Respiratory News and Research

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Pangolin coronavirus sheds light on UK SARS-CoV-2 variant's evolutionary trajectory

Researchers at the Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, UK, have provided key insights into the characteristics of the B.1.1.7 (or UK) variant of SARS-CoV-2.

24 Mar 2021

Long-term complications are common among COVID-19 recovered individuals

A team of scientists from the United Kingdom has recently conducted a multicenter, prospective cohort study to investigate long-term consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

24 Mar 2021

Researchers develop innovative biosensor that can detect and quantitate SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers have generated protease-activatable fluorescent and luminescent biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 MPro (main protease) and PLPro (papain-like protease) activity, one based on “flip” GFP (FlipGFP), and the other based on circularly permuted firefly luciferase (FFluc).

24 Mar 2021

Modeling study predicts SARS-CoV-2 variants with high receptor binding affinity

A new study adds to the sum of knowledge about SARS-CoV-2, with respect to its natural and biologically significant mutations, using computational modeling of the virus-receptor interactions. Understanding how viral mutations affect the virus-host interactions is crucial for shaping proper strategies to control the virus.

24 Mar 2021

Neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in mice depend on Fc effector function

A new study reports the essential nature of Fc-mediated functionalities in determining the efficacy of such antibodies.

24 Mar 2021

New covalent and non-covalent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors discovered in silico

A new study describes the use of a combination of virtual and experimental screening protocols to identify potential inhibitors of the virus, which could lead to rapid drug development.

24 Mar 2021

Delays in TB diagnosis often exceed WHO’s recommendations, shows study

Tuberculosis remains a rare disease in the United States, but when it does occur, delays in diagnosing it often exceed recommendations by the World Health Organization, according to a new report by Harvard Medical School researchers published March 22 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

24 Mar 2021

Survey of surge capacity managers captures pandemic preparedness status of the U.S. health care system

A University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine-led survey of dozens of surge capacity managers at hospitals nationwide captures the U.S. health care system's pandemic preparedness status in the months before the first COVID-19 cases were identified in China.

24 Mar 2021

Epitope antibody testing is effective in detecting immune responses to SARS-CoV-2

A new preprint study led by Shawn S-C. Li from Western University in Ontario, Canada, provides evidence of epitope-specific antibody responses and designed a test to measure this in relation to disease severity and outcome after infection.

24 Mar 2021

New range of lung-on-chip technologies represent the vital properties of lung tissue

According to the National Institutes of Health, respiratory viruses are the most frequent cause of disease and death in humans, a fact highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the potential to cause severe disease, over 70% of viral infections remain asymptomatic.

24 Mar 2021

Research suggests toothpaste and mouthwash ingredients could help prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection

Now, new research published on the bioRxiv preprint server focuses on the effect of some typical ingredients present in commercially available mouthwashes and toothpaste on the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells.

24 Mar 2021

Potent nanobody binds SARS-CoV-2 spike in an extraordinary manner

In a new study, published recently on the bioRxiv preprint server, researchers isolated a nanobody that potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2, including the B.1.351 variant, and cross-neutralizes SARS-CoV. They demonstrated the therapeutic potential of the nanobody in a human ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme) transgenic mouse model.

24 Mar 2021

People who received flu shot last season had fewer complication of COVID-19

People who received a flu shot last flu season were significantly less likely to test positive for a COVID-19 infection when the pandemic hit, according to a new study.

23 Mar 2021

CureVac's COVID-19 vaccine protects mice against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants

The CVnCoV mRNA vaccine showed neutralizing antibody levels and completely protected mice infected with the B.1.351 variant. No viral genomes were seen in oral swabs, lungs, or brain.

23 Mar 2021

Study shows single dose of mRNA vaccine may suffice for those with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

A recent study by researchers from Philadelphia, currently available on the medRxiv preprint server, shows that individuals with prior infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exhibit substantial immune memory and develop a robust response to the first dose of an mRNA vaccine.

23 Mar 2021

COVID-19 prevention strategies may have led to a decrease in common respiratory infections

Wearing masks and physical distancing - two key infection prevention strategies implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19 - may have led to the dramatic decrease in rates of common respiratory viral infections, such as influenza.

23 Mar 2021

Study reveals a genetic variant linked to COVID-19 severity in young men

A study of young men with COVID-19 has revealed a genetic variant linked to disease severity.

23 Mar 2021

Is T-cell receptor sequencing a reliable alternative to SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing?

Researchers in the United States have now demonstrated that T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing might provide a reliable alternative to assessing infection in convalescent blood plasma, and may be applicable in the future for applying protective immunity to individuals.

23 Mar 2021

Correlation of antibody titers with COVID-19 vaccine efficacy

In a new study the relationship between virus-neutralizing antibody and spike protein-binding IgG antibody levels is explored following vaccination by one of seven currently deployed vaccines. The findings support the use of antibody titers as correlates of protection for COVID-19 vaccines.

23 Mar 2021

Immunoassay heterogeneity and implications for SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance

In a recent study, scientists have quantified anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels up to 9 months after infection.

23 Mar 2021

Respiratory News and Research

Pangolin coronavirus sheds light on UK SARS-CoV-2 variant's evolutionary trajectory

Long-term complications are common among COVID-19 recovered individuals

Researchers develop innovative biosensor that can detect and quantitate SARS-CoV-2 infection

Modeling study predicts SARS-CoV-2 variants with high receptor binding affinity

Neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in mice depend on Fc effector function

New covalent and non-covalent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors discovered in silico

Delays in TB diagnosis often exceed WHO’s recommendations, shows study

Survey of surge capacity managers captures pandemic preparedness status of the U.S. health care system

Epitope antibody testing is effective in detecting immune responses to SARS-CoV-2

New range of lung-on-chip technologies represent the vital properties of lung tissue

Research suggests toothpaste and mouthwash ingredients could help prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection

Potent nanobody binds SARS-CoV-2 spike in an extraordinary manner

People who received flu shot last season had fewer complication of COVID-19

CureVac's COVID-19 vaccine protects mice against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants

Study shows single dose of mRNA vaccine may suffice for those with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

COVID-19 prevention strategies may have led to a decrease in common respiratory infections

Study reveals a genetic variant linked to COVID-19 severity in young men

Is T-cell receptor sequencing a reliable alternative to SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing?

Correlation of antibody titers with COVID-19 vaccine efficacy

Immunoassay heterogeneity and implications for SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance

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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