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Predicting the capacity of mammal species to become zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 hosts

Researchers identified a subset of species in which the threat of spillback infection appears the most significant due to location and increased contact with humans in areas with a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2.

19 Nov 2021

Viral biomolecular condensation

A review published in PLOS Pathogens deconstructs virus condensation and provides a biochemical background for LLPS.

19 Nov 2021

Population-based risk compensation may have been a driving force in UK's COVID pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has irreversibly altered our lives in many ways. However, available COVID vaccines are effective against (symptomatic) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, hospitalizations, and even death. Despite a diminishing protective effect against infection and onward transmission after vaccination, and a slightly diminished effect with the Delta variant compared to the Alpha variant, protection against severe outcomes remains high.

19 Nov 2021

UCLA study shows how COVID vaccination is critical to controlling the pandemic

A study currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server has demonstrated that the incidence and mortality rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the US can be significantly reduced at the population level by increasing vaccinate rates from 40% to 80%.

18 Nov 2021

A nasal COVID vaccine using a weakened influenza vector

The authors of a new study, published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, constructed a COVID-19 nasal vaccine candidate by inserting a gene encoding the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, named CA4-dNS1-nCoV-RBD (dNS1-RBD) in a live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vector.

18 Nov 2021

Seroprevalence study in Tamil Nadu shows antibody decline following SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination

In the sixth-most populated state of India – Tamil Nadu, three rounds of a district-level serological study were conducted through two COVID waves.

18 Nov 2021

Severe COVID-19 patients have significantly higher NK and T cell frequency

A new study published in the open-access journal Cells aimed to clarify the role of NK and T cell subsets in SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized COVID-19 patients to unravel their potential association with disease severity.

18 Nov 2021

Air filter and floor sampling to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in schools

A study recently published on the medRxiv* preprint server observed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in five schools (96 classrooms) in Davis, California (USA), by collecting weekly surface-swab samples from classroom floors and/or portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) units.

18 Nov 2021

Study involving a rat model offers potential treatment for Alexander disease

Alexander disease is a progressive and rare neurological disorder with no cure or standard course of treatment. But a new study led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison involving a rat model of the disease offers a potential treatment for the typically fatal condition.

18 Nov 2021

Long-term glycemic levels predict the risk of COVID-19 severity among diabetics

People with type 2 diabetes who contract COVID-19 are nearly 50% more likely to wind up in intensive care if they have poorly managed their blood sugar levels over the long-term than those with better long-term glycemic control, according to a study using anonymized health care data.

18 Nov 2021

One in four adults with ADHD found to have generalized anxiety disorder

A new nationally representative study published online in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that one in four adults aged 20-39 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

18 Nov 2021

Study identifies possible link between psychological stress and Crohn's disease flare-ups

A possible link between psychological stress and Crohn's disease flare-ups has been identified by a McMaster University-led study.

18 Nov 2021

Extreme heat associated with greater risk of adverse cardiovascular incidents

A consequence of global warming is a greater frequency and intensity of extreme heat events. This extreme heat is associated with a greater risk of adverse cardiovascular incidents, especially for adults with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases.

18 Nov 2021

New trial demonstrates stable coagulation factor VIII in hemophilia A patients after gene therapy

A novel gene therapy for hemophilia A led to sustained expression of the clotting factor those patients lack, resulting in a reduction – or in some cases complete elimination – of painful and potentially life-threatening bleeding events, according to a new study led by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

18 Nov 2021

Lef1 gene restricts formation of cancer stem cell niches to suppress colorectal tumor growth

The new research findings help to understand mechanisms that lead to different types of intestinal tumors. They show that the Lef1 gene suppresses the development and growth of colorectal cancer by restricting the formation of cancer stem cell niches.

18 Nov 2021

Study on long-term effects of air pollution on COVID-19 outcomes

A recent study used a spatial ecological design to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection risk as it relates to air pollution.

18 Nov 2021

Study explores barriers to dental care among Medicaid-enrolled reproductive-aged women

In a new study, only 47% of women had a dental visit during pregnancy. Medicaid-enrolled women in Virginia were half as likely to visit the dentist during pregnancy than women with private insurance, despite the availability of Medicaid Pregnancy Dental coverage, according to the study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Women's Health.

18 Nov 2021