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A novel interferon-γ release assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response

A new study evaluates a commercially available IFN‐γ release assay (IGRA) to determine T-cell responses targeted against SARS-CoV-2.

26 Jul 2021

New statistical framework could help determine the 'true prevalence' of COVID-19 pandemic

Government officials and policymakers have tried to use numbers to grasp COVID-19's impact. Figures like the number of hospitalizations or deaths reflect part of this burden. Each datapoint tells only part of the story.

26 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk: Study

A new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server explores the presence of immunoglobulin (Ig) antibodies IgA and IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk secreted by women with confirmed infection. The scientists also delineated the specific antigens targeted by the antibodies.

26 Jul 2021

Study compares mRNA and adenovirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against variants of concern

In a research paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv by Tada et al. (July 19th, 2021) the neutralizing capacity of antibodies generated by either messenger RNA (mRNA) or adenoviral vector-based vaccines against Beta, Delta, Delta plus, and Lambda variants are investigated, among others, highlighting the importance of continued SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance.

26 Jul 2021

CD8+ T cells show gene-dependent variation in cross-reactivity to human coronaviruses

A new study discusses how both different responses to the infection itself and to COVID-19 vaccines are likely the result of genetic differences.

25 Jul 2021

Study receives $15 million CDC award to continue research on COVID-19 immunity, vaccine effectiveness

A University of Arizona Health Sciences study of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and immunity among frontline workers has received a $15 million award from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue the current research for another year and expand to include children and focus on underserved populations.

23 Jul 2021

Research uncovers an unexpected role for immune T cells in protection against malaria

Advanced technologies have been used to solve a long-standing mystery about why some people develop serious illness when they are infected with the malaria parasite, while others carry the infection asymptomatically.

23 Jul 2021

Advantages and challenges of intranasal vaccines to fight against COVID-19 infections

There are many reasons that an intranasal vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus would be helpful in the fight against COVID-19 infections, University of Alabama at Birmingham immunologists Fran Lund, Ph.D., and Troy Randall, Ph.D., write in a viewpoint article in the journal Science.

23 Jul 2021

Researchers use mass spectrometry to study immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 epitopes

A new study has been published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, which has used MS to identify T cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 conserved protein, i.e., the membrane glycol protein (MGP) and the non-structure protein-13 (NSP13).

23 Jul 2021

Clinical trials during a pandemic – lessons from COVID-19

In this interview, Dr. Benedicte Roquebert, Dr. Stephanie Haim-Boukobza and Dr. Souad Mehlal discuss how COVID-19 has resulted in new ways to think about clinical trials during a pandemic.

From Cerba Research 23 Jul 2021

Efficacy of mRNA vaccine-induced memory B cells against SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new study characterizes the functional humoral immunity post-COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccination.

22 Jul 2021

Can prior human seasonal coronavirus antibody response patterns predict SARS-CoV-2 inhibition?

A new study, recently released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, reports the intriguing finding that the cross-neutralizing antibodies elicited by human seasonal coronaviruses (sCoVs) show varying ability to prevent binding between the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen and its cognate receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

22 Jul 2021

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations L452R & Y453F evade cellular immunity

The study, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, also showed emerging mutations L452R and Y453F in the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding motif evade (HLA) A24-restricted cellular immunity. Meanwhile, the L452R enhances spike stability, viral fusogenicity, and viral infectivity. Hence, the findings suggest that HLA-restricted cellular immunity potentially affects the evolution of viral phenotypes.

22 Jul 2021

Study examines the host and viral factors that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution

In a new paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv*, two clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 are monitored by whole genome sequencing as they are passaged through several generations of Vero cells or human-derived primary nasal epithelial cells (PNEC), allowing direct observation of the occurrence of virus enhancing mutations and the way in which host cell factors shape virus evolution.

21 Jul 2021

Analysis: Necessary or not, covid booster shots are probably on the horizon

The drugmaker Pfizer recently announced that vaccinated people are likely to need a booster shot to be effectively protected against new variants of covid-19 and that the company would apply for Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization for the shot.

21 Jul 2021

Potent nasal vaccine protects non-human primates from SARS-CoV-2

A team of US-based scientists has recently demonstrated the efficacy of a live attenuated, recombinant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine candidate currently under phase I clinical trial as a single-dose intranasal vaccine.

20 Jul 2021

Maternal fecal transplant may help restore gut microbiota in newborns with diabetes risk

Newborns at risk for Type 1 diabetes because they were given antibiotics may have their gut microorganisms restored with a maternal fecal transplant, according to a Rutgers study.

20 Jul 2021

Study shows promise of combining radiation therapy with dendritic-cell vaccines for breast cancer

A research team led by Fumito Ito, MD, PhD, FACS, of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center reports new data on the promise of combining standard treatment for breast cancer with a particular form of cancer immmunotherapy -; dendritic-cell (DC) treatment vaccines.

20 Jul 2021

COVID-19 vaccination remains Australia's best option for a return to normal, say researchers

Researchers in Australia and the United States have advised that the recent decision in Australia to prioritize older vulnerable age groups for vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents the optimal strategy for reducing deaths caused by the disease.

20 Jul 2021

New study disproves suspicion that dengue raises risk of zika-related microcephaly

A pregnant woman infected by zika virus does not face a greater risk of giving birth to a baby with microcephaly if she has previously been exposed to dengue virus, according to a Brazilian study that compared data for pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro and Manaus.

20 Jul 2021

immunity News and Research

A novel interferon-γ release assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response

New statistical framework could help determine the 'true prevalence' of COVID-19 pandemic

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk: Study

Study compares mRNA and adenovirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines against variants of concern

CD8+ T cells show gene-dependent variation in cross-reactivity to human coronaviruses

Study receives $15 million CDC award to continue research on COVID-19 immunity, vaccine effectiveness

Research uncovers an unexpected role for immune T cells in protection against malaria

Advantages and challenges of intranasal vaccines to fight against COVID-19 infections

Researchers use mass spectrometry to study immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 epitopes

Clinical trials during a pandemic – lessons from COVID-19

Efficacy of mRNA vaccine-induced memory B cells against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Can prior human seasonal coronavirus antibody response patterns predict SARS-CoV-2 inhibition?

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations L452R & Y453F evade cellular immunity

Study examines the host and viral factors that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution

Analysis: Necessary or not, covid booster shots are probably on the horizon

Potent nasal vaccine protects non-human primates from SARS-CoV-2

Maternal fecal transplant may help restore gut microbiota in newborns with diabetes risk

Study shows promise of combining radiation therapy with dendritic-cell vaccines for breast cancer

COVID-19 vaccination remains Australia's best option for a return to normal, say researchers

New study disproves suspicion that dengue raises risk of zika-related microcephaly

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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