Coronaviruses
Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital have published a new study examining the development of anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) after two doses of BNT162b2 in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients and immunocompetent controls. The study found that immune responses to BNT162b2 are inferior in SOT recipients compared to healthy
Coronaviruses
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have developed a high-sensitivity assay for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigen in respiratory samples, enabling the quantification and tracking of antigen burden in individuals with COVID-19. This assay, known as the Microbubbling SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay (MSAA), has been shown to accurately identify positives and negatives with
Coronaviruses
Vaccination against COVID-19 is crucial to prevent severe illness and death among children, particularly those under 5 years old. During the first 2 months of vaccine rollout in November and December 2021, only 24.0% of US children 511 years of age received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, with rapid
Coronaviruses
New research from Colorado State University has identified a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19, using a novel glucocorticoid and androgen receptor modulator that reduces viral entry and inflammatory responses in the Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study, published in Frontiers in Immunology, highlights the potential of PT150 to
Coronaviruses
Canada has taken a significant step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic with the approval of a new vaccine developed by Medicago, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Quebec City, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The vaccine, COVIFENZ, is a plant-based virus-like particles (VLP) vaccine that has been approved for
Coronaviruses
Research conducted at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evaluated the efficacy of commercially available antimicrobial coatings or films against the SARS-CoV-2 virus on non-porous surfaces. Products were tested on stainless steel and ABS plastic coupons, with varying concentrations of 3-(trihydroxysilyl) propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride showing the most effective
Coronaviruses
A recent study conducted by researchers at Jeju National University School of Medicine in South Korea has found that a COVID-19 vaccine, specifically the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, maintains an antibody response in healthcare workers for at least six months after the second dose. The study, published in Frontiers in
Coronaviruses
Immunocompromised patients are particularly susceptible to severe complications from COVID-19, making effective vaccination a critical concern. Research has shown that two mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, have excellent efficacy in healthy adults but diminished activity in immunocompromised individuals. A recent study measured the antibody response, avidity, and neutralizing activity in
Coronaviruses
Research presented at a Milan, Italy university has suggested a potential link between vitamin D status and susceptibility to and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in kidney transplanted patients. The study found that patients with lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were more likely to contract SARS-CoV-2, but no
Coronaviruses
Research findings from a study at the Medical University of Warsaw suggest that measures introduced to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, have been effective in reducing lower respiratory tract infections. According to the study, there was an 81% decline in hospital admissions for lower respiratory
Coronaviruses
New research conducted by the University of Manchester has assessed the diagnostic accuracy of rapid point-of-care tests for diagnosing current SARS-CoV-2 infections in children. The study, published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine journal, analyzed 17 studies involving 6,355 pediatric participants. The results showed that the pooled overall diagnostic sensitivity
Coronaviruses
The Labor Department reported that the number of posted jobs rose 1.4% to 10.9 million on December 31, marking a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels but falling short of the record 11.1 million reached in July. The data suggests that companies were eager to hire workers last
