Severe Acute Respiratory News and Research

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Virus transmission by dental tools and prevention by antiviral agent

Researchers at the University of Ljubljana have demonstrated how a virus can spread by droplets during ultrasonic scaler (USS) operation and how this spread can be mitigated by merely substituting the irrigant with clinical virucidal agents, namely sodium hypochlorite and EOW (Electrolyzed Oxidizing Water).

16 Feb 2021

Detection of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant in New York

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena have developed a software tool called "Variant Database" that has detected an emerging lineage of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) isolates in New York.

16 Feb 2021

Stability and pathogenicity of MERS coronavirus varies across different viral strains

An international team of researchers has conducted a study suggesting that individual variation across different strains of betacoronaviruses can alter their stability and pathogenicity profiles.

16 Feb 2021

A pangolin coronavirus spike glycoprotein sheds light on SARS-CoV-2’s evolution

As the exact zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains unresolved, scientists at the Francis Crick Institute in London, UK, explored the structure and binding properties of a Pangolin coronavirus spike glycoprotein to see if it could shed light on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2.

16 Feb 2021

UV light can be used to disinfect SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces, says study

Using different UV exposure times and dosages, researchers showed that surfaces like glass, plastic, stainless steel, and N95 respirator material could be quickly and easily disinfected.

16 Feb 2021

Artemisia plant extracts show potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro

A team of scientists from Germany and the USA recently explored the effectiveness of traditional plant medicines in treating SARS-CoV-2 infection.

16 Feb 2021

What are the changes in the physical phenotype of blood cells in COVID-19?

While primarily a respiratory illness, there are distinctive alterations in the type and number of blood cells in COVID-19. A new study by a team of researchers in Germany describes the nature of these changes.

16 Feb 2021

British and South African SARS-CoV-2 variants show some resistance to neutralizing antibodies

Researchers in France report impaired neutralization of two new SARS-CoV-2 variants by antibodies induced by vaccination or natural infection.

16 Feb 2021

Clonally expanded plasma cell lineages in SARS-CoV-2 produce specific neutralizing antibodies

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server provides a greater understanding of the aspect of humoral immunity against the virus – the plasma cells that pour out a flood of specific antibodies targeting various epitopes on the pathogen.

16 Feb 2021

Mink-derived SARS-CoV-2 mutations reduce antibody effectiveness

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv* server shows that these mutations disrupt inhibition by neutralizing antibodies, both natural and therapeutic.

16 Feb 2021

Elevated Activin A and FLRG levels correlate with worst outcomes in severe COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes a "cytokine storm" in hospitalized and ICU patients. Studies have shown that the blockade of cytokine signaling and steroid treatment helps achieve positive outcomes in patients.

15 Feb 2021

CDC says vaccinated individuals can skip COVID quarantines

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic's global case toll has surpassed 109 million globally. Of these infections, 2.4 million people have already succumbed to the disease. As the pandemic continues to spread, many countries have rolled out vaccinations.

15 Feb 2021

What makes some people COVID superspreaders?

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that older, obese people who have an acute COVID-19 infection release more aerosols, increasing viral transmission potential.

15 Feb 2021

Nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine stimulates robust and long lasting immunity in primates

In the study, published on the preprint server bioRxiv, the team evaluated the ability of AS03, CpG 1018 formulated in Alum, the TLR-7 agonist adsorbed to Alum (AS37), the squalene-in-water emulsion (O/W), and Alum to boost protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

15 Feb 2021

How SARS-CoV-2 enters the central nervous system

The central nervous system (CNS) is highly protected in the human body. Yet, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) invades the CNS, causing profound clinical complications. How is the CNS involved in a respiratory virus infection?

15 Feb 2021

Researchers report a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in Uganda

An interdisciplinary research team from Uganda and the UK report the emergence and spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of the A lineage with multiple protein changes throughout the viral genome.

15 Feb 2021

Researchers observe rapid increase of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in plasma over pandemic's course

Researchers found that neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 can increase over time. They observed that samples taken from convalescent plasma in September 2020 would likely have high enough values by July 2021 to protect immunodeficient patients who receive intravenous immunoglobulins as part of their treatment.

15 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 South Africa and Brazil variants show resistance to therapeutic antibodies

Scientists from Germany have determined the efficacy of currently used therapeutics in treating newer variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the UK, South Africa, and Brazil variants. Their findings reveal that both B.1.351 and B.1.1.248 variants are able to escape humoral immune responses induced by therapeutic antibodies, vaccinations, or natural SARS-CoV-2 infection.

15 Feb 2021

RIG-1-like receptors may play dominant role in suppressing SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study by researchers at the University of Connecticut Health Center, USA, reports the crucial nature of the pathogen pattern recognition receptor (PRRs), especially the two RLRs, retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), in triggering host cell immune responses within the cell. The RLRs are viral RNA sensors.

15 Feb 2021

Researchers develop protocols for rapid serological surveys of SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study by researchers from Emory and Yale Universities in the USA discusses a design for quickly launching serological surveys to assess the prevalence of this infection in a given population.

15 Feb 2021

Severe Acute Respiratory News and Research

Virus transmission by dental tools and prevention by antiviral agent

Detection of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant in New York

Stability and pathogenicity of MERS coronavirus varies across different viral strains

A pangolin coronavirus spike glycoprotein sheds light on SARS-CoV-2’s evolution

UV light can be used to disinfect SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces, says study

Artemisia plant extracts show potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro

What are the changes in the physical phenotype of blood cells in COVID-19?

British and South African SARS-CoV-2 variants show some resistance to neutralizing antibodies

Clonally expanded plasma cell lineages in SARS-CoV-2 produce specific neutralizing antibodies

Mink-derived SARS-CoV-2 mutations reduce antibody effectiveness

Elevated Activin A and FLRG levels correlate with worst outcomes in severe COVID-19

CDC says vaccinated individuals can skip COVID quarantines

What makes some people COVID superspreaders?

Nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine stimulates robust and long lasting immunity in primates

How SARS-CoV-2 enters the central nervous system

Researchers report a new SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in Uganda

Researchers observe rapid increase of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in plasma over pandemic's course

SARS-CoV-2 South Africa and Brazil variants show resistance to therapeutic antibodies

RIG-1-like receptors may play dominant role in suppressing SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers develop protocols for rapid serological surveys of SARS-CoV-2 infection

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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