while pregnant women are seriously worried about their risk of contracting the infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but are also hesitant to take the vaccine.

1 Apr 2021

Antibodies produced from infection with SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 protect against other variants

A recent paper in the journal Nature shows that while earlier lineages do not elicit antibodies capable of efficiently neutralizing the newly emerged South African variant, SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), the converse does occur.

31 Mar 2021

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine effective against B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant

Published in The Lancet, the study explores if the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine works well in protecting against the B.1.1.7 variant, otherwise known as the U.K. variant.

31 Mar 2021

Study estimates impact of amino acid changes on SARS-CoV-2 infection

New research led by Costas D. Maranas from The Pennsylvania State University predicts amino acid changes to the receptor-binding domain of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein would negatively impact binding affinity and subsequent infection into human cells.

31 Mar 2021

Study reports on two cats that caught COVID-19

Our feline friends are also vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, according to new research posted to the preprint server bioRxiv. The researchers diagnosed two cats living in France with mild symptomatic COVID-19 illness. The virus was most likely transmitted from their owners.

31 Mar 2021

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 from reinfected individuals with previous infection or vaccination

A technical report recently published by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has summarized all available literature regarding the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission from asymptomatic reinfected individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination.

31 Mar 2021

Are marine mammals are at risk of COVID-19?

Researchers have identified a number of marine mammal species native to Italian seawaters that may be highly susceptible to the disease. Additionally, these species inhabit ocean areas where the virus may be present even after receiving sewage treatment, thus highlighting the need for strict sewage improvement plans.

31 Mar 2021

Researchers evaluate antibodies that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RBD variants with a novel assay

A team of researchers recently discussed the potential role of a new assay in bridging a major gap in SARS-CoV-2 research. This assay can throw light on 1) the selection of complementary monoclonal antibody candidates and 2) rapid identification of the immune escape to emerging RBD variants following vaccination or natural infection.

31 Mar 2021

Male fetuses impair the maternal and placental immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy, finds study

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is now established to be more likely to lead to symptomatic and serious illness in males relative to females. This may extend as far back as pregnancy, suggests a recent study.

31 Mar 2021

Obesity and ethnicity identified as key risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 exposure in UK

The risk factors for severe COVID-19 have been established on the basis of observational studies. However, SARS-CoV-2 continues to cause thousands of COVID-19 cases all over the world, and the risk factors are unclear. A new study deals with this aspect of the pandemic.

31 Mar 2021

Infliximab may hinder the effectiveness of some COVID-19 vaccines

A new study reports reduced vaccine efficacy following the use of a single COVID-19 vaccine dose in people who are on the immunosuppressive monoclonal antibody Infliximab.

31 Mar 2021

Asymmetrical vaccine distribution could promote vaccine evading mutations in SARS-CoV-2

Researchers have investigated the ultimate influence of unequal vaccine distribution by mathematical modeling, revealing the critical role of fair distribution in future COVID-19 containment strategy.

31 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 inhibits the cellular response to interferon

Researchers have explored the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the function of RIG-I and MDA5, and ultimately on interferon production.

31 Mar 2021

Study shows how viral distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in the human body relates to tissue damage

Researchers have mapped the distribution of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in deceased patients with the disease, and shed new light on how viral load relates to tissue damage.

31 Mar 2021

Development of a model of substrate coordination to Zn-bound ACE2

The ongoing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has claimed more than 2.8 million lives worldwide. Authorities are facing difficulty in preventing the spread of disease due to the highly infectious nature of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, reducing the virus's ability to infect an individual's respiratory epithelial cells could prove an effective measure to prevent disease transmission.

31 Mar 2021

Study of twins reveals differences in adaptive immunity towards SARS-CoV-2

Twins may look alike on the outside, but not so much on the inside. That's one takeaway from a new preprint study posted to the medRxiv server where Brazilian researchers observed different T-cell responses in two pairs of identical twins exposed to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One twin who was reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 four months after had low recognition of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell epitopes.

31 Mar 2021

New coronavirus variant with E484K mutation detected in Arizona

Arizona joins the ever-growing list of American states harboring a variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A study led by Efrem S. Lim of Arizona State University confirms evidence of the B.1.243.1 with an E484K mutation on the spike protein.

30 Mar 2021

Impact of COVID-19 on mental health in the US: CDC report

The study, published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), underlies the importance of evaluating the impact of strategies addressing adult mental health status during the pandemic. This way, these can help plan strategies and interventions for the affected groups.

30 Mar 2021

Respiratory News and Research

Temperature difference in the upper and lower respiratory tract influences SARS-CoV-2 replication

Discovery of cryptic pocket in SARS-CoV-2 may lead to pan-coronavirus therapies

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in pregnancy

Antibodies produced from infection with SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 protect against other variants

Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine effective against B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant

Study estimates impact of amino acid changes on SARS-CoV-2 infection

Study reports on two cats that caught COVID-19

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 from reinfected individuals with previous infection or vaccination

Are marine mammals are at risk of COVID-19?

Researchers evaluate antibodies that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RBD variants with a novel assay

Male fetuses impair the maternal and placental immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy, finds study

Obesity and ethnicity identified as key risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 exposure in UK

Infliximab may hinder the effectiveness of some COVID-19 vaccines

Asymmetrical vaccine distribution could promote vaccine evading mutations in SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 inhibits the cellular response to interferon

Study shows how viral distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in the human body relates to tissue damage

Development of a model of substrate coordination to Zn-bound ACE2

Study of twins reveals differences in adaptive immunity towards SARS-CoV-2

New coronavirus variant with E484K mutation detected in Arizona

Impact of COVID-19 on mental health in the US: CDC report

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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