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Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (red) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient sample. Image credit: NIAID.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein’s Structure Hints at Key to High Infection Rate

May 6, 2020 by News Staff

An analysis and structural modeling of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the area of the virus that facilitates entry into a cell, reveals a unique feature...

Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a VERO E6 cell (blue) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (orange), isolated from a patient sample. Image credit: NIAID.

Scientists Identify SARS-CoV-2-Neutralizing Antibody

May 5, 2020 by News Staff

A team of researchers from Utrecht University, the Erasmus Medical Center and Harbour BioMed has identified a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes...

Transmission electron microscopy analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infected intestinal organoids: (a to h) overview of an intact organoid (a) showing the onset of virus infection (b to d) at different stages of the viral lifecycle, i.e., early double membrane vesicles (DMVs); (e), asterisk, initial viral production in the Golgi apparatus (f and g) and complete occupation of virus particles inside the endomembrane system (h); (i to k) extracellular viruses are observed in the lumen of the organoid (i), and are found at the basal (j) and apical side (k) alongside the microvilli (arrows). Scale bars - 10 μm (a), 2.5 μm (b to d), 250 nm (e), (f), and (h to k) and 100 nm (g). (l to q) Overview of an organoid (l) showing severely infected cells (m and o), disintegrated cells (o) and stressed cells as evident from the atypical nucleoli (p); intact cells reveal DMV areas of viral replication (p), asterisks, and infected Golgi apparatus (q); (r) extracellular clusters of viruses. Scale bars - 10 μm (l), 2.5 μm (m to p) and 250 nm (p to r). Image credit: Lamers et al, doi: 10.1126/science.abc1669.

SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Can Infect Gut Enterocytes

May 5, 2020 by News Staff

SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease, can infect enterocytes in the intestine and multiply there, according to a study by researchers...

Cryo-EM structure of the remdesivir and RNA bound RdRp complex: (A and B) two views of cryo-EM map (A) and structure (B) of the nsp12-nsp7-nsp8 in complex with template-primer RNA and remdesivir; (C) surface view of the RdRp active site with the electrostatic potential from red (negative) to blue (positive); for clarity, residues 410-442, 834-919 of nsp12 and nsp8 are excluded from the figure; the covalently bound remdesivir in the monophosphate form and the product, pyrophosphate, are shown; the active site is emphasized with a yellow dashed circle; the template groove, the entrance for NTP and the elongation direction are annotated with different colored arrows; (D) a close view of the RdRp active site, showing the covalently bound RMP, pyrophosphate, and magnesium ions; key residues and bases that interact with remdesivir are shown; (E and F) superposition of the conserved RdRp motifs (A to G) of the RNA bound complex with the apo structure colored in gray, with a close view at the active site (E) and at the exit of the template and primer strand (F). Image credit: Yi et al, doi: 10.1126/science.abc1560.

Study Sheds New Light on Remdesivir’s Mechanism of Action against SARS-CoV-2

May 4, 2020 by News Staff

In a paper published in the journal Science, a team of researchers from China reports the structure of the antiviral drug remdesivir bound to both a molecule...

A new lateral flow immunoassay can detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, which appear as a bright orange line when placed on a fluorescence reader (right). Image credit: Guanfeng Lin.

Chinese Scientists Develop New Test to Detect SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies

Apr 30, 2020 by News Staff

A team of researchers in China has developed a quick and sensitive test to detect IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus behind the COVID-19...

Zhang et al show an association between the reported cure rates for COVID-19 and selenium status. Image credit: Gerd Altmann.

New Study Identifies Link between Dietary Selenium and COVID-19 Cure Rate

Apr 30, 2020 by News Staff

In a new study, a team of researchers from the UK, the United States and China investigated possible links between selenium levels in the body and cure...

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 panel issued recommendations to help support healthcare workers caring for critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19. Image credit: Rosario ‘Charo’ Gutierrez, U.S. Air Force.

Social Distancing Worked in Wuhan and Shanghai, Says New Study

Apr 29, 2020 by News Staff

An analysis of contact survey data from 636 participants in Wuhan and 557 participants in Shanghai, China, finds that social distancing alone, as implemented...

Scientists Review Strategies for Combating SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses

Apr 24, 2020 by News Staff

In a paper published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, a team of researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill review possible...

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow) isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Image credit: NIAID.

Could COVID-19 Pandemic Be Controlled Using Existing Vaccines Like MMR or BCG?

Apr 23, 2020 by The Conversation

The race is on to develop a vaccine that can protect us from the COVID-19 pandemic. An impressive 115 vaccine candidates are currently being investigated,...

Study Reveals New Clues about Biology of COVID-19

Apr 22, 2020 by News Staff

A new study published in the journal Cell pinpoints the likely cell types SARS-CoV-2, a new coronavirus behind the COVID-19 disease, infects; it also shows...

A new test quickly detects SARS-CoV-2 (spheres) through binding to antibodies (Y-shapes) on a field-effect transistor. Image credit: Seo et al, doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c02823.

New Biosensor Rapidly Detects SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus in Nasopharyngeal Swabs

Apr 21, 2020 by News Staff

A team of researchers in the Republic of Korea has successfully fabricated a promising transistor-based biosensor that detects SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus...

This rendering depicts the secretion of cytokines, the tiny pink bits, from a cell. Image credit: Scientificanimations.com / CC BY-SA 4.0.

Antibody-Like Proteins May Halt COVID-19 Cytokine Storm

Apr 21, 2020 by News Staff

Cytokines are signaling proteins that stimulate inflammation and other immune responses. ‘Cytokine storm,’ or cytokine release syndrome, plays a critical...

The structure of a coronavirus. Image credit: Scientificanimations.com / CC BY-SA 4.0.

Scientists Propose New Approach to Analyze Genetic Sequences of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus

Apr 20, 2020 by News Staff

Researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have developed a new visualization platform, underpinned by bioinformatics...

Colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (green) heavily infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient sample. Image credit: NIAID.

Genetic Variability in Immune System May Affect Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2

Apr 20, 2020 by News Staff

Genetic variability in the human immune system may affect susceptibility to and severity of infection by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus which causes the...

Neutrophils forming NETs in cell culture. Note the expelled DNA strings (arrows). Scanning electron microscopy of neutrophils 3 h after plating and coculturing with 4T1 breast cancer cells. Scale bar - 25 µm. Image credit: Barnes et al, doi: 10.1084/jem.20200652.

Study Links Neutrophil Infiltration in Lungs to COVID-19 Symptoms

Apr 17, 2020 by News Staff

A little known yet powerful function of overactive white blood cells known as neutrophils — the ability to form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)...

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes consumption of whole fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish, and olive oil, as well as reduced consumption of red meat and alcohol. Image credit: Julia Pastel100.

Mediterranean Diet May Help Preserve Cognitive Function

Apr 15, 2020 by News Staff

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet correlates with higher cognitive function, according to a new study led by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of...

Clarke et al demonstrate the capacity to simultaneously ventilate two test lungs of different compliances, and using only standard hospital equipment, modify the delivered pressure, flow, and volume in each test lung. Image credit: Monash University.

Coping with COVID-19: Australian Scientists Successfully Test Ventilator Splitting in Simulated Setting

Apr 14, 2020 by News Staff

A team of researchers from the Royal Women’s Hospital, Monash University and the Alfred Hospital has successfully tested, in a simulated environment,...

Intracortical grafts of human long-term self-renewing neuroepithelial-like stem (lt-NES) cell-derived cortical neurons project extensively in stroke-injured rat brain: (A) location of illustrated areas; (B-D) fibers immunoreactive for human cytoplasmic marker STEM121 in the transplant core (B), corpus callosum (C), and peri-infarct area (D). Scale bar - 200 μm. Image credit: Palma-Tortosa et al, doi: 10.1073/pnas.2000690117.

Scientists Restore Mobility and Sensation of Touch in Stroke-Injured Rats

Apr 13, 2020 by News Staff

In a new experiment on rats, a team of researchers at Lund University has shown that by transplanting human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived...

Active cigarette smoking and COPD up-regulate ACE2 expression in lower airways, which in part may explain the increased risk of severe COVID-19 in these populations. Image credit: Leung et al, doi: 10.1183/13993003.00688-2020.

Smokers, COPD Patients Have High Levels of Coronavirus ‘Entry Point’ Enzyme in Their Lungs

Apr 13, 2020 by News Staff

According to a new study published in the European Respiratory Journal, smokers and individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have...