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Comparison of RBD/ACE2 receptor complex in wild type SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant

New research details the molecular landscape of Omicron’s RBD and how it differs from the original SARS-CoV-2 strain.

17 Dec 2021

Bioinformatics pipeline can be used to quickly identify SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics

In a new study, researchers developed a bioinformatics pipeline that uses RNA sequencing data to identify altered genes and signaling pathways affected by viral infection.

13 Dec 2021

The emergence and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and its VOCs

A review article discusses the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the emergence of variants of concern.

5 Dec 2021

Higher order protein catenation leads to the development of artificial antibodies

Chemical topology is a unique dimension for protein engineering. Over the past few years, the discovery of topological nontrivial proteins in nature has already revealed their many potential functional benefits, such as enhanced thermal/mechanical/chemical stability.

12 Nov 2021

Results from Phase 0/1 trial of ribociclib plus everolimus in patients with high-grade glioma announced

The Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow Neurological Institute, the largest early-phase drug development program for brain cancer in the world, announced results from their Phase 0/1 clinical trial of ribociclib plus everolimus in patients with high-grade glioma (HGG).

13 Sep 2021

Obtained SARS-CoV-2 immunity, naturally or via vaccination persists 12 months

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server medRxiv* by Havervall et al. (August 12th, 2021), neutralizing antibody titers towards wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and several variants of concern in individuals having either been vaccinated or infected with mild COVID-19 one year earlier are assessed, finding a reduced neutralization capacity against some strains.

16 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants and their ability to infect mice

A new study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server has conducted in silico studies along with in vitro, in vivo, and in situ observations and indicated the mouse adaptation of SARS-CoV-2.

10 Aug 2021

Study explains how SARS-CoV-2 variants differ in binding to ACE2 receptor

The current study explored ACE2-RBD interactions with four VoCs including the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants.

29 Jul 2021

Study explores therapeutic potential of exploiting autophagy cascade against COVID-19

Researchers recently reviewed current knowledge on links between autophagy and coronaviruses and how this knowledge can be used to repurpose autophagy modulators as potential treatment options for COVID-19. The review is published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.

7 Jun 2021

Single mutation to bat virus spike protein allows cell entry using human ACE2

In a paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Kirchhoff et al. (May 31st, 2021) it is demonstrated that a single mutation to the RaTG13 spike protein results in significantly greater affinity towards the human receptor, indicating that the presence of a positively charged amino group at this position better facilitates interaction with the human ACE2 receptor, and helping to identify other viruses with zoonotic potential.

3 Jun 2021

Researchers identify common epitopes across SARS-CoV-2 viral variants

While several COVID-19 vaccine candidates have been developed and deployed to arrest the spread of SARS-CoV-2, concern among scientists and public health authorities is mounting over the immunity escape potential of emerging viral variants. To address this problem, a group of scientists in Germany has undertaken research to identify molecular targets across viral variants to aid in the development of second and third-generation vaccines and novel therapeutics.

1 Jun 2021

Small molecule inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 identified by screening

A new study describes the identification of small molecule inhibitors that block the catalytic activity of the crucial viral non-structural protein 5 (nsp5), using a large-scale screening method.

12 Apr 2021

Researchers offer large-scale screening of potential broad-spectrum SARS-CoV-2 antivirals

A new study describes the identification of new compounds from a library, with inhibitory activity against several coronaviruses. This study shows the utility of this method, besides identifying compounds that not only inhibit viral shedding in SARS-CoV-2 cultures, but have an immunomodulatory effect that may be useful in mitigating the damaging cytokine storm typical of severe or critical COVID-19.

2 Apr 2021

SARS-CoV-2 mutation T478K spreading at alarming speed in Mexico

Several SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged, posing a renewed threat to COVID-19 containment and to vaccine and drug efficacy. In this study, we analyzed more than 820,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences deposited up to March 26, 2021 and identified a novel T478K mutation located on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein.

30 Mar 2021

New way to enhance treatment outcomes for breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the second most common cancer overall. Although it can now be treated with drugs, many of these drugs mysteriously stop working after some time, causing a relapse.

18 Mar 2021

Could an “ACE2 Triple Decoy” be an alternative approach to neutralizing SARS-CoV-2?

A team of scientists from the USA recently developed a recombinant “Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) Triple Decoy” that can trap SARS-CoV-2 and prevent its propagation inside the host cell.

11 Mar 2021

Researchers identify human BCAS3 and C16orf70 as novel autophagic proteins

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process of cytosolic materials and damaged organelles. Researchers at Ubiquitin Project of TMIMS have been studying the molecular mechanism of mitophagy, the selective autophagy process to eliminate damaged mitochondria.

5 Mar 2021

Evolution of the spike gene of SARS-CoV-2 for human adaptation

Researchers have found a 96% similarity in nucleotide sequence between bat coronavirus (RaTG13), isolated from Rhinolophus affinis bats in China in 2013, and SARS-CoV-2 and ~97% amino acid similarity with the Spike (S) protein. This S protein performs two essential roles, i.e., mediates receptor-binding and membrane fusion. Hence, spike protein is regarded as a key coronavirus determinant of host tropism.

21 Feb 2021

SARS-CoV-2's resistance to remdesivir in vitro

A new preprint research paper posted to the bioRxiv server discusses the emergence of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, allowing it to escape the effects of the most commonly used antiviral drug, remdesivir.

14 Feb 2021

Researchers call for trials of rapamycin to treat COVID-19

Researchers in the United States, China, and the UK have called for immediate large-scale clinical trials of an antibiotic called rapamycin as a prophylactic and treatment approach to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in older individuals.

4 Feb 2021