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Novel antibody engineering approach

Scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA, have recently developed an Antibody Display technology by grafting the second extracellular domain of tetraspanin12 (Tspan12EC2) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein on the heavy chain complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3).

2 Jun 2021

Study shows how NPIs can prevent spikes in COVID-19 cases

Research published by JAMA Network Open shows how non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) like mask wearing and physical distancing can help prevent spikes in COVID-19 cases as populations continue to get vaccinated.

2 Jun 2021

Global land-use changes are creating "hot spots" for potential emergence of new coronaviruses

Global land-use changes -- including forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion and concentrated livestock production -- are creating "hot spots" favorable for bats that carry coronaviruses and where conditions are ripe for the diseases to jump from bats to humans, finds an analysis published this week by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) and Massey University of New Zealand.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

They have identified a group of kite-shaped compounds that are highly specific to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. These compounds demonstrate high potency in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection at early entry steps. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

2 Jun 2021

Old vaccines can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases

Inoculation with live attenuated vaccines (LAV) such as those used against TB, polio or measles can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases, including COVID-19, says a new study.

2 Jun 2021

Researchers find natural metabolites help SARS-CoV-2 escape antibodies

An international team of scientists has identified a human molecule — biliverdin — as a potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) target. The binding of the heme metabolite to the N-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the virus’s ability to dodge the immune system by suppressing antibody binding to the spike protein.

2 Jun 2021

New study on swine influenza virus may be relevant to influenza, coronavirus infection in humans

A new study carried out in pig cells suggests previous infection with swine influenza virus (SIV) can protect against the development of porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCoV) if there is a zero- or three-day interval between infections.

2 Jun 2021

CDC study finds contact tracing helps prevent further cases of COVID-19

The study “Estimates of cases and hospitalizations averted by COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing in 14 health jurisdictions in the United States” is available as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

1 Jun 2021

Direct action of SARS-CoV-2 on organs may lead to exacerbated inflammatory response in pediatric patients

Besides common symptoms such as fever, cough and respiratory distress, some children have an atypical form of COVID-19 known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), characterized by persistent fever and inflammation of several organs, such as the heart and intestines, as well as the lungs to a lesser extent.

1 Jun 2021

Is COVID-19 vaccination in California equitable yet?

Researchers from the University of California, Davis recently conducted a short investigation to examine current vaccine equity and forecasts of vaccine coverage in California by June 15, 2020, in various scenarios.

1 Jun 2021

NIH launches first-in-human, Phase 1 trial assessing investigational nanoparticle influenza vaccine

A first-in-human, Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and immunogenicity of an investigational nanoparticle influenza vaccine designed to provide long-lasting protection against multiple flu virus strains has begun at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

1 Jun 2021

Study confirms poor immunogenicity in hemodialysis patients receiving single dose BNT162b2 vaccine

Researchers from Ontario, Canada, recently conducted a prospective observational study to determine the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in chronic hemodialysis patients following one vs. two doses of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine. The results were compared to health care worker controls and convalescent serum.

1 Jun 2021

Increase in salmonellosis in Europe: General hygiene rules help safely prepare raw poultry

In recent months, more than three hundred cases of salmonellosis have occurred in various European countries and Canada, which are linked to each other. In the UK the cases could be partly traced back to frozen breaded poultry meat.

1 Jun 2021

Malaria parasites may survive, replicate within the spleen of asymptomatic individuals, study suggests

Malaria, a disease caused mainly by the parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, (P. vivax) is associated with over 400,000 deaths each year.

1 Jun 2021

Scientists explain possible causes of anaphylaxis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

New research from a team of scientists at the Centre for Research in Molecular Modeling, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Concordia University in Canada, has aimed to determine the potential causes of anaphylaxis or allergic reactions reported in some individuals after receiving COVID-19 vaccines, including the mRNA vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

1 Jun 2021

NIH starts Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating mixed COVID-19 vaccine schedules

The National Institutes of Health has started a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in which adult volunteers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will receive booster doses of different COVID-19 vaccines to determine the safety and immunogenicity of mixed boosted regimens.

1 Jun 2021

Study reveals infections by Histoplasma fungus as major cause of death in people with HIV

A series of autopsies performed in an infectious disease hospital in the Brazilian Amazon reveals that infections by the Histoplasma fungus are a major cause of death in people with HIV.

1 Jun 2021

Study supports the need for improving early TB diagnosis and care in Irish prisons

Investigators from Trinity College Dublin, the Irish Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory, St James's Hospital, and the Department of Public Health HSE East believe tuberculosis (TB) care in Irish Prisons should be supported, considering the findings of their study which is published today (Tuesday, 1st June, 2021) in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

1 Jun 2021

New data reveals higher incidence of severe stroke in COVID-positive people

Among people who have strokes and COVID-19, there is a higher incidence of severe stroke as well as stroke in younger people, according to new data from a multinational study group on COVID-19 and stroke, led by a team of Geisinger researchers.

1 Jun 2021

Compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and neutralizing antibodies in domestic cats in Peru

Although Peru is one of the countries most affected by the pandemic, no studies had been conducted to investigate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among domestic cats. Recently, researchers from Peru demonstrated the presence of neutralizing antibodies for the receptor binding-domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cats in Lima, Peru. The owners of the cats in the study had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

1 Jun 2021

Disease/Infection News

Novel antibody engineering approach

Study shows how NPIs can prevent spikes in COVID-19 cases

Global land-use changes are creating "hot spots" for potential emergence of new coronaviruses

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

Old vaccines can stimulate the immune system to provide protection against other infectious diseases

Researchers find natural metabolites help SARS-CoV-2 escape antibodies

New study on swine influenza virus may be relevant to influenza, coronavirus infection in humans

CDC study finds contact tracing helps prevent further cases of COVID-19

Direct action of SARS-CoV-2 on organs may lead to exacerbated inflammatory response in pediatric patients

Is COVID-19 vaccination in California equitable yet?

NIH launches first-in-human, Phase 1 trial assessing investigational nanoparticle influenza vaccine

Study confirms poor immunogenicity in hemodialysis patients receiving single dose BNT162b2 vaccine

Increase in salmonellosis in Europe: General hygiene rules help safely prepare raw poultry

Malaria parasites may survive, replicate within the spleen of asymptomatic individuals, study suggests

Scientists explain possible causes of anaphylaxis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

NIH starts Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating mixed COVID-19 vaccine schedules

Study reveals infections by Histoplasma fungus as major cause of death in people with HIV

Study supports the need for improving early TB diagnosis and care in Irish prisons

New data reveals higher incidence of severe stroke in COVID-positive people

Compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and neutralizing antibodies in domestic cats in Peru

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

How cohesin mechanics and nanotracker tech are redefining DNA research

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