Disease/Infection News

RSS

Researchers develop new system for direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols

Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, in collaboration with specialists from the University of Valencia (UV), have come up with a new system based on a high-sensitivity mass biosensor that continuously monitors signals for the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental aerosols.

28 Dec 2020

Severity of COVID-19 correlates with the ratio of antibodies targeting crucial viral protein

COVID-19 antibodies preferentially target a different part of the virus in mild cases of COVID-19 than they do in severe cases, and wane significantly within several months of infection, according to a new study by researchers at Stanford Medicine.

24 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 spike-antibody binding strength and hydrogen bond numbers are temperature dependent, study finds

A new preprint on the bioRxiv* server describes the interactions between the binding spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with the antibodies. Earlier studies have addressed the similarity in the 3D structures of the spike protein in the two SARS viruses as seen on cryo-EM.

24 Dec 2020

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 NTD-directed antibodies are protective against lethal infection

As the world struggles to contain the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for over 1.6 million deaths and 76 million infections globally, researchers are trying to pin down the determinants of lethality, of infectivity and of protection. Such data would help contain its spread and develop preventive and therapeutic antivirals and vaccines. A new preprint that appeared recently on the bioRxiv* server describes the high degree of protection afforded by antibodies that target the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the virus.

24 Dec 2020

Immunologic modeling of COVID-19 severity and chronicity

In a new study by researchers at Universidad de Costa Rica and other institutions, a bioinformatics approach is used to determine whether Chronic COVID-19 (CC) might have a distinct immunologic signature compared to the mild to moderate (MM) or the severe/critical COVID-19.

24 Dec 2020

Loss of taste and smell may be most reliable COVID-19 symptoms for digital surveillance

A team of researchers from various institutions in London, Israel, and the USA recently tested the existence of consistent links between COVID-19 symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 test status in 3 national surveillance platforms.

24 Dec 2020

Mental disorders highly prevalent during coronavirus pandemics

Researchers in the United States have conducted an analysis showing the high prevalence of mental disorders across populations impacted by coronavirus pandemics.

24 Dec 2020

Reopening college campuses could initiate COVID-19 superspreading

Researchers at Stanford University in the United States have conducted a study showing that college campuses have an extremely high incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and that reopening them could initiate superspreading into neighboring communities.

24 Dec 2020

Researchers find correlation between consistent mask-wearing and improved well-being

A team of researchers at the University of Edinburgh, UK, suggest that consistent mask-wearing is associated with better wellbeing.

24 Dec 2020

Higher BMI linked to increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, USA, revealed that the spike-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies in obese people are negatively associated with body mass index (BMI) and serum levels of proinflammatory and metabolic markers of pulmonary inflammation.

24 Dec 2020

Kobe University and Sysmex conduct joint research on ELISPOT method for identifying COVID-19

Kobe University and Sysmex Corporation have been engaged in joint research on the ELISPOT method, a new blood test for identifying the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

24 Dec 2020

How has the COVID19 pandemic affected the well-being of pregnant women?

A new study by researchers at the Department of Women and Children’s Health at Uppsala University, Sweden, aimed to determine the effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women's mental health and well-being.

24 Dec 2020

Researchers publish study results on challenges of COVID-19 during confinement

The University of Alicante Public Health Research Group has just published the results of a study on the challenges of COVID-19 in Alicante; its effects on health and citizen resistance during confinement.

24 Dec 2020

A common compound in mouthwashes found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

Researchers found that cetylpyridinium chloride, found in most mouthwashes, lowers infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro, likely by inhibiting viral fusion with target cells. With more tests to prove validity, mouthwashes could be a simple, cheap way of curbing transmission.

24 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of severe COVID-19 in pregnant women, newborns

Recent analyses indicate that pregnant women and newborns may face elevated risks of developing more severe cases of COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

24 Dec 2020

Miniature pH probe allows real-time analysis of pH dynamics in deep brain structures

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed the first all-in-one miniature pH probe for real-time investigations of intrinsic extracellular pH dynamics in the deep brain structures.

24 Dec 2020

Health disparities in cancer and COVID-19 are caused by similar factors

Income level, employment, housing location, medical insurance, education, tobacco and alcohol use, diet and obesity, access to medical care. These are some of the factors causing worse cancer outcomes in people who are Black.

23 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 infection shown to reduce the expression of vitamin D pathway components

A recent computational study from India implicated a dysregulated vitamin D pathway in the pathobiology of the infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – and opened the door for experimental validation of these observations.

23 Dec 2020

As the terror of COVID struck, health care workers struggled to survive. Thousands lost the fight.

Workers at Garfield Medical Center in suburban Los Angeles were on edge as the pandemic ramped up in March and April. Staffers in a 30-patient unit were rationing a single tub of sanitizing wipes all day. A May memo from the CEO said N95 masks could be cleaned up to 20 times before replacement.

23 Dec 2020

Frequent and rapid testing may reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in carehomes

A team of scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States, recently conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of serial testing and isolation of healthcare personnel in nursing homes in preventing the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative pathogen of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

23 Dec 2020

Disease/Infection News

Researchers develop new system for direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols

Severity of COVID-19 correlates with the ratio of antibodies targeting crucial viral protein

SARS-CoV-2 spike-antibody binding strength and hydrogen bond numbers are temperature dependent, study finds

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 NTD-directed antibodies are protective against lethal infection

Immunologic modeling of COVID-19 severity and chronicity

Loss of taste and smell may be most reliable COVID-19 symptoms for digital surveillance

Mental disorders highly prevalent during coronavirus pandemics

Reopening college campuses could initiate COVID-19 superspreading

Researchers find correlation between consistent mask-wearing and improved well-being

Higher BMI linked to increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Kobe University and Sysmex conduct joint research on ELISPOT method for identifying COVID-19

How has the COVID19 pandemic affected the well-being of pregnant women?

Researchers publish study results on challenges of COVID-19 during confinement

A common compound in mouthwashes found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro

SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of severe COVID-19 in pregnant women, newborns

Miniature pH probe allows real-time analysis of pH dynamics in deep brain structures

Health disparities in cancer and COVID-19 are caused by similar factors

SARS-CoV-2 infection shown to reduce the expression of vitamin D pathway components

As the terror of COVID struck, health care workers struggled to survive. Thousands lost the fight.

Frequent and rapid testing may reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in carehomes

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

How cohesin mechanics and nanotracker tech are redefining DNA research

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich

Latest News