Spike Protein News and Research

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Researchers explore effect of temperature on molecular structure of SARS-CoV-2 spike

Didac Martí et al., from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, in a recent bioRxiv preprint research paper, explore the effect of the temperature on the molecular structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. The study specifically focuses on the spike glycoprotein's molecular structural integrity at different temperatures (within 25 ºC and 100 ºC) using atomistic computer simulations.

20 Oct 2020

Engineered decoy receptor could protect against coronaviruses

Researchers in the United States have shown that an engineered soluble decoy receptor tightly binds the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated viruses. This could potentially provide protection against zoonotic betacoronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

20 Oct 2020

Precision epidemiology could help explain variability in COVID-19 symptoms

Researchers from National Taiwan University have presented a multi-omics view of how mutations in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) affect infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and progression of coronaviruses disease 2019 (COVID-19).

20 Oct 2020

Older males who have recovered from COVID-19 are best plasma donors for treatment

Sex, age, and severity of disease may be useful in identifying COVID-19 survivors who are likely to have high levels of antibodies that can protect against the disease, according to a new study co-led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

20 Oct 2020

Androgen deprivation strategies could help mitigate SARS-CoV-2 infection

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have noted that women are generally less severely affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This has led to the exploration into estrogen and androgens' role in the hyperinflammatory clinical phenotypes of COVID-19. A recent study published on the preprint server bioRxiv shows that drugs targeting androgens and TMPRSS2 inhibitors may potentially combat the pandemic.

20 Oct 2020

Molecular simulations reveal detailed structure and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

Recently, researchers reported a study in which they analyzed the structure and dynamics of the spike protein using multiple molecular dynamic simulations. Their study is published on the preprint server bioRxiv.

19 Oct 2020

Design of an mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles

Now, a new study presented on the preprint server bioRxiv in October 2020 describes the efficient design of an mRNA vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), based on the use of the viral receptor-binding domain (RBD) mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP).

19 Oct 2020

New lab test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies gives results more quickly than existing assays

Knowing you have developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus after recovering from COVID-19 doesn't tell you everything about your immunity.

19 Oct 2020

Immunoglobulin M ACE2 autoantibodies associated with severe COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses with little prospect of immediate relief, a recent study by Johns Hopkins University researchers published on the preprint server medRxiv* in October 2020 discusses the association of Immunoglobulin M (IgM) autoantibodies against the host receptor that binds severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with severe disease via vascular endothelial damage. This could help develop better therapies and prognostic criteria.

19 Oct 2020

Obesity changes ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in mice: Implications for COVID-19

Researchers studying young obese mice found that expression of ACE2, a receptor in host cells that binds to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is higher in the lungs and trachea of obese mice. The finding could partly explain why obesity is a high-risk factor for COVID-19.

18 Oct 2020

Antibody levels drop rapidly in recovering COVID-19 patients, shows study

In the absence of approved, effective treatments for COVID-19, some hospitals have been treating patients with severe COVID symptoms with blood plasma from recovering patients.

16 Oct 2020

Rapid development of functionally diverse SARS-COV-2 mouse monoclonal antibodies

Now, a recent study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in October 2020 reports the development of a rapid process for generating high-affinity mouse mAbs, and their functional attributes.

16 Oct 2020

Sanofi Translate Bio MRT5500 COVID-19 vaccine shows promise in preclinical trials

The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to come back in greater intensity during the winter and fall. Faced with this threat, vaccine development efforts are entering a phase of renewed focus, attempting to identify antigens capable of eliciting protective levels of neutralizing antibodies. A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in October 2020 reports on a novel mRNA vaccine candidate's performance in two animal models.

16 Oct 2020

SARS-CoV-2 can infect brain cells and damage neurons

Researchers have found that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect the brain cells, mainly the astrocytes, and negatively affects cognition and neuronal cells.

15 Oct 2020

Capillary blood microsampling could prove a breakthrough in SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance

As COVID-19 seems to be making a comeback in many areas of the world, including Japan, a new study published on the preprint server medRxiv in October 2020 shows the relevance of microsamples of blood in serosurveillance of this disease.

15 Oct 2020

Rapid SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM‐IgG combined antibody test

A recent study published on the preprint server medRxiv in October 2020 reports a new diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 based on the detection of antibodies.

15 Oct 2020

Human bivalent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies more potent

A recent study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in October 2020 reports more effective viral neutralization by bivalent anti-spike antibodies. This could promote the development of better therapeutics and vaccines.

15 Oct 2020

Army researchers team up to test alternative ways to measure COVID-19 antibody levels

Researchers with the U.S. Army Futures Command are part of a team that tested alternative ways to measure COVID-19 antibody levels, resulting in a process that is faster, easier and less expensive to use on a large scale.

14 Oct 2020

Research identifies antigen-specific peripheral T follicular helper cells in COVID-19 infected patients

Researchers have found peripheral T follicular helper cell responses to different structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and have studied how the response occurs over time.

14 Oct 2020

Exploring the effects of smoking tobacco on COVID-19 risk

A study conducted by researchers in China has shed light on how certain tobacco compounds might prevent cells from becoming infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

14 Oct 2020

Spike Protein News and Research

Researchers explore effect of temperature on molecular structure of SARS-CoV-2 spike

Engineered decoy receptor could protect against coronaviruses

Precision epidemiology could help explain variability in COVID-19 symptoms

Older males who have recovered from COVID-19 are best plasma donors for treatment

Androgen deprivation strategies could help mitigate SARS-CoV-2 infection

Molecular simulations reveal detailed structure and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

Design of an mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles

New lab test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies gives results more quickly than existing assays

Immunoglobulin M ACE2 autoantibodies associated with severe COVID-19

Obesity changes ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in mice: Implications for COVID-19

Antibody levels drop rapidly in recovering COVID-19 patients, shows study

Rapid development of functionally diverse SARS-COV-2 mouse monoclonal antibodies

Sanofi Translate Bio MRT5500 COVID-19 vaccine shows promise in preclinical trials

SARS-CoV-2 can infect brain cells and damage neurons

Capillary blood microsampling could prove a breakthrough in SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance

Rapid SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM‐IgG combined antibody test

Human bivalent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies more potent

Army researchers team up to test alternative ways to measure COVID-19 antibody levels

Research identifies antigen-specific peripheral T follicular helper cells in COVID-19 infected patients

Exploring the effects of smoking tobacco on COVID-19 risk

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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