Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant neutralized by third BNT162b2 booster shot

A new preprint* research paper under consideration at Nature Portfolio Journal assesses the susceptibility of the Omicron variant to neutralizing antibody response after booster immunization.

28 Dec 2021

Pre-existing immunity against influenza can lower SARS-CoV-2 infection burden and spread

A recent study by a team of European researchers demonstrated how antibodies induced by currently circulating influenza A H1N1 strains can cross-react with the important part of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein that interacts with the human cell receptor. Their paper is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while it undergoes peer review.

28 Dec 2021

Third BNT162b2 dose effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron pseudovirus

The findings reveal that the Omicron neutralizing titers induced by the third vaccine dose are comparable to that achieved against the original Wuhan strain (wild-type SARS-CoV-2) by the two-dose regimen. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

28 Dec 2021

New report on 1.23 million breakthrough symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections by vaccine

A new research letter evaluates whether the estimated vaccine effectiveness changes against infection over time.

28 Dec 2021

Double-dose mRNA COVID vaccines effective among dialysis patients

Researchers assess the impact of lesser initial vaccine response and subsequent waning antibody levels on clinical outcomes among maintenance dialysis.

28 Dec 2021

Researchers discover antibodies that neutralize omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants

An international team of scientists have identified antibodies that neutralize omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. These antibodies target areas of the virus spike protein that remain essentially unchanged as the viruses mutate.

28 Dec 2021

COVID isolation and quarantine period for general population shortened by CDC

Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others.

27 Dec 2021

SARS-CoV-2-induced kidney damage

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infects the kidneys and contributes to tissue scarring, as shown by researchers from the RWTH Uniklinik Aachen, Germany, and Radboudumc, The Netherlands. The developed scar tissue in the infected kidneys may suggest a possible impact on kidney outcomes in the long term.

27 Dec 2021

Uptake of COVID-19 vaccine doses increases before Christmas in England

Thousands more first and second doses were administered last week compared with the week before, as the public are today reminded that the offer of a vaccine is still available and encouraged to come forward to protect themselves against Omicron.

26 Dec 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant mutated to evade the immune system

The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant mutated to evade our 'innate immune system', helping establish it as the world's first 'Variant of Concern', finds a new study led by researchers at UCL and the Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California San Francisco.

24 Dec 2021

Study helps explain why mRNA vaccines have been successful at preventing severe COVID-19

Washington University in St. Louis student Julian McCall receives a dose of Pfizer's mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine.

24 Dec 2021

Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 manifests striking antibody evasion

A new study from Columbia researchers, in collaboration with scientists at the University of Hong Kong, adds more evidence that the omicron variant can evade the immune protection conferred by vaccines and natural infection and suggests the need for new vaccines and treatments that anticipate how the virus may soon evolve.

24 Dec 2021

Scientists identify a new Achilles' heel of influenza virus

Scientists at Scripps Research, University of Chicago and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a new Achilles' heel of influenza virus, making progress in the quest for a universal flu vaccine.

24 Dec 2021

Alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2 evolved mutations to evade the immune system

The Alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2 - the first "variant of concern" - evolved mutations that allowed it to more efficiently suppress the immune system's early response to infection, according to a new study led by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco's Quantitative Biosciences Institute and University College London.

24 Dec 2021

New study provides a mutational analysis of SARS-CoV-2

A new study investigates mutational waves in structural and non-structural protein evolutions of SARS-CoV-2 to better understand the virus’s evolution and epidemiology.

24 Dec 2021

Laws shield hospitals from families who believe loved ones contracted covid as patients

After Amanda Wilson lost her son, Braden, 15, to covid-19 in early 2021, she tried to honor his memory. She put up a lending library box in his name. She plans to give the money she saved for his college education to other teens who love the arts and technology.

24 Dec 2021

Children with pre-existing immunity to common cold demonstrate better protection against COVID-19

New data shows that, compared to adults, children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) preferentially activate pre-existing acquired immunity to prevalent common cold coronaviruses that cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 and protect them from severe disease.

24 Dec 2021

Scientists detect COVID-19 infection in white-tailed deer in 6 Ohio locations

Scientists have detected infection by at least three variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 in free-ranging white-tailed deer in six northeast Ohio locations, the research team has reported.

24 Dec 2021

SARS-CoV-2 spreads through cell-to-cell transmission, study finds

The virus that causes COVID-19 has adopted some stealth moves to stay alive and kicking, and one secret to its success is hiding from the immune system by spreading through cell-to-cell transmission, a new study has found.

23 Dec 2021

CDC releases updated guidance for contingency and crisis management in healthcare settings

With the growing number of COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant, and consistent with current understanding of the disease trajectory, CDC is releasing updated guidance for isolation and quarantine for healthcare workers, decreasing their isolation time after infection with COVID-19.

23 Dec 2021