Severe Acute Respiratory News and Research

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Some COVID-19 patients experience persistent chronic fatigue six months after infection, finds study

Scientists from Germany recently revealed that almost 50% of patients present with moderate to severe chronic fatigue syndrome six months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

10 Feb 2021

Could a SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein be responsible for certain COVID-19 symptoms?

Researchers highlight the potential causes of some COVID-19 symptoms. Early in the pandemic, the hallmark symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever, and shortness of breath. As the pandemic has evolved, more symptoms have emerged, such as loss of smell and taste, headache, intestinal issues, and abdominal pains.

10 Feb 2021

Polyclonal SARS-CoV-2 antibody shows potent neutralizing activity in vitro

Researchers shows a fully human immunoglobulin (IgG) that potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection.

10 Feb 2021

Study finds low SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 cases

Researchers at Northwestern University have noted high rates of asymptomatic and mild infection in a large community-based cohort and low levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G antibody (IgG) in the general population of previously exposed people.

10 Feb 2021

Both mRNA vaccines protect against emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States and Canada have conducted a study showing that just a single dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is likely to protect against emerging variants.

9 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 may soon become the dominant variant in US

A team of scientists from the United States has recently explored the prevalence and transmission dynamics of the B.1.1.7 variant (UK variant) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the United States. The study reveals that because of 35-45% increased transmissibility, B.1.1.7 may soon become the US's dominant variant. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

9 Feb 2021

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effective against variants, study shows

Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York have conducted a study demonstrating the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNtech BNT162b2 vaccine against recently emerged variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

9 Feb 2021

Researchers develop self-assembling nanoparticle SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

Researchers in China have developed three SARS-CoV-2 nanoparticle vaccines, containing receptor-binding domain (RBD) trimer, S1 trimer, and ectodomain (ECD) trimer, respectively. To do this, they have used Ferritin nanoparticle self-assembly technology.

9 Feb 2021

COVID-19 vaccination associated with 3- to 5-fold reduction in viral load

Researchers in Israel report a reduction in viral load in vaccinated individuals.

9 Feb 2021

Inhibition of protein glycosylation successfully prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

A new study provides direct evidence that the oligosaccharides attached to the viral surface spike protein are essential for viral infection, offering new approaches to preventive and therapeutic drugs.

9 Feb 2021

Subgenomic RNAs could help identify asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers report the association of subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) production, the structural differences between sgRNA variants, and clinical severity in 81 clinical specimens obtained from both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

9 Feb 2021

Emergence and transmission of UK SARS-CoV-2 variant in the US

Researchers describe the impending rise to dominance of the B.1.1.7 (UK) variant in the US. Understanding this development will help to shape preventive action to reduce the infection and mortality rates.

9 Feb 2021

Vaccinated mothers may pass on SARS-CoV-2 antibodies to newborns

A new study describes the first case of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detected in the cord blood of an infant born to a mother immunized with the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine three weeks earlier.

9 Feb 2021

A precursor to remdesivir shows therapeutic potential for COVID-19

A new study points to the potential to use the remdesivir precursor, GS-441524, as a treatment choice for COVID-19.

9 Feb 2021

New U.K. SARS-CoV-2 variant may cause more severe illness, study finds

Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine revealed that the VOC 202012/01 variant is not only fast-spreading and easily transmissible but also may cause more severe illness.

8 Feb 2021

One-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine policy may lead to antigenic evolution, study finds

In a new study, published on the pre-print server medRxiv, an international team of researchers found that a one-dose policy may increase the potential for antigenic evolution. The study revealed that focusing on one dose may decrease infections in the short term, but longer-term outcomes rely on this immune strength.

8 Feb 2021

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine immune response in the elderly

In a recent medRxiv preprint publication, the team led by Professor Ravindra K. Gupta has assessed the real-world immune responses following the vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2. The team measured 1) IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma) T cell responses, 2) both total IgG Spike/ IgG Spike RBD (receptor binding domain) and 3) neutralizing antibody responses to Spike in sera.

8 Feb 2021

4th preclinical study for Novavax in non-human primates, tests SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers in the United States have identified specific immune correlates that might be key to ensuring that vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) protects against not only disease, but also viral transmission and emerging variants.

8 Feb 2021

Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine effective against emerging variants

Researchers have conducted a study showing that the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine effectively protects against recently emerged variants of SARS-CoV-2 – the agent that causes COVID-19.

8 Feb 2021

Scientists produce active antigen in bacteria to help combat SARS-CoV-2

Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have developed a bacterial strategy for the expression and purification of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD).

8 Feb 2021