Coronavirus Disease COVID 19 News and Research

Latest Coronavirus Disease COVID 19 News and Research

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in patients with aggressive hematological malignancies

Patients with hematological malignancy (PHM), also infected with COVID-19, were investigated for SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses while undergoing systemic anti-cancer therapy. While no obvious correlation is found between the serological results and the hematological diagnosis and the treatment, the immune response is similar to the severity of COVID-19 infection observed in the general population.

4 Oct 2020

Higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 with D614G mutation in Washington State

The study findings also indicate that the 614G viral variant is associated with higher viral load, but not with disease severity. The study is currently available on the medRxiv preprint server.

4 Oct 2020

The implications of COVID-related sexual distancing and clinical service interruption

A recent study conducted in the Atlanta area reveals that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related sexual distancing together with clinical service interruption for sexually transmitted diseases can potentially impact the future incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

4 Oct 2020

More evidence Pangolin not intermediary in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans

The team proposed a different model named the ‘circulation model’ to illustrate how SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses could have circulated in different species, including humans, before COVID-19 emerged.

4 Oct 2020

NPIs reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission in South Korea

Although some studies examined how public health interventions can help contain COVID-19 outbreaks, not much information was available on public health measures against SARS-CoV-2 transmission, specifically in South Korea.

4 Oct 2020

A comprehensive clinical and genetic model for predicting severe COVID-19 risk

While determining the risk of severe COVID-19, age, and gender are usually the only considerations. A recent preprint paper published in medRxiv, discusses how researchers from Genetic Technologies Limited, Australia, used the UK Biobank data to develop a comprehensive model that can predict severe COVID-19 risk by incorporating comorbidity risk factors, demographic information, and a set of genetic markers.

4 Oct 2020

Rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 with portable CRISPR-based mobile phone diagnostic test

A large group of researchers from the United States reported developing an amplification-free CRISPR-based mobile phone assay for direct detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from nasal swabs. Their state-of-the-art paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

4 Oct 2020

Furin cleavage site of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein enhances viral replication in the lungs

In a new bioRxiv* preprint paper, researchers from the Imperial College London, King's College London, and the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom show that the furin cleavage site of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein represents a key determinant for transmission among humans, as it substantially facilitates replication in airway cells - opening the door for the development of novel therapeutics.

4 Oct 2020

Identifying cardiopulmonary processes involved in severe COVID-19

Researchers in the United States have identified cardiopulmonary processes that may partly explain why some individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop respiratory failure.

4 Oct 2020

Modeling viral clades improves prediction of COVID-19 growth rates

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut has revealed a correlation between the prevalence of particular clades of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the growth rate of the associated illness coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

4 Oct 2020

Shedding light on origin, transmission, spread of COVID-19 in Norfolk

Researchers in the UK have conducted a large-scale whole-genome sequencing study of clinical samples positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the Norfolk area to shed light on the origins, genetic variation, transmission, and spread of the virus in the region.

4 Oct 2020

Anti-sense agents suppress SARS-CoV-2 virus

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study showing that anti-sense agents called peptide-conjugated morpholino oligomers (PPMOs) have the ability to specifically and potently suppress the growth of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

4 Oct 2020

Study reveals how immune cells sacrifice themselves to help fight off infections

Whether flu or coronavirus, it can take several days for the body to ramp up an effective response to a viral infection.

1 Oct 2020

New multiplexed test with a low-cost sensor may enable at-home COVID diagnosis

One feature of the COVID-19 virus that makes it so difficult to contain is that it can be easily spread to others by a person who has yet to show any signs of infection.

1 Oct 2020

No connection found between internet gaming disorder and psychiatric problems

Many of our children play a lot of computer games. Some youth play so much and develop such big problems that a new diagnosis called Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been proposed.

1 Oct 2020

Social isolation worsens the effects of Alzheimer's disease, study shows

A study in mice conducted by the UAB shows that social isolation worsens the effects of Alzheimer's disease, with hyperactivity levels reaching up to twice as much as in the pathology itself.

1 Oct 2020

In-depth analysis of coronavirus genome sequence in Norfolk identifies hidden outbreaks

An in-depth analysis of the genome sequence of coronavirus circulating in Norfolk, UK by researchers at the Quadram Institute and University of East Anglia has mapped the spread of the virus, identified hidden outbreaks and provided insights into the effectiveness of interventions to stop its spread.

1 Oct 2020

Researchers identify 'social cells' in the brain linked to social behavior

A research team led by Professor TAKUMI Toru of Kobe University's Graduate School of Medicine (also a Senior Visiting Scientist at RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research) have identified 'social cells' in the brain that are related to social behavior. The cells were identified via Ca imaging conducted using a microendoscope .

1 Oct 2020

New commitments from governments and organizations support a unified approach to end pandemic

New commitments from governments, international organizations and the private sector support unified approach to end pandemic, backing a response of unprecedented scale, scope and speed-;through the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator-;as pandemic claims more than 1 million lives

1 Oct 2020

Work bubbles can help reduce risk of company-wide COVID-19 outbreaks

Creating "work bubbles" during the COVID-19 pandemic can help reduce the risk of company-wide outbreaks while helping essential businesses continue to function, as the example of Bombardier Aviation demonstrates in an analysis published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

1 Oct 2020