Spike Protein News and Research

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Research shows how SARS-CoV-2 variants are evolving towards increased furin cleavage efficiency

The spike protein comprises of two subunits: S1 subunit having the receptor-binding domain (RBD) that helps it to bind to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is present on the cell surface of the host, and the S2 subunit that helps in the fusion of the cellular membrane and the viral membrane.

9 Aug 2021

New compound inspired by tapeworm drugs shows two-pronged effectiveness against COVID-19

A group of medications long prescribed to treat tapeworm has inspired a compound that shows two-pronged effectiveness against COVID-19 in laboratory studies, according to a new publication appearing online in the journal ACS Infectious Disease.

9 Aug 2021

Scientists identify calpeptin as potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2

A team of US-based scientists has recently conducted a robust high-throughput screening to identify potential entry inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The screening identifies calpeptin as a potent and highly specific inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

9 Aug 2021

Virus-like particles reveal unexpected mechanism for increased fitness and spread of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States have developed a new model for testing mutations in the four structural proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

9 Aug 2021

New phylogenomic platform identifies increased recombination rates in SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States, Australia and the UK have developed a novel method that enables the evolutionary ancestry (phylogeny) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to be comprehensively searched for recombinant lineages.

8 Aug 2021

New tabletop device can quickly detect SARS-CoV-2 from saliva samples

Engineers at MIT and Harvard University have designed a small tabletop device that can detect SARS-CoV-2 from a saliva sample in about an hour.

6 Aug 2021

New CRISPR-based diagnostic test detects COVID-19 variants from saliva samples

With the Delta variant wreaking havoc on unvaccinated populations and COVID-19 cases spiking around the world, the pandemic is far from over.

6 Aug 2021

Study: IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 remain stable, or even increase, seven months after infection

The levels of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein remain stable, or even increase, seven months after infection, according to a follow-up study in a cohort of healthcare workers coordinated by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, an institution supported by "la Caixa" Foundation, in collaboration with the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona.

6 Aug 2021

Simplified glycan modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv* by Gecht et al. (August 4th, 2021), a new method of representing glycan conformers on static protein structures is explored, named GlycoSHIELD.

6 Aug 2021

New method for producing pseudotyped virus particles bearing spike protein of SARS-CoV-2

A new study discusses the development of an improved protocol based on cell lines that can consistently express S proteins.

5 Aug 2021

COVID vaccines generate antibodies in saliva

Researchers in the United States and Canada have conducted a study showing that the vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) generate local antibody responses in the salivary gland that are independent of the systemic immune response.

5 Aug 2021

Vaccination may protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection at the eye surface

Researchers in Australia have conducted a study showing that vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induces key antibodies at the eye surface that may help to protect against the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

5 Aug 2021

Scientists urge increased attention to persistent COVID-19 infections in immunocompromised people

In an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Medicine, the U.S. Military HIV Research Program and the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina urged increased attention to persistent COVID-19 infections in immunocompromised people.

5 Aug 2021

Vaccinia-based COVID-19 vaccines confer immunity in hamster model

In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv* by Kulkarni et al. (August 3, 2021), the potential of vaccinia virus-based vaccines expressing the full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is examined in mice and Syrian hamsters. The findings report that the vaccine generates high titers of neutralizing antibodies with good activity towards SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

5 Aug 2021

Immunocompromised patients could be potential hosts for immune-escape mutants of SARS-CoV-2

In a recently published article in The New England Journal of Medicine, scientists have described how multi-mutational variants of SARS-CoV-2 may evolve in patients with immunosuppression.

5 Aug 2021

Two monoclonal antibodies broadly neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Researchers in the United States and Canada have described the structural basis and mode of action for two monoclonal antibodies that potently neutralize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

4 Aug 2021

Monoclonal antibody could inform development of pan-coronavirus vaccines

Researchers in the United States have demonstrated the potential of a monoclonal antibody to inform the design of pan-coronavirus vaccines that could prevent the outbreak of future pandemics such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

4 Aug 2021

One billion doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine released

The University of Oxford's and our partners AstraZeneca have today announced that one billion doses of the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 coronavirus vaccine have been released, to more than 170 countries, marking a key milestone as part of the University and AstraZeneca's joint vision to make the available to the world, on a not-for-profit basis for the world during the pandemic, and in perpetuity for low- and middle-income countries.

4 Aug 2021

Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro by Losartan

A new study explores the use of Losartan to provide protection against COVID-19 pathogenesis.

3 Aug 2021

Study shows COVID-19 organ-specific outcomes depend on anti-spike glycoprotein antibodies

A recent study from the University of Rochester reveals how the biodistribution kinetics and the affinity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for many different organs in the human body can be affected by antibodies targeting viral spike glycoprotein. The paper is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server while it undergoes peer review.

3 Aug 2021

Spike Protein News and Research

Research shows how SARS-CoV-2 variants are evolving towards increased furin cleavage efficiency

New compound inspired by tapeworm drugs shows two-pronged effectiveness against COVID-19

Scientists identify calpeptin as potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2

Virus-like particles reveal unexpected mechanism for increased fitness and spread of SARS-CoV-2

New phylogenomic platform identifies increased recombination rates in SARS-CoV-2

New tabletop device can quickly detect SARS-CoV-2 from saliva samples

New CRISPR-based diagnostic test detects COVID-19 variants from saliva samples

Study: IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 remain stable, or even increase, seven months after infection

Simplified glycan modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

New method for producing pseudotyped virus particles bearing spike protein of SARS-CoV-2

COVID vaccines generate antibodies in saliva

Vaccination may protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection at the eye surface

Scientists urge increased attention to persistent COVID-19 infections in immunocompromised people

Vaccinia-based COVID-19 vaccines confer immunity in hamster model

Immunocompromised patients could be potential hosts for immune-escape mutants of SARS-CoV-2

Two monoclonal antibodies broadly neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Monoclonal antibody could inform development of pan-coronavirus vaccines

One billion doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine released

Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro by Losartan

Study shows COVID-19 organ-specific outcomes depend on anti-spike glycoprotein antibodies

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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