Researchers identified ebselen's binding activity to SARS-CoV-2 main protease, suggesting its potential as a treatment. The distant binding site may provide an alternative target for repurposed drugs.
The large-scale production of COVID-19 vaccines will necessitate the sharing of manufacturing knowledge to ensure rapid and effective scale-up. This includes disclosure of necessary information from patents, which can facilitate international collaboration and standardization.
Research integrates ecology, evolution and social sciences to highlight relationships between systemic racism and ecological heterogeneity. Neighborhood wealth and racial composition are found to be stronger predictors of urban socio-ecological patterns than wealth.
Researchers found that flu vaccines induce short-lived bone marrow plasma cells, which decline to pre-vaccination levels within a year. The study suggests that the longevity of flu vaccines can be improved by enhancing the persistence of these cells.
A recent study found that Muslim teammates improved Christian players' behavior towards their peers in an Iraqi soccer league, but this effect did not generalize to other social contexts. The research highlights the value of intergroup interventions for achieving post-war peace, but also reveals limitations in building lasting social c...
A new study reveals that the mysterious blue whirl flame consists of three different structures: diffusion, premixed rich, and lean flames. The researchers' simulations suggest that these flames can be controlled and scaled up safely to larger sizes.
Researchers used probability analysis to estimate the COVID-19 incubation period, finding a median of 7.75 days with up to 14.28 days in some cases. The new estimate improves on previous small-scale studies and could inform containment strategies like quarantines.
A new study tests the effectiveness of different types of masks in preventing the spread of droplets that contain SARS-CoV-2 virus particles. The findings suggest that professional-grade N95 masks, surgical or polypropylene masks, and handmade cotton masks may block much of the spray produced when wearers speak.
A new approach to deep brain stimulation using light-sensitive proteins and harmless viruses could provide a minimally invasive treatment option for brain disorders. The technique has shown promise in reducing symptoms of Parkinson's disease by targeting non-neuronal brain cells.
Researchers challenge previous understanding of viscous bubble behavior, concluding that surface tension and dynamic stress are key drivers of bubble collapse. In viscous liquids, bubbles exhibit structural instability characterized by radial wrinkles around the periphery, a phenomenon previously attributed to gravity.
Researchers identified a crown-shaped molecular pore in coronavirus replication compartments that may facilitate viral RNA export. This discovery offers a potential target for antiviral strategies against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses.
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster has left over 1,000 tanks containing contaminated water, with radioactive isotopes including tritium posing significant removal challenges. A full accounting of the remaining isotopes in each tank is needed to assess consequences of releasing them into the ocean.
Studies using realistic shaving experiments and in situ electron microscopy found that differences in cutting angle, microstructural variation, and location of variations contribute to blade failure. Implementing homogeneous microstructures at the cutting edge could be achieved through nanostructured alloys.
Researchers have developed a new method to map the magnetic field of the solar corona using near-infrared observations. The technique, presented in a recent study, can provide detailed maps of the coronal magnetic field across the entire observable corona.
A new study of over 44,000 species reveals herbivores have consistently faced the highest threat of extinction in modern times, past decades, and the late Pleistocene era. The research also shows that ocean predators are facing greater existential pressures than their land-dwelling counterparts.
A rapid and affordable test for breast cancer has been developed to combat delayed diagnoses in developing regions. The compact CytoPAN test uses image cytometry to analyze individual cells, yielding results in under 1 hour and requiring minimal training, making it ideal for resource-limited settings.
Studies found cross-reactive T cell epitopes in unexposed individuals, suggesting a potential for pre-existing immunity. The discovery sheds light on the mechanisms behind natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers identified a promising soluble variant of the human receptor for SARS-CoV-2 that competes with monoclonal antibodies. The variant, dubbed sACE2.v2.4, neutralizes both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 in cell-based assays.
Scientists have engineered antiviral compounds that can neutralize several types of coronaviruses, including COVID-19 and MERS. These compounds showed strong activity against SARS-CoV-2 and improved survival rates in mice infected with MERS.
A study found that countries with mandatory BCG vaccination until 2000 exhibited slower infection and death rates during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Researchers estimated that only 468 people would have died in the US if mandatory BCG vaccination had been implemented decades earlier.
Researchers have discovered that a single molecular descriptor can predict the solution behavior of therapeutic antibodies with greater than 90% accuracy. This finding could enable faster and more efficient drug development for monoclonal antibody-based therapies.
The COVID-19 pandemic's economic fallout has caused widespread income loss, particularly among the world's most poverty-stricken populations. Disruptions to agricultural supply chains have placed further strain on the global food system.
Researchers created a new mouse model to study viral responses and test COVID-19 vaccines. The model, based on an adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain, showed promise in protecting vaccinated mice from disease.
A new study finds that air pollution distribution has remained largely unchanged, with disadvantaged communities more likely to have higher levels of particulate pollution. The concentration of fine particulate air pollution has decreased by 70% since 1981 in the US, but socioeconomic disparities persist.
Deep-sea anglerfish have evolved a unique immune system that allows them to temporarily or permanently fuse with their mates without experiencing immune rejection. This altered immunity, which lacks adaptive immune functions, has helped facilitate the evolutionary success of these species.
A new physics-based model, κ-scheme, predicts imminent large solar flares more reliably than previous methods. The model forecasts solar flares up to 20 hours in advance and identifies their location and energy release.
A novel cell therapy using patient T cells has shown preliminary effectiveness in treating relapsed or treatment-resistant multiple myeloma. The treatment, which is safer than existing CAR T cells, improved survival rates and objective clinical responses in patients with active disease.
Most of Stonehenge's sarsen megaliths originate from West Woods, Wiltshire, according to a new analysis. The study used advanced techniques to determine the stones' chemical composition, revealing a common origin for the massive boulders.
A faster and less complicated SARS-CoV-2 testing method could aid in rapid isolation of infected people and prevent new outbreaks. Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is a promising alternative to current standard methods, though with lower sensitivity.
A new study found elevated levels of transforming growth factor beta-induced protein (TGFBIp) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, correlating with disease severity. The research suggests TGFBIp could serve as a viable therapeutic target to treat severe inflammation and cytokine storms in patients with severe COVID-19.
A new study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 infection drives the loss of smell by targeting non-neuronal cells in the nasal cavity. The virus expresses key genes in these cells, which are responsible for damage and anosmia.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in global seismic noise, with anthropogenic signals dropping by as much as 50% between March and May. This decrease allowed researchers to detect subtle seismic signals from subsurface sources, providing new insights into human-induced seismicity.
Researchers have engineered a more stable SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that generates higher yields in the lab, accelerating vaccine development. The new design, called HexaPro, enables industrial production of subunit vaccines and improves DNA or mRNA-based vaccines.
A new study models a 78% reduction in global plastic pollution by 2040 with immediate and coordinated action. However, even this best-case scenario predicts 710 million metric tons of plastic will still reach the environment.
Scientists charted SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Brazil, revealing that non-pharmaceutical interventions were insufficient to control the spread. The study found over 100 internationally-sourced virus introductions from Europe and estimates that more than 75% of Brazilian strains fell under three clades introduced during a specific period.
Researchers identified 134 previously unknown activities for 38 approved excipients, demonstrating direct activity against biologically relevant molecules. Several excipients exhibit evidence predictive of tissue-level toxicity, including thimerosal and cetylpyridinium.
A new study pushes back the earliest evidence for smallpox infection by nearly 1,000 years to the 7th century in northern Europe. The discovery of a previously unknown clade of the smallpox virus suggests it may have been widespread throughout Viking Age Europe.
Scientists have developed a wireless, optical cochlear implant that uses LED lights to restore hearing in deaf rats and gerbils. The device generates more selective signals than prior designs, offering improvements over current electrode-based implants.
Researchers developed a machine learning system that can detect social media posts involved in coordinated political influence campaigns based on their content features. The system uses word count, webpage links, and posting time as digital fingerprints to identify suspicious activity.
A new analysis of SARS-CoV-2 transmission data in China shows that faster identification and isolation of infected individuals contributed to the shortening of the average serial interval over time. This indicates that isolation effectively limits COVID-19 transmission by reducing opportunities for viral transmission.
The researchers report two new cryo-EM structures representing the pre- and postfusion conformations of the full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The findings suggest that current vaccine strategies may be relying on limited information about the natural state of the protein, highlighting the need for further evaluation.
A new nanoparticle vaccine, repRNA-CoV2S, has shown hints of protection and immunity in preclinical studies with mice and macaques. The vaccine elicited robust immune responses, producing antibodies and antiviral T cell responses, and demonstrated safety and efficacy.
A European modeling study shows that coordinated lockdown strategies can prevent resurgent COVID-19 outbreaks. The study found that synchronized cycles of interventions led to local elimination of COVID-19 cases in 90% of simulations, while unsynchronized cycles only achieved this 5% of the time.
Emerging evidence highlights T cells' role in protecting against viral infections, with antibody responses appearing short-lived and T cell memory potentially more durable. Standardized testing methods for T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 are needed to fully understand population-level immunity.
The study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 protein Nsp1 effectively shuts down the host's anti-viral immune response by binding to the ribosome and preventing protein production. This finding highlights the importance of targeting the interaction between Nsp1 and the ribosome as a potential therapeutic strategy.
A new hypercompact CRISPR enzyme, CasΦ, has been discovered in huge bacteriophages and provides a powerful tool for genome editing. It can target a wider range of genetic sequences than current CRISPR-Cas proteins, making it a promising alternative for cellular delivery.
Researchers used high-quality coral genomes to study variable responses to climate change and identify genetic variants associated with bleaching. They found a polygenic risk score could predict bleaching potential in the wild, while also revealing genetic diversity in heat stress response genes.
Inflammageing, an age-associated phenomenon of increased general inflammation, may inhibit overall immunity and reduce vaccination efficacy in older people. Strategies to mitigate related effects include senolytic drugs or anti-inflammatory therapies.
Researchers discovered that cancer cells with high-affinity iron collection systems collect iron more efficiently than healthy macrophages, allowing them to survive in nutrient-deprived CSF environments. This mechanism enables LM cells to evade immune attack by limiting the supply of vital iron to patrolling macrophages.
A new finger-stick test can estimate radiation exposure in mice with high accuracy, using microRNA biomarkers. The test distinguishes between various doses of radiation, including those requiring triage, and could improve acute radiation syndrome diagnosis and treatment.