Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Scientists forecast healthcare burden of future COVID waves

The findings indicate that given the lower vaccine efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant, France may face a large epidemic wave infecting 25% of the general population even with a 95% vaccine coverage. This, in turn, could affect the healthcare system in terms of hospital bed occupancy. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

25 Aug 2021

Study on SARS-CoV-2 Delta breakthrough infections shows twice the risk as Alpha

A recent study conducted by Portuguese scientists has claimed that mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are less effective against the delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Moreover, in breakthrough infections by delta variant, vaccines are less effective in reducing viral loads. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

25 Aug 2021

Reassuring news about the protection that SARS-CoV-2 vaccines offer

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines have proven effective at preventing COVID-19-related mortality and illness. Since no vaccine is 100% effective, breakthrough infections are likely to occur. New research by a group of scientists at Erasmus Medical Center and Radboud University in the Netherlands looked at vaccine-breakthrough infections in a large group of vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs).

25 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Delta likely to acquire resistance to wild-type spike vaccines

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* explores the mechanism of the Delta variant's high infectivity and suggests a plausible pathway by which the Delta variant could escape from vaccine-induced immunity.

24 Aug 2021

Compounds from medicinal mushrooms may be our future weapon against SARS-CoV-2

Certain steroid-like compounds from Taiwan's endemic medicinal mushrooms (known as antcins) may inhibit a host cell receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and, thus, prevent viral infection and subsequent development of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), reports a new study published in the MDPI's journal Plants.

24 Aug 2021

Do aerosol boxes prevent airborne spread of SARS-CoV-2?

An interesting new study describes a novel aerosol box design that has been produced and tested to prevent airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

24 Aug 2021

Glycyrrhizic acid as a drug candidate for COVID-19

A new study presents the benefits of licorice, an age-old herbal remedy, to treat COVID-19 at all stages.

24 Aug 2021

COVID-19 with pre-eclampsia and acute fatty liver of pregnancy

A new study reports a case of pre-eclampsia complicated by the acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP).

24 Aug 2021

Study shows difference in antibody levels in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and type of vaccination

In a recent study, researchers aimed to monitor the levels of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG levels in populations that were subjected to routine tests.

24 Aug 2021

Researchers conduct population level observational study of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant

In recent study, researchers analyzed COVID-19 data obtained from Israel to determine whether the Alpha variant led to a higher fatality rate.

24 Aug 2021

Which interventions can help prevent SARS-CoV-2's spread in schools?

A new preprint on the medRxiv* server shows that leaving the windows open all day is the most effective intervention.

24 Aug 2021

Higher vaccination coverage is associated with lower COVID-19 incidence and hospitalization

A new preprint on the medRxiv server supports the role of vaccination in reducing the rate of symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

24 Aug 2021

The impact of COVID-19 on mental health and family finances

A new study on the preprint site medRxiv* evaluates how lockdowns affected families with children financially and emotionally.

24 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant associated with more breakthrough infections

The study highlights that compared to the previously circulating alpha variant, the delta variant is associated with higher infectious virus load and a lower level of humoral immunity in the upper respiratory tract. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server prior to peer review.

24 Aug 2021

Frameshift deletion mutation in ORF7a may provide fitness advantage to Australia's SARS-CoV-2 delta variants

A team of scientists from Australia has recently identified a frameshift deletion mutation in ORF7a of the delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The mutation results in the production of a truncated peptide with altered functionality. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

24 Aug 2021

Patients on dialysis show reduced antibody levels four months after COVID-19 vaccination

A new longitudinal study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server suggests vaccinated patients on chronic hemodialysis having waning immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern. The German researchers found a drop in neutralizing antibody levels and T cell activity four months after receiving their second Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

24 Aug 2021

Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 vs. SARS-CoV-2

Though vaccination efforts are underway in most countries, there are still limited options for treating COVID-19. Now, researchers at Penn State designed a new COVID-19 therapy that uses a defective synthetic version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to interfere with the actual virus's replication.

23 Aug 2021

Study pinpoints an enzyme with a significant impact on SARS-CoV-2 replication

By applying a systems biology approach, a recent bioRxiv* preprint research paper by scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York unveils interactions between the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway responsible for regulating the expression of crucial inflammatory mediators in human lung epithelial cells.

23 Aug 2021

COVID booster shots might be needed in subgroup of HIV-positive individuals

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved into a global pandemic destroying lives and economies. COVID-19 is not curable, so vaccines are the only safeguard during this pandemic.

23 Aug 2021