Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Researchers discover camelid-derived two nanobodies that target SARS-CoV-2

A new study has been published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, which has identified and characterized two RBD-targeting neutralizing nanobodies, namely, DL4 and DL28.

23 Jul 2021

Researchers use mass spectrometry to study immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 epitopes

A new study has been published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, which has used MS to identify T cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 conserved protein, i.e., the membrane glycol protein (MGP) and the non-structure protein-13 (NSP13).

23 Jul 2021

Efficacy of mRNA vaccine-induced memory B cells against SARS-CoV-2 variants

A new study characterizes the functional humoral immunity post-COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccination.

22 Jul 2021

Synergistic multi-antibody cocktail protects against SARS-CoV-2 in animal model

Researchers in Canada have reported the discovery of a multi-antibody cocktail that synergistically protected against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in an animal model of acute infection.

22 Jul 2021

Study in France suggests high efficacy of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

A nationwide case-control study conducted in France has assessed the efficacy of mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines against original severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P1.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 reprograms host chromatic network to induce immune dysfunction

A recent study conducted at the University of Texas Science Center, Houston, in the USA, has revealed that upon infection, SARS-CoV-2 alters the host chromatin architecture to suppress antiviral interferon-responsive genes and augment inflammatory genes. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

22 Jul 2021

Can platelet size predict severity and mortality in COVID-19?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has baffled researchers with its propensity to cause symptoms of largely unpredictable severity in the affected individuals. An exciting new study reports on the potential predictive value of platelet size in this situation. COVID-19 patients with severe disease often develop clots in vital organs, which leads to further complications. It is known that platelet size is a good indicator of activation.

22 Jul 2021

Can prior human seasonal coronavirus antibody response patterns predict SARS-CoV-2 inhibition?

A new study, recently released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, reports the intriguing finding that the cross-neutralizing antibodies elicited by human seasonal coronaviruses (sCoVs) show varying ability to prevent binding between the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen and its cognate receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

22 Jul 2021

Pfizer vaccine and isolation independently associated with reduced household transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Israel was among the leading proponents of COVID-19 vaccination as the way out of the current worldwide restrictions on social and economic interactions and activity. A new study, recently released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, reports on the effects of the large-scale vaccination campaigns carried out in this country, relating to successful control of SARS-CoV-2 spread within households.

22 Jul 2021

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations L452R & Y453F evade cellular immunity

The study, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, also showed emerging mutations L452R and Y453F in the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding motif evade (HLA) A24-restricted cellular immunity. Meanwhile, the L452R enhances spike stability, viral fusogenicity, and viral infectivity. Hence, the findings suggest that HLA-restricted cellular immunity potentially affects the evolution of viral phenotypes.

22 Jul 2021

Scientist explore conserved RNA elements as potential targets for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs

The study, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, identified many small molecules that bind to certain parts of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that are less likely altered by mutations using dedicated substance libraries. The scientists derived key functional units and groups in ligands for effective and safe targeting of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 proteins manipulate autophagy

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has claimed more than 4.1 million lives worldwide. This pandemic is caused by a novel single-stranded RNA virus, namely, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that was first reported in 2019 in Wuhan, China. The rapid spread of this virus is attributed to its high infectiousness and its ability to escape and counteract host immune responses, e.g., autophagy.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance identifies intricacies of stabilizing vs. destabilizing mutations

Some of these variants, known as variants of concern (VoC), have a much higher rate of transmission and increased mortality than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the efficacy of the available vaccines against the circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains. In addition, tracking the continuously evolving genetic variants is also vital to prevent future outbreaks.

22 Jul 2021

SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by cats

Researchers in The Netherlands have warned that domestic cats may play a role in the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Jul 2021

Combination antibody therapies retain potency against SARS-CoV-2 variants, FDA / HHS research

Researchers in the United States have conducted a study showing that while variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can compromise the effectiveness of single therapeutic antibodies at preventing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many combination antibody products remain potent against the variants.

21 Jul 2021

Scientists identify gut microbiota dysbiosis as a potential risk factor for long COVID

A study in Norway has recently highlighted a significant association between gut microbiota alteration and persistent respiratory dysfunction in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

21 Jul 2021

Study examines the host and viral factors that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution

In a new paper recently uploaded to the preprint server bioRxiv*, two clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 are monitored by whole genome sequencing as they are passaged through several generations of Vero cells or human-derived primary nasal epithelial cells (PNEC), allowing direct observation of the occurrence of virus enhancing mutations and the way in which host cell factors shape virus evolution.

21 Jul 2021

Study associates feelings of discrimination and low status with long COVID-19 symptoms

A recent study, released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, examines the correlation of these symptoms with the patient’s socioeconomic status (SES) and perception of social discrimination, along with other social factors. The researchers found that the first two factors are associated strongly with long-term symptoms of COVID-19.

21 Jul 2021

How to run a COVID-19 vaccination campaign: lessons from other infectious outbreaks

A new paper, available on the medRxiv* preprint server, presents lessons learned from the implementation of three adult vaccine programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa and South America.

21 Jul 2021

COVIDcast API: An open repository of real-time COVID-19 indicators

A new preprint available on the medRxiv* server reports the utility of the COVIDcast API, a database of all COVID-19 indicators that are constantly being updated, dating from April 2020.

21 Jul 2021

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Latest Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome News and Research

Researchers discover camelid-derived two nanobodies that target SARS-CoV-2

Researchers use mass spectrometry to study immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 epitopes

Efficacy of mRNA vaccine-induced memory B cells against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Synergistic multi-antibody cocktail protects against SARS-CoV-2 in animal model

Study in France suggests high efficacy of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

SARS-CoV-2 reprograms host chromatic network to induce immune dysfunction

Can platelet size predict severity and mortality in COVID-19?

Can prior human seasonal coronavirus antibody response patterns predict SARS-CoV-2 inhibition?

Pfizer vaccine and isolation independently associated with reduced household transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations L452R & Y453F evade cellular immunity

Scientist explore conserved RNA elements as potential targets for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs

SARS-CoV-2 proteins manipulate autophagy

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance identifies intricacies of stabilizing vs. destabilizing mutations

SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by cats

Combination antibody therapies retain potency against SARS-CoV-2 variants, FDA / HHS research

Scientists identify gut microbiota dysbiosis as a potential risk factor for long COVID

Study examines the host and viral factors that drive SARS-CoV-2 evolution

Study associates feelings of discrimination and low status with long COVID-19 symptoms

How to run a COVID-19 vaccination campaign: lessons from other infectious outbreaks

COVIDcast API: An open repository of real-time COVID-19 indicators

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