In a recent report posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers from the United Kingdom and Uganda reveal unique protein features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) relative to other representatives of Sarbecoviruses. The causative agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2, belongs to the Betacoronavirus genus and Sarbecovirus subgenus of the […]
Snap lockdown ordered in Australia’s Brisbane after virus outbreak
More than two million people in Brisbane were ordered into a three-day lockdown Monday after a cluster of coronavirus cases was detected in Australia’s third-biggest city. It is the second snap lockdown of the greater Brisbane area this year, and comes after seven people tested positive for COVID-19—the first significant community outbreak in Australia in […]
IONTAS identifies novel SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies
IONTAS Limited (IONTAS) and FairJourney Biologics S.A (FJB)., leaders in the discovery and optimization of fully human antibodies, have announced the identification of neutralizing antibodies, which bind to multiple emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. The results, generated from a combination of phage display technology and B-cell receptor repertoire sequencing of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, have identified potent neutralizing […]
Blocking folate metabolism could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in infected cells
The novel beta-coronavirus virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and coronaviruses, in general, alter the host's cellular metabolism to support massive production of ~30 kB viral genomes and subgenomic viral RNAs. However, how this is achieved is largely unknown. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the Broad Institute […]
Study reveals unknown immune defense system that protects the lungs from viral infections
Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown arm of the immune defense system that protects the lung from lethal viral infections. Respiratory diseases caused by viruses such as influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 cause damage not just through their own actions, but also from collateral damage as the immune system reacts to fight the infection. A timely […]
New software provides detailed picture of diversity of COVID-19 virus variants
“B.1.1.7.” “B.1.351.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic, these were just a series of arbitrary letters and numbers. Now, we understand these as ‘variants of concern,’ versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with unique genetic codes. These variants represent just two branches on an enormous tree of the virus’ genetic diversity. As the virus transmits from person to […]
New software provides detailed picture of diversity of COVID-19 virus variants
“B.1.1.7.” “B.1.351.” Before the COVID-19 pandemic, these were just a series of arbitrary letters and numbers. Now, we understand these as ‘variants of concern,’ versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with unique genetic codes. These variants represent just two branches on an enormous tree of the virus’ genetic diversity. As the virus transmits from person to […]
Study says air pollution played a role in early U.S. COVID-19 outbreak
Exposure to particulate matter — a mixture of liquid and solid particles suspended in the air that ranges from dust to airborne transmission of viral droplets — has been harmful to human health. Research led by Maria de Fatima Andrade from the University of São Paulo in Brazil found particulate matter plays a significant role […]
Researchers report zoonotic spillover of adapted SARS-CoV-2 from minks to humans
In a recent report made available on bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers from Poland and Finland reveal a spillover event of mink-adapted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from farmed mink to humans after an extensive adaptation process. Study: Zoonotic spillover of SARS-CoV-2: mink-adapted virus in humans. Image Credit: An inspiration / Shutterstock Even before […]
Apoptosis is an important mediator of pathogenesis in animal coronavirus infection
Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death, which occurs in cells that are irreparably damaged or in cells infected by some viruses. This mechanism is extremely important in limiting a virus’s replication and its spread to other neighboring cells. A new paper in the journal Life presents an early review of the viral factors […]