Disease/Infection News

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Non-toxic versions of botulism toxins can deliver therapeutic antibodies to treat botulism

Taking advantage of the chemical properties of botulism toxins, two teams of researchers have fashioned non-toxic versions of these compounds that can deliver therapeutic antibodies to treat botulism, a potentially fatal disease with few approved treatments.

6 Jan 2021

Low acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in USA

A recent preprint research paper published on the medRxiv server in January 2021 reports that vaccine acceptance is low even among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the USA.

6 Jan 2021

Increased socializing may have jeopardized lockdown benefit in England

Researchers in the UK report that much of the potential beneficial impact of the November 2020 English National lockdown on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic was likely undermined in many areas due to increased socializing in the days running up to its implementation.

6 Jan 2021

More stringent measures may be needed to control new SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant in England

Researchers in the UK have conducted a comprehensive epidemiologic analysis of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant in an effort to learn more about the expanded range and frequency of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in England.

6 Jan 2021

In-silico modeling provides new understanding of immune response to SARS-CoV-2

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has crippled global healthcare systems and triggered an economic crisis in many countries. The pandemic is not showing signs of a slowdown even in 2021 with a new and more infectious variant of the virus wreaking havoc in the UK and many other parts of the world.

6 Jan 2021

Researchers use network-based approach to examine the impact of policies and vaccination strategies

Predicting the spread of COVID-19 using standard statistical models has its challenges, which is why two Iowa State University researchers developed a network-based approach to look at the impact of specific policies and vaccination strategies throughout the many stages of the pandemic.

6 Jan 2021

Study shows durable specific humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after mild or asymptomatic infection

As a part of the COMMUNITY (COVID-19 Immunity) study, researchers from Sweden reveal long-lasting IgG neutralizing antibody response against spike glycoprotein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the vast majority of convalescent individuals – even after asymptomatic or mild infection. Their results are currently available on medRxiv* preprint server.

6 Jan 2021

Neutralization antibodies affected by only a few mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint paper, US researchers mapped in detail how mutations to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affected antibody binding in convalescent human serum – and revealed that it is influenced by mutations at only a handful of dominant epitopes.

6 Jan 2021

Researchers receive £230,000 to develop world's first smart vaccine device

Researchers at Swansea University have received £230,000 to develop the world's first smart vaccine device that will both deliver the COVID-19 vaccine and measure its efficacy through monitoring the body's associated response.

6 Jan 2021

Study reveals top reasons for COVID-19 vaccine refusal

A survey of approximately 5,000 Americans suggests that 31.1 percent of the U.S. public does not intend to get the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available to them - and the likelihood of vaccine refusal is highest among Black Americans, women and conservatives.

6 Jan 2021

Smokers at increased risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19

Smoking is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 symptoms and smokers are more likely to attend hospital than non-smokers, a study has found.

6 Jan 2021

NIAID set to conduct large monoclonal SARS-CoV-2 antibody clinical trial

A large clinical trial, known as the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV-2), is set to take place, which aims to test monoclonal antibody efficacy and safety in people who have mild or moderate COVID-19.

6 Jan 2021

Vitamin D supplementation found to reduce COVID-19-related mortality, says study

Researchers have shown that prescribing vitamin D supplementation to COVID-19 patients seems to decrease the mortality rate, the severity of the disease, and serum levels of inflammatory markers.

6 Jan 2021

Evidence review: COVID-19 infections are generally 'mild' in children under five years

Babies and asymptomatic cases account for up to half of COVID-19 infections in the under-five age group, which has implications for vaccination programs, a new UNSW study has found.

6 Jan 2021

Disulfide-reducing agents demonstrate potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers recently demonstrated that chemical agents capable of reducing disulfide (S-S) bonds can be potentially used as antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of COVID-19.

6 Jan 2021

Modified Vaccinia Ankara model vaccine prevents COVID-19 in transgenic mice study

A new study shows the effectiveness of a novel recombinant vaccinia virus that expresses modified SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen, in preventing the replication of the virus in the respiratory tract of transgenic mice, and to prevent lethal disease.

6 Jan 2021

Are SARS-CoV-2 antibodies associated with disease enhancement?

As SARS-CoV-2 continues to wreak its havoc, antibodies that neutralize the virus and protect against infection have become an important focus of research. However, there is a concern as to whether these antibodies can actually enhance the disease.

6 Jan 2021

Study examines prevalence and recovery in patients with varying degrees of COVID-19 severity

A reduced sense of smell, or olfactory dysfunction, is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. A recent study published the Journal of Internal Medicine has examined it prevalence and recovery in patients with varying degrees of severity of COVID-19.

6 Jan 2021

Researchers test the effects of growth molecules exuded by oral bacteria

The human body is filled with friendly bacteria. However, some of these microorganisms, such as Veillonella parvula, maybe too nice.

6 Jan 2021

Researchers claim SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant likely to become globally dominant

The new variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) detected in England replicates more than two times faster than the earlier strains. This replication advantage promises to make it the dominant global variant very shortly. This finding comes from a startling preprint that appeared on the medRxiv* server in December 2020.

6 Jan 2021

Disease/Infection News

Non-toxic versions of botulism toxins can deliver therapeutic antibodies to treat botulism

Low acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in USA

Increased socializing may have jeopardized lockdown benefit in England

More stringent measures may be needed to control new SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant in England

In-silico modeling provides new understanding of immune response to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers use network-based approach to examine the impact of policies and vaccination strategies

Study shows durable specific humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after mild or asymptomatic infection

Neutralization antibodies affected by only a few mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain

Researchers receive £230,000 to develop world's first smart vaccine device

Study reveals top reasons for COVID-19 vaccine refusal

Smokers at increased risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19

NIAID set to conduct large monoclonal SARS-CoV-2 antibody clinical trial

Vitamin D supplementation found to reduce COVID-19-related mortality, says study

Evidence review: COVID-19 infections are generally 'mild' in children under five years

Disulfide-reducing agents demonstrate potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2

Modified Vaccinia Ankara model vaccine prevents COVID-19 in transgenic mice study

Are SARS-CoV-2 antibodies associated with disease enhancement?

Study examines prevalence and recovery in patients with varying degrees of COVID-19 severity

Researchers test the effects of growth molecules exuded by oral bacteria

Researchers claim SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant likely to become globally dominant

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

How cohesin mechanics and nanotracker tech are redefining DNA research

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich

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