news
Triggering an IgA response could increase COVID-19 vaccine efficacy
Two new studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA antibodies are more neutralising and therefore COVID-19 vaccines should encourage an IgA response.
List view / Grid view
Imaging, sequencing & screening
news
Microscopy reveals four classes of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies
Researchers show that neutralising antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein have four distinct structures.
news
Researchers provide new insights into SARS-CoV-2 lung pathology
The new study shows how SARS-CoV-2 significantly remodels cellular processes in just an hour and identifies potential drug targets and therapeutics for COVID-19.
article
Tracking SARS-CoV-2 with genome sequencing
Researchers have been tracking SARS-CoV-2 by sequencing the genomes of virus samples collected from diagnostic testing. They hope that using next-generation sequencing (NGS) on SARS-CoV-2 will help to accurately diagnose the novel coronavirus, identify mutations and track its history. This article explores the findings of their latest study and what…
article
Predicting COVID-19 susceptibility and severity
Recent reports suggest that both clinical and genetic risk factors may contribute to COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Catherine Ball, Chief Scientific Officer of Ancestry®, discusses results of the company’s COVID-19 Research Study, designed to explore non-genetic and genetic associations with disease outcomes.
news
New virus-like probes could make COVID-19 tests more accurate and reliable
The novel probes, known as positive controls, could make it easier to validate rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests for COVID-19 across the globe.
news
Drug target to tackle COVID-19 inflammatory processes identified
Researchers have shown that the presence of the inflammasome mediated by NLRP3 is a marker and drug target for COVID-19-related cytokine storms.
news
Researchers discover how SARS-CoV-2 reaches the brain
A new study has identified the mechanisms through which the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the brain and how the immune system responds once it does.
article
Tweaking synonymous sites for gene therapy and vaccines
Professor Laurence D Hurst explains why understanding the nucleotide mutations in viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can have significant implications for vaccine design.
news
More COVID-19 research on mucosal immune system required, scientists say
Researchers have said that more COVID-19 studies should focus on the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, to reveal insights into SARS-CoV-2 immunity.
news
SARS-CoV-2 mutations do not increase transmissibility, research shows
Having analysed the SARS-CoV-2 genomes from over 46,723 patients, researchers have found no mutations that increase transmissibility.
news
SARS-CoV-2 immune cells remain in body, providing rapid response to re-infection
A research team has shown that T-cell responses specific to SARS-CoV-2 remain in the body after infection, providing immunity from mild re-infection.
article
Development of a physiologically relevant lung model for understanding SARS-CoV-2 infection
COVID-19 is known to infect the lungs; however, the dynamics of viral infection and replication are poorly understood. Alongside the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Professor Lyle Armstrong and colleagues have been working to develop a human lung epithelium model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication. In this article, he describes…
article
Investigating cellular pathways driving severe COVID-19 with proteomics
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have studied several thousand circulating proteins within the plasma proteome of symptomatic COVID-19 patients and acutely ill non-COVID-19 controls. Nikki Withers discussed their findings and implications of the study with one of the lead authors, Dr Mike Filbin.
article
COVID-19 In-Depth Focus 2020
This in-depth focus features articles on neuropilin-1, a potential new target for COVID-19 drug development, the creation of a lung model to enhance our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infections and using proteomics to uncover the mechanisms behind COVID-19 symptom severity.
