Research on the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself. Covers antiviral trials, antibody neutralization, viral escape, and rapid detection methods.
An experimental COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated robust immune responses and rapid viral control in the upper and lower airways of rhesus macaques. The vaccine reduced replicating virus in the lungs and upper airway, which could limit disease progression and transmission.
A Phase 3 clinical trial has begun to test the safety and efficacy of the mRNA-1273 vaccine in preventing symptomatic COVID-19. The trial enrolls approximately 30,000 adult volunteers and aims to determine if the vaccine can provide long-lasting protection against the virus.
An observational study found SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among asymptomatic healthcare workers and community residents in Texas to be concerning. The study's results highlight the need for enhanced safety measures to prevent transmission of the virus.
Researchers evaluated SARS-CoV-2 presence in myocardial tissue from COVID-19 autopsy cases, finding a significant association between the two conditions. The study suggests that COVID-19 may be linked to an increased risk of cardiac complications.
Researchers investigated the potential therapeutic effects of dipyridamole on severely ill patients with COVID-19. The study found that dipyridamole supplementation significantly decreased D-dimer concentrations and improved clinical outcomes in comparison to control patients, suggesting its anticoagulation and antiviral effects.
A new mRNA-based vaccine candidate, ARCoV, elicits protective immunity in mice and non-human primates, preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. The vaccine induces high levels of neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses, offering broad protection against different strains.
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.
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 analyzed county-level factors to understand SARS-CoV-2 reproduction numbers in the US. The study found that social distancing measures, population density, temperature, and other factors contributed to variations in reproduction numbers.
A new study suggests that hotels can increase tourists' intentions to visit once the crisis ends by humanizing their brand and creating an emotional attachment. This approach emphasizes shared emotional responses to risks, rather than focusing on cognitive, rational aspects of risk perceptions.
Researchers have isolated potent neutralizing antibodies from COVID-19 patients that can provide significant protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These antibodies could be used to treat patients early in infection or prevent infection in elderly individuals.
A diagnostic study compared the effectiveness of self-collected midnasal swabs and clinician-collected nasopharyngeal swabs in detecting SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that unsupervised midnasal swabs were comparable to clinician-collected nasopharyngeal swabs.
Georgia State University researchers have received a $200,000 grant to develop a COVID-19 test tool that detects SARS-CoV-2 using electrochemistry. The technology offers several benefits, including fast turnaround time and decreased false negative outcomes.
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 study captures the spike protein's shape change, showing how it can fuse with host membranes without ACE2 receptor binding. The researchers propose two conformational changes: one dependent on ACE2 and another independent.
Researchers created a hybrid virus that targets cells like SARS-CoV-2 but lacks severe disease genes. The hybrid virus can be handled under ordinary laboratory safety conditions, making it ideal for high-throughput analyses.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have created new surrogate viruses to test neutralizing antibody activity against SARS-CoV-2, enabling rapid testing in biosafety level 2 labs. The tools will help assess vaccine efficacy and develop antibody-based therapies.
The study finds that US and Chinese scientists are intensifying their collaborations, producing over 1,600 articles in the first four months of 2020. China has become the world leader in funding coronavirus research since COVID-19 was discovered.
Researchers studied convenience samples from 10 US geographic sites to estimate SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence. The study found varying levels of antibodies across different regions.
The phase 1/2 trial found the vaccine induces strong antibody and T cell immune responses, and causes minor side effects more frequently than a control group. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the vaccine's effectiveness in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Researchers at UC Davis Health are testing a new antibody cocktail, REGN-COV2, to prevent and treat COVID-19. The clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the REGN-COV2 antibodies in hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19.
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 Kansas State University study is the first to confirm that SARS-CoV-2 cannot be transmitted to people by mosquitoes, debunking a long-standing theory. The virus was found unable to replicate in three common mosquito species, ruling out human transmission via these vectors.
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.
Texas A&M University researchers are producing COVID-19 spike proteins to detect antibodies that can block the virus from binding to cells. The goal is to find effective treatments and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
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.
Researchers found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a volunteer blood donor 40 days after resolution of COVID-19-like symptoms. This detection raises concerns about the risk to blood supply safety, as current guidelines do not recommend screening for SARS-CoV-2 in allogeneic donors.
Researchers developed a simple agglutination assay to detect COVID-19 antibodies in plasma samples within 20 minutes. This test can identify recent cases and aid clinical trials, with potential for widespread use in high-risk countries.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that heparin, a common blood thinner, can effectively neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The drug binds tightly to the surface spike protein of the virus, preventing it from infecting human cells and potentially reducing the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
A surface coating developed by Virginia Tech professor William Ducker has been shown to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, by 99.9% in one hour when applied to glass or stainless steel surfaces.
Research finds obesity and metabolic syndrome to be risk factors for severe disease from viral infections. Patients with these conditions are at increased risk of developing severe pneumonia and a cytokine storm that damages lung tissue, making them more susceptible to severe illness from influenza and COVID-19.
A study published in JAMA found that after universal masking was implemented at Mass General Brigham, the rate of COVID-19 infection among health care workers dropped significantly. The positivity rate decreased linearly from 15% to 11% after the policy was implemented.
A new study found that patients with fewer or milder symptoms have a higher SARS-CoV-2 viral load when diagnosed, which may carry a higher risk of transmission. The study also linked higher viral loads to cancer and cardiovascular disease after adjusting for age.
A recent study claiming the coronavirus may have jumped from dogs to humans lacks direct evidence, according to a collaborative group of international researchers. The team refuted the earlier study, highlighting that dogs are not special in their content of proteins that interact with viral CpG content.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified a common molecular feature in human antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2, which could lead to the development of effective vaccines. The study found that boosting levels of these potent antibodies, encoded by the IGHV3-53 gene, may provide adequate protection against COVID-19.
Researchers analyzed nearly 300 human SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and found IGHV3-53 is the most frequently used gene for targeting the virus spike protein. This gene leads to highly potent antibodies with lower mutation rates, making them promising for vaccine design.
A recent article in Nature Reviews Microbiology calls for more research into bats' molecular biology and ecology to predict and prevent the next pandemic. Bats carry a vast number of viruses, with evidence linking different species to human outbreaks of SARS, MERS, Ebola, and other diseases.
A recent study reports evidence of intrauterine transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to infant, highlighting the importance of protecting pregnant women from COVID-19. The findings suggest that infection can occur during pregnancy, and researchers emphasize the need for further research into mechanisms and risk factors.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center report that remdesivir potently inhibited SARS-CoV-2 in human lung cell cultures and improved lung function in mice. The study provides the first rigorous demonstration of potent inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers must consider factors like population immunity, social distancing, and baseline immunity when evaluating vaccine efficacy. Adequate sample sizes are needed to demonstrate vaccine effectiveness, which may be influenced by COVID-19 severity in vaccinated individuals.
Researchers characterised the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in high resolution and compared it to a bat coronavirus. The study found significant differences at receptor-binding sites, making the SARS-CoV-2 spike more stable and bind to human cells around 1,000 times tighter.
Researchers have isolated highly potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies that could provide protection against COVID-19 for several weeks. These near-germline antibodies show promise for use in prevention and treatment, including post-exposure prophylaxis to stop local outbreaks.
Rutgers researchers conclude that asthma sufferers are no worse affected by SARS-CoV-2 than non-asthmatic individuals, despite older age and comorbid conditions being reported risk factors for COVID-19. Further study is needed to understand the physiological basis of this phenomenon.
Researchers identify four promising antiviral drug candidates that block SARS-CoV-2 replication by targeting the main protease enzyme. The most effective compound, GC-376, demonstrates potent chemical and structural interactions with the viral protein, making it a potential candidate for repurposing as a COVID-19 treatment.
A specific change in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus virus genome, D614G, makes a small but effective change in the virus's 'Spike' protein, increasing its infectivity in cell culture. The variant has become the prevalent form globally, with tracking data showing its emergence in every geographic level.
A preprint about a coronavirus variant with a mutation leading to increased transmissibility underwent significant changes upon peer review. The revised paper presents additional experimental and clinical data suggesting the variant may be more infectious, but its impact on disease severity remains uncertain.
Researchers from WRAIR and partners discuss the need for controlled human infection models (CHIMs) to study SARS-CoV-2, but note they won't advance current vaccines. CHIMs could provide valuable insights into vaccine efficacy and the virus's progression within the body.
The NIH ACTIV working group assesses practical considerations for using controlled human infection models to support SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development. The authors conclude that large, randomized trials are the fastest path forward for establishing vaccine safety and efficacy.
A recent study in the quarantined Italian town of Vò found that nearly 40% of COVID-19 cases showed no symptoms, emphasizing the role of asymptomatic transmission. The study suggests that widespread testing, isolating infected people, and community lockdowns effectively controlled the outbreak.
A library of molecules with unique structural and chemical features have been identified to shut down the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase reaction, a key drug target for COVID-19. Five of these molecules are already FDA-approved for use in treating other viral infections.
A new study by Cedars-Sinai shows that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect heart muscle cells, which may contribute to COVID-related heart disease. The research used stem cell technology to create heart cells susceptible to infection and found that treatment with an ACE2 antibody could blunt viral replication.
Researchers found SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in COVID-19 patients and 2 uninfected controls, supporting the development of protective virus-specific T cells. The study suggests that these T cells can increase over time, especially for those with severe respiratory symptoms.
Researchers propose that MMR vaccination could provide protection against COVID-19 in children, based on sequence similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and measles viruses. Experimental research is needed to support this hypothesis and confirm the duration of protection.
Researchers reviewed multiple databases to examine the effectiveness of various masks in preventing respiratory virus infections. They found that N95 respirators may reduce SARS-CoV-1 risk versus surgical masks in healthcare settings, but applicability to SARSCoV-2 is uncertain.
A new study found that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients can spread the virus to their surroundings, contaminating surfaces and air, making family members and healthcare workers at risk. Environmental cleaning is crucial in these situations.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center found that far-UVC light can safely kill more than 99.9% of seasonal coronaviruses present in airborne droplets. Continuous exposure to far-UVC light could greatly reduce the level of airborne virus in indoor environments occupied by people.
Researchers used a structure-based approach to virtually screen antiviral compounds against SARS-CoV-2, identifying potential candidates for repurposed therapies and new vaccines. The study found high-affinity binding of several antiviral drugs to the spike protein and main protease, revealing promising leads for further research.
UC Davis Health researchers outline three potential mechanisms of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to fetus, emphasizing the importance of understanding timing and infection routes. Intrapartum or early postnatal infection can occur through exposure to infected maternal blood or secretions.
Researchers analyzed UK mortality statistics from December 2019 to March 2020 and found a lower death rate compared to previous years. Early social distancing measures, such as hand washing and staying home when unwell, may have contributed to this reduction in deaths.
Studies suggest ultraviolet light is an efficient method to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission in indoor spaces. By irradiating UV-C sources inside ventilation systems, airborne and surface-deposited viruses can be quickly deactivated, protecting millions of workers worldwide.