Spike Protein News and Research

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How COVID-19 targets the pancreas revealed

The study uncovers the role of the PLAC8 protein in making the human pancreas vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to pancreatic injury and complications in severe COVID-19 cases. The findings open up new avenues for understanding how the virus affects multiple organ systems and offer a potential target for future treatments.

12 Sep 2023

New machine-learning algorithms can help optimize the next-generation of therapeutic antibodies

Antibody treatments may be able to activate the immune system to fight diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and colorectal cancer, but they are less effective when they bind with themselves and other molecules that aren’t markers of disease.

11 Sep 2023

Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants identified in the UK

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance and assessment technical briefing 53. It contains the latest epidemiological and genomic analysis of the emergent BA.2.86 variant.

8 Sep 2023

Self-adjuvanting RNA vaccines boost immune response 10x more than existing vaccines

RNA vaccines against Covid-19 have proven effective at reducing the severity of disease. However, a team of researchers at MIT is working on making them even better.

8 Sep 2023

BA.2.86 Omicron variant: Is our immunity under siege?

A new preprint posted to the bioRxiv server discusses whether this variant shows neutralization escape.

7 Sep 2023

Researchers characterize new SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 variant neutralization by monoclonal antibodies

Researchers used a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-pseudotyped viral model to characterize BA.2.86 variant neutralization by monoclonal antibodies.

6 Sep 2023

Monovalent vaccine outperforms bivalent in fighting new Omicron variants

New U.S. study finds mRNA-1273.815, a monovalent vaccine targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant, generates higher neutralizing antibody titers compared to its bivalent counterpart. The study supports updating to an XBB.1.5-based monovalent vaccine for the 2023-24 campaign to combat emerging variants.

5 Sep 2023

Novavax's updated XBB.1.5 vaccine shows promising cross-neutralizing antibodies against new COVID-19 variants

The study reveals that Novavax's updated XBB.1.5 vaccine effectively induces cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple Omicron XBB sub-variants in both mice and non-human primates.

5 Sep 2023

Coronavirus fusion peptide could be important target for vaccine development

Although the COVID-19 pandemic was the first time most of humanity learned of the now infamous disease, the family of coronaviruses was first identified in the mid-1960s.

4 Sep 2023

Coronavirus fusion peptide plays more invasive role in infection than previously thought

Although the COVID-19 pandemic was the first time most of humanity learned of the now infamous disease, the family of coronaviruses was first identified in the mid-1960s.

31 Aug 2023

New omicron variants can reinfect people who were infected with earlier variants

The omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which have rapidly spread around the world over the past year, latch onto our cells more tightly, invade them more efficiently, and elude many of the antibodies induced by previous infections and vaccines.

30 Aug 2023

Engineered ACE2 decoy shows promise as COVID-19 treatment

Researchers from Japan demonstrated that an engineered angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which showed the potential to remarkably reduce the emergence of resistant virus strains, could successfully exert its therapeutic effect in primates, which may open avenues for the application of the technology for the treatment of humans.

30 Aug 2023

Omicron's dominance amidst immune escape sparks debate: should it be classified as a separate serotype?

Distinct serotypes for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-related coronaviruses (CoVs).

29 Aug 2023

Unlocking ACE2: The enzyme that links COVID-19, heart disease, and diabetes

A recent study in the Journal of Biomedical Science examines the critical role of ACE2, an enzyme involved in blood volume and electrolyte balance, in chronic diseases like cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and COVID-19. The research suggests that ACE2 could serve as both a disease severity biomarker and a therapeutic target.

28 Aug 2023

41% of people with post-viral syndrome had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure

Millions of Americans were exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, early in the pandemic but could not get diagnosed due to testing limitations.

23 Aug 2023

New method to assess the status of immune responses to specific antigens in detail

A new method to assess the status of immune responses to specific antigens in detail by analysis using the B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire has been developed by a research group, consisting of Assistant Professor Yohei Funakoshi, Associate Professor Kimikazu Yakushijin, Professor Hironobu Minami (Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine), Associate Professor Goh Ohji (Kobe University Hospital), and Researcher Takaji Matsutani (Repertoire Genesis Inc.).

18 Aug 2023

Spike Protein News and Research

How COVID-19 targets the pancreas revealed

New machine-learning algorithms can help optimize the next-generation of therapeutic antibodies

Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants identified in the UK

Self-adjuvanting RNA vaccines boost immune response 10x more than existing vaccines

BA.2.86 Omicron variant: Is our immunity under siege?

Researchers characterize new SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 variant neutralization by monoclonal antibodies

Monovalent vaccine outperforms bivalent in fighting new Omicron variants

Novavax's updated XBB.1.5 vaccine shows promising cross-neutralizing antibodies against new COVID-19 variants

Coronavirus fusion peptide could be important target for vaccine development

Coronavirus fusion peptide plays more invasive role in infection than previously thought

New omicron variants can reinfect people who were infected with earlier variants

Engineered ACE2 decoy shows promise as COVID-19 treatment

Omicron's dominance amidst immune escape sparks debate: should it be classified as a separate serotype?

Unlocking ACE2: The enzyme that links COVID-19, heart disease, and diabetes

41% of people with post-viral syndrome had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure

New method to assess the status of immune responses to specific antigens in detail

Evolutionary roadmap revealed: How SARS-CoV-2 adapted and evolved over three years

Researchers develop platform allowing mass-scale production of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccines

Study explores the protective effect of transmembrane mucins against SARS-CoV-2 infection

A third dose boosted cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2 viral variants, finds study

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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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