Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

Study calls for review on nutritional value of subsidized food items

The nutritional benefit of rice and sugar distributed by a national food subsidy program in India may be limited, says new research published today.

22 Jul 2020

Scientist receives DoD grant to develop freeze-dried synthetic platelets

A Case Western Reserve University scientist, who has for more than a decade pioneered research into synthetic platelet substitutes, has been awarded a $3.8 million grant by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to develop freeze-dried artificial platelets that can treat bleeding in wounded soldiers in the battlefield before they can be taken to a hospital.

22 Jul 2020

Researchers comprehensively describe the 'human tissue virome atlas'

Human-resident microbes can influence both health and disease. Investigating the microbiome using next-generation sequencing technology has revealed examples of mutualism and conflict between microbes and humans.

22 Jul 2020

Hybrid virus infects cells, interacts with antibodies just like COVID-19 virus

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

22 Jul 2020

New tools developed to test the ability of antibodies to neutralize SARS-CoV-2

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.

22 Jul 2020

Advanced cryo-EM reveals stunning details of viral RNA replication complex structure

For the first time, scientists at the Morgridge Institute for Research have generated near atomic resolution images of a major viral protein complex responsible for replicating the RNA genome of a member of the positive-strand RNA viruses, the large class of viruses that includes coronaviruses and many other pathogens.

21 Jul 2020

Study shows how the coronavirus disarms the body’s innate immune system

Scientists have established how SARS-CoV-2 suppresses the production of proteins in infected cells and how this virus effectively disarms the immune system.

20 Jul 2020

SARS-CoV-2 protein effectively shuts down host protein production, shows study

A detailed study of a SARS-Cov-2 protein, Nsp1, with a central role in weakening the host anti-viral immune response shows that it effectively shuts down production ofproteins in the host.

20 Jul 2020

Using blood samples to detect positive COVID-19 cases in 20 minutes

World-first research by Monash University in Australia has been able to detect positive COVID-19 cases using blood samples in about 20 minutes, and identify whether someone has contracted the virus.

20 Jul 2020

Durable coating for hard surfaces could help eliminate foodborne germs

In the future, a durable coating could help keep food-contact surfaces clean in the food processing industry, including in meat processing plants.

17 Jul 2020

Study uncovers virus-specific T cell immunity in recovered COVID-19 and SARS patients

The T cells, along with antibodies, are an integral part of the human immune response against viral infections due to their ability to directly target and kill infected cells.

17 Jul 2020

Researchers identify key enzyme that drives the production of ribosomes

Scientists have demonstrated that an enzyme fuels the production of ribosomes—the molecular machines that synthesize all cellular proteins.

From University of Toronto 17 Jul 2020

High amount of SARS-Cov-2 receptor is present in patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions

Nearly 20% of all COVID-19-associated deaths are from cardiac complications, yet the mechanisms from which these complications arise have remained a topic of debate in the cardiology community.

15 Jul 2020

Researchers engineer new nanobodies from Ilama blood cells against COVID-19 infection

UK scientists declared recently that antibodies extracted from llamas have been demonstrated to neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus in laboratory tests.

14 Jul 2020

UTMB researchers uncover new mechanism for designing dengue therapeutics

A multidisciplinary team from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has uncovered a new mechanism for designing antiviral drugs for dengue virus. The study is currently available in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

14 Jul 2020

NIH establishes clinical trial network to test vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has established a new clinical trial network that aims to enroll thousands of volunteers in large-scale clinical trials testing a variety of investigational vaccines and monoclonal antibodies intended to protect people from COVID-19.

14 Jul 2020

Scientists identify a simple way to address global water crisis

Lasers etch a simple way to address global water crisis. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, people in developed countries are assured of ample supplies of clean water to wash their hands as often as needed to protect themselves from the disease.

14 Jul 2020

Modeling research shows increase in HIV, TB, and malaria deaths due to COVID-19 pandemic

But there is still an opportunity to substantially reduce the death toll by prioritizing the most critical services, specifically antiretroviral therapy for HIV, timely TB diagnosis and treatment, and provision of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets for malaria, researchers say.

14 Jul 2020

Analysis of nearly 300 new SARS-CoV-2 antibodies reveals a common feature

An analysis of nearly 300 recently identified human SARS-CoV-2 antibodies uncovered a gene frequently used in antibodies that most effectively target the virus. The results contribute to growing structural insight that will be needed for successful vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2.

14 Jul 2020

Beta blockers can increase risk of heart failure in women more than men

Women taking beta blockers for hypertension with no prior history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have a nearly 5% higher risk for heart failure than men when they present to hospital with acute coronary syndrome, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

14 Jul 2020