Coronavirus Disease COVID 19 News and Research

Latest Coronavirus Disease COVID 19 News and Research

Possible impact of spike protein mutations on SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

The current study not only analyses the mutations in the Omicron spike variant but classifies various combinations of spike mutations into groups.

7 Dec 2021

Exploring SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responsiveness in immunosuppressed patients

A new study indicates an immunological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in immunosuppressed patients that were comparable to healthy patients.

7 Dec 2021

Impact of post-translational modifications in the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2

A new study provides understanding of the intricate roles and functions of the different elements of spike proteins and shows how the spike protein samples a crowded surface of its host cell via the glycans.

7 Dec 2021

Immune response of Pfizer vaccinees who received Moderna or Pfizer booster

A new preprint discusses the immune boost resulting from homologous or heterologous booster doses in individuals fully vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

7 Dec 2021

Data science proved what Pittsburgh’s Black leaders knew: Racial disparities compound covid risk

The ferocity of the covid-19 pandemic did what Black Pittsburgh — communities that make up a quarter of the city's population — thought impossible. It shook the norms.

7 Dec 2021

When the surges just keep coming: A view from the covid vortex

Dr. Rais Vohra has impeccable timing. He stepped into his role as interim health officer of Fresno County just months before the start of the covid-19 pandemic.

7 Dec 2021

Community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 lineage with novel mutations in Florida

A new study describes the introduction and spread of a SARS-CoV-2 lineage, A.2.5 in Florida using samples from the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL).

7 Dec 2021

Comparison of waning COVID-19 immunity between vaccinated and infected individuals

The current study compares the waning of immunity in infected-and-recovered vs. vaccinated cohorts.

7 Dec 2021

Risk factors for COVID-19 among US healthcare workers

Researchers from the CDC have investigated the risk posed to healthcare workers and which factors are most likely to lead to infection.

7 Dec 2021

Method for inactivation and direct RT-qPCR of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have been exploring ways to optimize this process further, allowing RT-qPCR to work more efficiently by eliminating one of the key steps.

7 Dec 2021

Study suggests algal polysaccharide may be a promising anti-COVID-19 candidate

Researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have been investigating the potential of rhamnan sulfate as an antiviral agent.

7 Dec 2021

Scientists develop and characterize variant-specific vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

In a recent study conducted at Yale University, USA, scientists have investigated the immunogenicity of mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine candidates encoding the spike proteins of different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. The findings reveal that the vaccines induce robust immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

6 Dec 2021

An analysis of risk factors and symptom presentation among groups at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection

The study, published on the pre-print server medRxiv*, analyzed the specific linkages between the COVID-19 patients belonging to the three risk groups with the overall COVID-19 patients and compared symptoms between and within the risk groups.

6 Dec 2021

COVID-19 severity is correlated with T cell receptor repertoire signatures

In a new study published in the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers found that specific TCR sequences predicted the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Additionally, there was evidence of increased CDR3 sequences and changes in k-mer motifs for patients with severe illness.

6 Dec 2021

Simple quantitative framework to understand the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19

Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States developed a model to explain why severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections induce high inflammatory levels.

6 Dec 2021

Omicron variant increases risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection

New surveillance data from South Africa published in the medRxiv* preprint server suggests that the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omnicron variant has the potential to escape naturally-acquired immunity. The research indicates people who previously recovered from a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at risk for reinfection with the Omicron variant. The results show that the risk of reinfection is greater with the Omicron variant versus Delta and Beta.

6 Dec 2021

Disparities in maternal mental health during COVID-19

In new research, scientists studied individuals who gave birth during COVID-19. Using propensity score matching (PSM), they matched those identified as either Black or Latinx with those identified as non-Hispanic white on sociodemographic. This recent study published as a preprint on the medRxiv* server attempts to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childbirth-related health outcomes in individuals belonging to Black or Latinx minority groups.

6 Dec 2021