Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Avacta provides update on clinical validation of Adeptrix COVID-19 diagnostic test

Avacta is pleased to announce that it has begun work with the UK government’s CONDOR program to evaluate and clinically validate the COVID-19 laboratory assay.

22 Jul 2020

Faster identification and isolation of infected individuals reduce viral transmission

A new analysis of SARS-CoV-2 transmission data in China shows that faster identification and isolation of infected, symptomatic individuals contributed to the shortening of the average serial interval - or the period between the onset of symptoms in successive cases - over time, as fewer opportunities occurred for viral transmission from one infector to more individuals.

22 Jul 2020

Survey: Almost 60% of parents are reluctant to protect their children from HPV

Study results documenting parental hesitancy to begin and complete their child's HPV vaccine series were published in The Lancet Public Health by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

22 Jul 2020

Study captures unexpected features of SARS-Cov-2 spike protein

The rod-like spike proteins on the surface of SARS CoV-2 are the tip of the spear of the COVID-19 pandemic.

22 Jul 2020

Racially motivated hate crimes increase in the U.S.

Under the Hate Crime Statistic Act, hate crimes are defined as "crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, gender and gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity."

22 Jul 2020

LabVantage COVID-19 LIMS solution implemented for onsite workplace health and safety

LabVantage Solutions, Inc., the leading provider of laboratory informatics solutions and services including purpose-built LIMS solutions that allow labs to go live faster and at a lower total cost, today announced that a Fortune 100 global consumer packaged goods company has deployed the LabVantage COVID-19 LIMS solution to ensure employee health and safety in the workplace.

From LabVantage Solutions 22 Jul 2020

A new sign of COVID-19: a rash in the mouth

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has wreaked havoc across the globe, with more than 14.89 million people infected. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has a string of symptoms that include cough, fever, and difficulty of breathing. As the disease evolved, many patients reported the loss of smell and taste as other accompanying symptoms.

21 Jul 2020

Research focuses on detection of COVID-19 airborne droplets using bioengineered membrane

Detection and analysis of airborne coronavirus droplets using a bioengineered membrane is the focus of exploratory research at the University of Maine and University of Massachusetts Amherst, funded by the National Science Foundation.

21 Jul 2020

Lab-made virus infects cells, interacts with antibodies just like SARS-CoV-2

Airborne and potentially deadly, the virus that causes COVID-19 can only be studied safely under high-level biosafety conditions.

21 Jul 2020

Edible coating made with green tea extract kills norovirus, bacteria

Infusing prepared foods with an edible coating that contains green tea extract may lower consumers' chances of catching the highly contagious norovirus by eating contaminated food, new research suggests.

21 Jul 2020

Ultrasensitive biosensing method could shorten the time for identification of COVID-19

Mechanical engineering associate professor Jiangtao Cheng and electrical and computer engineering assistant professor Wei Zhou have developed an ultrasensitive biosensing method that could dramatically shorten the amount of time required to verify the presence of the COVID-19 virus in a sample.

21 Jul 2020

Mouse model of fatal COVID-19 developed for vaccine and drug testing

Now, a new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in July 2020 presents an engineered transgenic mouse that reproduces the functional and clinical characteristics of severe human SARS-CoV-2 infection.

21 Jul 2020

Researchers demonstrate the production of viral parts within artificial cells

Scientists searching for better diagnostic tests, drugs or vaccines against a virus must all begin by deciphering the structure of that virus.

21 Jul 2020

Breastfeeding support for new mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic grips the world, concerns about transmission of the highly infectious causative agent – severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - from mother to the baby are valid.

21 Jul 2020

Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine elicits both neutralizing antibodies and T cell response

A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv by a research group from the U.S. and Germany indicates that a novel BNT162b1 RNA-based vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) induces functional and proinflammatory T cell responses in almost all participants – marking another landmark achievement for this promising vaccine candidate.

21 Jul 2020

Nitric oxide treatment can be pivotal in the fight against COVID-19

Nitric oxide treatment can be pivotal in the world's fight against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to a review from the George Washington University (GW). The article is published in the journal Nitric Oxide.

21 Jul 2020

New tools developed to test the ability of anti-coronavirus antibodies

Researchers at The Rockefeller University in New York have developed new tools to rapidly test the ability of antibodies to neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

21 Jul 2020

New system uses X-ray images of patients’ lungs to diagnose COVID-19

Researchers from the Department of Computer Architecture and Technology at the University of Seville's School of Computer Engineering (ETSII) are working on a system that uses X-ray images of patients' lungs to help diagnose COVID-19.

21 Jul 2020

Study assesses the stress levels of U.S. physicians during COVID-19 pandemic

Amid the COVID-19 chaos in many hospitals, emergency medicine physicians in seven cities around the country experienced rising levels of anxiety and emotional exhaustion, regardless of the intensity of the local surge, according to a new analysis led by UC San Francisco.

21 Jul 2020

NIH project homes in on COVID racial disparities

While the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Hispanic Americans is no secret, federal officials have launched studies of the disparity that they hope will better prepare the country for the next great epidemic.

21 Jul 2020