Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Dexamethasone shown to upregulate innate and adaptive immune responses in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients

In a new study, researchers used per protocol bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples after intubation to evaluate the transcriptomic profiles of the local pulmonary host responses during early-stage severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS), non-COVID-19 ARDS, and sepsis.

17 Jan 2022

Study demonstrates that intra-host SARS-CoV-2 variants with reduced infectivity are developed during infection

A new paper discusses the appearance of quasi-species in a single host with prolonged infection, with different rates of infectivity and sensitivity to neutralization by antibodies elicited by the Pfizer vaccine or those present in convalescent plasma.

17 Jan 2022

Study reveals aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via floor drains

A new study investigated COVID-19 cases in an apartment complex in South Korea and explored the possibility of aerosol transmission without direct contact between infected individuals with the help of molecular phylogenetic analysis and epidemiological surveillance.

17 Jan 2022

Nine-month survey of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in North Carolina

A new paper reports increased breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2, the agent behind the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

17 Jan 2022

Study investigates whether immune responses to BNT162b2 vaccine differ in subjects with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new paper published in the journal JCI Insight reports on the differential levels of immunity achieved in those with and without a history of prior infection with the virus following one and two doses of the earliest vaccines to be approved for emergency use.

17 Jan 2022

Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant promote cell binding

Researchers in Germany, based on their recent study published in the journal ChemBioChem, have proposed that the elevated occurrence of positively charged amino acids in specific domains of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) Omicron variant spike protein improves viral binding to cellular negatively charged receptors aiding in enhanced infectiousness.

16 Jan 2022

Monitoring rodents for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, Hong Kong

A new study published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal has hypothesized that locations with positive SARS-CoV-2 in sewage could be used as potential surveillance targets to analyze if pestiferous urban rodents shed SARS-CoV-2 into the environment.

16 Jan 2022

Topical antiseptic Acriflavine inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and other betacoronaviruses

A new study, published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, has reported the discovery of acriflavine (ACF), an effective inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2. This drug is a mixture of trypaflavines (3,6-diamino-10-methylacridinium chloride and 3,6-diamino-3-methylacridinium chloride) and proflavine (3,6-diaminoacridine).

16 Jan 2022

Cannabidiol may improve innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2

A recent study shows evidence that cannabidiol, an important active ingredient in the Cannabis sativa plant, can augment the antiviral innate immune response and prophylactically prime the innate antiviral response of cells – enabling in turn improved response against viruses such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

16 Jan 2022

Even mild SARS-CoV-2 respiratory-only infection can cause long-term neurologic damage

A new bioRxiv* preprint study led by Michelle Monje of Stanford University in California finds that a mild COVID-19 infection can produce long-term neurological damage. Persistent cognitive complications are one of many symptoms of long COVID, and the latest results suggest the severity of COVID-19 induced brain fog is similar to cancer’s “chemobrain.”

16 Jan 2022

Study shows Omicron less severe than Delta among COVID-19 hospitalized patients

New research posted to the medRxiv* preprint server suggests the Omicron variant produces less severe COVID-19 symptoms than earlier severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants.

16 Jan 2022

UV-C light prevents airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers demonstrate that ultraviolet light-C (UV-C) effectively prevents airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

16 Jan 2022

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron has similar infectious viral load to Delta

Researchers compare SARS-CoV-2 pre-variants of concern strains to the Delta and Omicron VOCs.

16 Jan 2022

Research shows fewer deaths related to COVID-19 in Cape Town during fourth wave

Researchers observe changes in COVID-19-related deaths during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.

16 Jan 2022

Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients less infectious than symptomatic patients

Researchers investigate the progression of infection in students and employees who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at Boston University.

16 Jan 2022

Exploring the relationship between stem cells and COVID-19

Though COVID-19-related stem cell clinical research is still in its infancy, stem cell treatment offers extensive clinical application possibilities and a far-reaching relevance thanks to ongoing exploration of stem cell clinical research and data mining.

14 Jan 2022

Naïve T cells suggested as critical to low mortality of children with COVID-19

A new study discusses how naïve T cells may contribute to lower mortality rates seen in children with COVID-19.

14 Jan 2022

Study shows possible reverse zoonoses of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to animals

A new study describes an instance of natural infection of SARS-CoV-2 in a puma during the first wave and three lions during the third wave in a private zoo in South Africa in at least three transmission events from their handlers.

14 Jan 2022

Similarities and dissimilarities in immune responses and metabolism in SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 infections

A new study, posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, has developed a single-cell atlas that presents the shared and distinct immune responses and metabolism following SARS-CoV-2 and HIV-1 infections.

13 Jan 2022

BNT162b2 COVID vaccine 94% effective against adolescent hospitalization

A recent study revealed the effectiveness of 93% for the BNT162b2 vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization among adolescents (12 to 18 years). This study included 179 patients at 19 sites in 16 states. The same group of researchers have extended their analysis to 31 locations in 23 states across the U.S. and recruited 266 more patients who had been hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

13 Jan 2022