Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Scientists explain why SARS-CoV-2 targets multiple organs

Now, a team of researchers at LSU Health New Orleans’ Neuroscience Center of Excellence and School of Medicine has explained the gateway receptor for SARS-CoV-2 and how it leads to the emergence of many complications as it targets many parts of the body.

31 Aug 2020

Researchers launch study to evaluate safety of HIV prevention methods in breastfeeding women

The development of safe and effective HIV prevention methods for cisgender women has long been a global health priority, yet research in women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, when they are most vulnerable to infection, has lagged years behind.

31 Aug 2020

Majority of U.S. COVID-19 fatalities had underlying medical conditions

Early on in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, there was little data on the virus and how it affects the body. As the virus spread across the globe, data showed that some people were at a higher risk of developing severe disease and dying from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

31 Aug 2020

Survey: 91% of respondents favor mandatory corona tests for returnees

Should people who come to Germany from risk areas be tested for the novel coronavirus? 91 percent of the respondents are in favor of this.

31 Aug 2020

A nanoscaffolding approach for rapid design of highly immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

A research group from Slovenia, Switzerland, and Germany shows how nanoscaffolded assemblies may neutralize interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and cell receptor, providing adequate protection in a surrogate infection assay and warranting the advance of such platforms in the pursuit for the effective vaccine.

31 Aug 2020

New dual CAR T cell immunotherapy shows enhanced therapeutic potency to fight HIV

A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine, led by researchers Todd Allen, PhD, a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and group leader at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, and Jim Riley, PhD, a professor of Microbiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, describes a new Dual CAR T cell immunotherapy that can help fight HIV infection.

31 Aug 2020

Scientists solve structure of ORF8 coronavirus protein

Researchers at the University of California and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have made important discoveries about a protein found on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that could lay the foundations for the development of new treatments.

31 Aug 2020

COVID-19 patients may experience long-term cardiovascular complications

Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle have conducted a study suggesting that infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can directly infect heart tissue and contribute to whole-organ cardiac dysfunction.

31 Aug 2020

Study identifies effective treatment for severe COVID-19 patients

As countries around the world race to develop a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, researchers are working to understand exactly how it causes the myriad of symptoms that seem to linger long after active viral infection.

31 Aug 2020

Study examines whether asthma is a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19

A new research letter published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society examines whether asthma is a significant risk factor for developing COVID-19 that is severe enough to warrant hospitalization and intubation.

31 Aug 2020

T cell epitopes from recovered COVID-19 patients identified for vaccine

A new study by researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and published on the preprint server bioRxiv in August 2020 collates the available database of SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes gathered from 8 studies of COVID-19 patients who recovered. This could serve as a launchpad to fill in knowledge gaps regarding the immunological aspects of this disease, and drive towards an effective T cell vaccine.

31 Aug 2020

IL-6 signaling blockade can alleviate severe COVID-19

A team of researchers led by Osaka University find an overlap in the pathogenesis of cytokine release syndrome and COVID-19, and show that the symptoms of both can be alleviated by IL-6 signaling blockade

31 Aug 2020

Cat antiviral that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 fast-tracked for human clinical trials

Now, a team of researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada has identified viral inhibitors that they claim are potential candidates as a treatment for COVID-19. The team is set to launch clinical trials of the drug that is used as a treatment for a type of coronavirus in cats.

31 Aug 2020

Serum protein shows therapeutic value against severe COVID-19-like features in mouse model

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in August 2020 reports the disease-mitigating effects of a serum protein called serum amyloid P (SAP) in mice exposed to a peptide that mimics the clinical signs of severe COVID-19 in humans.

30 Aug 2020

New lipid derivatives of Remdesivir have higher anti-coronavirus activity

In a fascinating new preprint paper published on bioRxiv* in August 2020, the researchers report “the synthesis and antiviral evaluation of three novel lipophilic prodrugs of RVn-monophosphate that are substantially more active than Remdesivir in cells infected with SARS-CoV-2.” These could be of immense use in treating COVID-19 patients early and helping to end transmission.

30 Aug 2020

Rabbits susceptible to SARS-CoV-2: Red flag for potential virus reservoir

A new study by scientists in the Netherlands and published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in August 2020 shows that the severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect rabbits, which opens the door for possible circulation in rabbit farms and another potential source of animal to human SARS-CoV-2 infection. This finding calls for urgent research on the prevalence of the virus in farmed rabbits.

30 Aug 2020

Using SARS-CoV-2 epitope to construct a vaccine

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv* in August 2020 reports the use of prediction and advanced simulation techniques to identify a novel T cell epitope on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that could serve as the basis for a customized vaccine with broad-based efficacy.

30 Aug 2020

Australia’s readiness for emergencies

Seven in 10 Aussies say strong community bonds sustain them through COVID19, but more action needed to prepare for future lockdowns and looming disasters.

30 Aug 2020

SARS-CoV-2 Neucleocapside (N) protein is heavily glycosylated

However, the nucleocapsid (N) protein is also extremely abundant and, therefore, a useful target for both vaccine and diagnostic test development. A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in August 2020 reveals the structure of this protein, a valuable step in using it for these purposes.

30 Aug 2020

Severe and fatal COVID-19 is rare in children

Now, a new study by researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Liverpool, Imperial College London, and the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow in the United Kingdom has shown that children and teenagers are less likely than adults to develop severe COVID-19 or die from the disease.

30 Aug 2020