Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

The severity of COVID-19 compared to seasonal influenza

In a recent study under review at the Archives of Virology journal and currently posted to the Research Square* preprint server, investigators in Israel assessed the disparities and similarities between seasonal influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections.

14 Jun 2022

Multi-national scientific task force needed to monitor zoonotic viruses long-term

A new study aimed to identify the main host, intermediate hosts, as well as other animal reservoirs for both SARS-CoV-2 and the monkeypox virus.

13 Jun 2022

SARS-CoV-2 recombinant isolated from chronic COVID-19 patient

A new research paper in the journal Viruses reports the isolation of a recombinant strain in a patient infected with the virus for over a year.

13 Jun 2022

MIT researchers design new sensor to distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia

Many different types of bacteria and viruses can cause pneumonia, but there is no easy way to determine which microbe is causing a particular patient's illness.

13 Jun 2022

Stress accelerates aging of the immune system

Stress - in the form of traumatic events, job strain, everyday stressors and discrimination - accelerates aging of the immune system, potentially increasing a person's risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and illness from infections such as COVID-19, according to a new USC study.

13 Jun 2022

Covid funding pries open a door to improving air quality in schools

Many U.S. schools were in dire need of upgrades — burdened by leaking pipes, mold, and antiquated heating systems — long before the covid-19 pandemic drew attention to the importance of indoor ventilation in reducing the spread of infectious disease.

13 Jun 2022

The potential role of Ginkgo biloba L. folium extract in the management of COVID-19

Researchers explored the effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba L. folium extract (EGb) in the management of COVID-19 severity.

13 Jun 2022

Potential applications of bioactive molecules present in fruit peels

A recent study published in Current Issues in Molecular Biology reviewed the potential biological applications of fruit peel extracts.

13 Jun 2022

Smartwatches used to monitor short-term effects of 4th BNT162b2 booster shot

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server, researchers in Israel compared the short-term effects of the first and second booster doses of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA-based) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine BNT162b2.

13 Jun 2022

Inhaled vaccines provide better protection and stronger immunity than nasal sprays, study confirms

McMaster University scientists who compared respiratory vaccine-delivery systems have confirmed that inhaled aerosol vaccines provide far better protection and stronger immunity than nasal sprays.

10 Jun 2022

Study investigates SARS-CoV-2 escape from nirmatrelvir

Researchers assessed SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants’ resistance to nirmatrelvir, a protease inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2.

10 Jun 2022

A suspected zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 transmission from a cat to a human

Researchers investigated a suspected cat to human transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

10 Jun 2022

Core body temperature increases host resistance to influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection

A recent article posted to the Research Square* preprint server demonstrated that high body temperature elevates gut microbiota-reliant host resistance against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza A viral infection.

10 Jun 2022

A comparison of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza cytokine storms

In a recent study published in the Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research, researchers compared the cytokine storms of pandemic influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections.

9 Jun 2022

Discovery could lead to more effective treatment for chronic, pathological pain

The world has changed since 1664, when French philosopher and scientist Rene Descartes first claimed the brain was responsible for feeling the sensation of pain.

9 Jun 2022

SARS-CoV-2 is a generalist virus, infecting and evolving in numerous mammals and humans

In a recent article published in the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers illustrated zooanthroponotic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission and viral mutations specific to hosts.

8 Jun 2022

SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 protein binds to dendritic cells and induces a hyper-inflammatory cytokine storm

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* pre-print server, researchers examined how the interaction of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) open reading frame 8 (ORF8) protein with host dendritic cells (DCs) induced cytokine storm.

8 Jun 2022

Study on the underlying biology of long COVID

In a recent article published in the Science Translational Medicine journal, researchers analyzed prolonged and unique implications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in humans and hamsters following recovery.

8 Jun 2022

Safety and efficacy of tixagevimab–cilgavimab in preventing severe COVID

In a recent study published in the Lancet, researchers evaluated the safety and efficacy of tixagevimab–cilgavimab, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) combination in patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

8 Jun 2022