Spike Protein News and Research

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SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: What we know so far

On November 24, 2021, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa.

28 Nov 2021

Government introduces precautionary travel restrictions on arrivals from South Africa

The government is taking decisive precautionary action against a new COVID-19 variant by introducing travel restrictions on arrivals from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia from midday tomorrow (Friday 26 November).

25 Nov 2021

A review of natural immunity, vaccines, and variants in SARS-CoV-2 reinfection

In a literature review article published in the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives, authors from the US performed a thorough investigation of previous studies and case reports of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. This review discusses the role of natural immunity, vaccines, and SARS-CoV-2 variants in reinfection.

25 Nov 2021

Researchers reveal possible role for anti-idiotype antibodies in long-term effects of COVID-19

With around 256 million cases and more than 5 million deaths worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged scientists and those in the medical field.

25 Nov 2021

What may the future hold in terms of SARS-CoV-2 variants?

Researchers fit data on SARS-CoV-2 variants by exploiting a function that depends on the global number of infected cases since the start of the pandemic.

25 Nov 2021

COVID-19 vaccine boosters to prevent breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in healthy adults

Researchers measured anti-RBD IgG and virus neutralization before and after vaccination with boosters.

25 Nov 2021

Researchers investigate Moderna COVID-19 vaccine efficacy

Researchers have been investigating the vaccine efficacy of the mRNA-1273 vaccine.

25 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant mutation sites

A new review article dissected the sites of mutation in the RBD of the Delta variant and other variants of concern and variants of alert and interest.

25 Nov 2021

Serum SARS-CoV-2 antigen: A better predictor of COVID-19 severity

In this perspective, a new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server analyzed the clinical efficacy of two serum antigen tests to identify SARS CoV-2 infection and evaluate the kinetics of serum nucleocapsid (N) antigen in severe and non-severe patients for disease severity prediction.

24 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 reinfection and the natural immune response

Researchers review available literature on immunity and SARS-CoV-2 infection to elucidate mechanisms behind SARS-CoV-2 immunity and reinfections.

24 Nov 2021

Similar antibody responses to spike protein in COVID-19 survivors and vaccine recipients

Researchers conducted a study on COVID-19 convalescent patients and post-vaccinated populations to identify the minimal levels of antibody required to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

24 Nov 2021

Bat coronavirus ecology, evolution, and spillover

In a review published in Nature Reviews Microbiology, the authors collate information about the ecology and evolution of bat coronaviruses.

24 Nov 2021

Spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages with possible recombination events

Researchers examined the dissemination and evolution of four SARS-CoV-2 lineages as well as the potential that one or more recombination events played a role in their evolution.

24 Nov 2021

Higher antibody level correlates with greater vaccine protection against COVID-19

By measuring antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in participants in a phase 3 trial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, researchers found that the higher the antibody level, the greater the vaccine protection against COVID-19.

23 Nov 2021

SARS-CoV-2 moves between permissive cells and non-permissive neuronal cells via tunneling nanotubes (TNT)

Scientists investigate the neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV-2 and the role of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) in spreading the infection to neighboring cells.

23 Nov 2021

An increase in the half-life of remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment

In this study, researchers analyzed several drug candidates to investigate their efficacy against a broad spectrum of coronaviruses in cell culture studies.

23 Nov 2021

Does SARS-CoV-2 infection contribute to adrenal gland dysfunction?

New research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection can directly target and cause cellular damage to the adrenal glands.

23 Nov 2021

Paper-based innovations for COVID-19 diagnosis

A review discusses paper-based devices and platforms targeting SARS-CoV-2 for low-cost PoC diagnosis and serological antibody testing.

22 Nov 2021

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody using electrochemical biosensing based on hydrogen bonding

Turkish researchers discuss their rapid electrochemical biosensing platform to detect the SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody.

22 Nov 2021

COVID-19 multistate outbreak associated with large public gatherings

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control have investigated a case in Massachusetts that showed a high proportion of vaccine breakthrough infections.

22 Nov 2021