Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Good and not-so-good news on Covid

There's good news and bad news on Covid-19 this week. On the one hand, several million doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine authorized by the FDA for emergency use are already going into the arms of people around the nation.

4 Mar 2021

Study reveals a small molecule inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells

Researchers found a small molecule that inhibits different virus proteins and significantly reduces infection in cells. Combined with the antiviral remdesivir, its potency increases significantly, suggesting it may be a potential antiviral candidate for the treatment of COVID-19.

4 Mar 2021

Delayed detection of oral fluid anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies increases the time to viral clearance

A prospective observational study has revealed that the late appearance of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in oral fluid, absence of fever as an early symptom, and elevated BMI are associated with delayed clearance of viral RNA in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients.

4 Mar 2021

Multiple COVID-19 variants of concern have reached Houston, Texas

New research by a team at Houston Methodist Hospital in the United States has modeled the aggressive genomic sequencing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) observed in the United Kingdom to document viral community spread in Houston, Texas.

4 Mar 2021

Cell surface marker CD47 may allow early diagnosis of severe COVID-19

A new study reports the potential of the cell surface marker, CD47, as a biomarker for hyperinflammation, a characteristic feature of severe COVID-19.

4 Mar 2021

Novel host-viral-microbiome interactions during COVID-19 may determine outcome

A new preprint on the medRxiv* server discusses how the underlying disease mechanisms are regulated such that the local or mucosal immune response is distinct from the systemic response.

4 Mar 2021

Researchers detect vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk

A new paper released on the medRxiv* preprint server describes, for the first time, the detection of antibodies to the virus in human breast milk following the vaccination of lactating mothers. This could guide patients, their healthcare providers, and public health policymakers alike as to the deployment of the vaccines in pregnant and lactating mothers.

4 Mar 2021

Coronavirus deranges the immune system in complex and deadly ways

There's a reason soldiers go through basic training before heading into combat: Without careful instruction, green recruits armed with powerful weapons could be as dangerous to one another as to the enemy.

4 Mar 2021

To help farmworkers get Covid tests and vaccine, build trust and a safety net

With more than 20 million acres of corn and soybeans, Illinois is among the top U.S. producers of those crops. To make it all happen, the state relies on thousands of farmworkers — some of whom travel to the state for seasonal work and others, like 35-year-old Saraí, who call Illinois home.

4 Mar 2021

Research looks at COVID vaccine hesitancy and refusal among the U.S. public

Vaccination against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rolled out in many countries, including the United States. As the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continues to rise, vaccinating many people in the population is crucial. Despite campaigns to inform residents of the benefits of vaccines, many are still reluctant to get vaccinated.

4 Mar 2021

Study suggests no protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection from recent exposure to HCoVs

In the study, published on the pre-print server medRxiv*, the researchers found a slight but significantly elevated risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with young children between 10 months and five years old. However, recent exposure to human coronaviruses does not reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in households with young children.

4 Mar 2021

Study reports persistent SARS-CoV-2 with increasing viral variants in pediatric patients

New research, published on medRxiv preprint server, has reported the effect of prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised children and young adults.

4 Mar 2021

Rapid point-of-care test used to diagnose respiratory infections can reduce antibiotic prescribing

A rapid microbiological point-of-care test to diagnose respiratory infections has proved popular with GPs and could reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care, according to a National Institute for Health Research funded study by researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol.

4 Mar 2021

Researchers call for more awareness relating to delayed skin reactions to Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

As the speed and scale of vaccinations against the SARS-CoV-2 virus ramps up globally, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) are calling for greater awareness and communication around a delayed injection-site reaction that can occur in some patients who have received the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine.

3 Mar 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants do not substantially affect CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, study shows

Researchers from California in the United States have conducted a study showing that important adaptive immune responses to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not affected by four recently emerged variants of the virus.

3 Mar 2021

Researchers lay out bioinformatics bottlenecks that are hindering response to COVID-19 pandemic

A global group of researchers is calling for better integration of viral genetics, bioinformatics, and public health to enable better pandemic response now and better pandemic preparedness in the future.

3 Mar 2021

Wikipedia maintained high-quality COVID-19 coverage during first pandemic wave

Researchers in Israel have demonstrated that Wikipedia's coverage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continued to be based on respected media and academic sources, despite a surge in coverage as the pandemic grew during the first wave.

3 Mar 2021

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Good and not-so-good news on Covid

Study reveals a small molecule inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells

Delayed detection of oral fluid anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies increases the time to viral clearance

Multiple COVID-19 variants of concern have reached Houston, Texas

Cell surface marker CD47 may allow early diagnosis of severe COVID-19

Novel host-viral-microbiome interactions during COVID-19 may determine outcome

Researchers detect vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk

Coronavirus deranges the immune system in complex and deadly ways

To help farmworkers get Covid tests and vaccine, build trust and a safety net

Research looks at COVID vaccine hesitancy and refusal among the U.S. public

Study suggests no protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection from recent exposure to HCoVs

Study reports persistent SARS-CoV-2 with increasing viral variants in pediatric patients

Rapid point-of-care test used to diagnose respiratory infections can reduce antibiotic prescribing

Researchers call for more awareness relating to delayed skin reactions to Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

SARS-CoV-2 variants do not substantially affect CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, study shows

Researchers lay out bioinformatics bottlenecks that are hindering response to COVID-19 pandemic

Wikipedia maintained high-quality COVID-19 coverage during first pandemic wave

Liquid-handling robots for wastewater surveillance help predict COVID-19 cases in San Diego

Using two different viruses to tackle tumors

Researchers to investigate COVID-19's disproportionate impact on long-term care residents and workers

A new way of characterising biomolecules eBook

How can super-resolution technology help study neurotransmission?

The Proteoform Puzzle: Unlocking the Next Frontier

Synthetic Biology and the Pursuit of Living Diagnostics

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

A new way of characterising biomolecules eBook

How can super-resolution technology help study neurotransmission?

The Proteoform Puzzle: Unlocking the Next Frontier

Synthetic Biology and the Pursuit of Living Diagnostics

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