Antibodies and SARS-CoV-2 infections: Tthe more the better
Oxford University Hospital tracked infections in 12,500 of its healthcare workers. Enlarge / Oxford University is associated with the hospital that ran this study, as well as a vaccine that is currently undergoing clinical trials. (credit: Gallo.....»»
German and Austrian deer thus far spared SARS-CoV-2 infections, unlike US deer
In North America, SARS-CoV-2 has spread from humans to white-tailed deer. The deer are now considered SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs and may even spill virus back to humans. A science team headed by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz.....»»
Fungus foils invading hordes of crazy ants, and that’s great for Texas
Fungal infections spread rapidly through crazy ant populations, wiped out 62% entirely. Enlarge / Tawny crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva) feeding on a cricket. (credit: Lawrence E. Gilbert) Several years ago, staffers at Estero L.....»»
TSMC says production unaffected by COVID lockdown in Shanghai
China has started locking down Shanghai in two phases for mass Covid-19 testing starting today (March 28) amid a resurgence of coronavirus infections. TSMC and other Taiwan-based high-tech firms with manufacturing sites in Shanghai have all conducted.....»»
Potent alpaca nanobodies neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed a novel strategy for identifying potent miniature antibodies, so-called nanobodies, against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. The approach led to the discovery of multiple nanobodies that in c.....»»
Study provides clues on why some bad infections persist
A new study led by researchers at University of Utah Health details a novel mechanism that infectious bacteria use to quickly adjust to environmental stress. The discovery could help explain why certain types of common infections—such as urinary tr.....»»
Moderna reports good COVID vaccine results for kids
Though antibody levels looked strong, efficacy against omicron infections took an expected hit. Enlarge / Avery, 6, and Aidan, 11, got their second Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center on Frida.....»»
New study defines spread of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer
North American white-tailed deer—shown in 2021 surveys of five states to have SARS-CoV-2 infection rates of up to 40%—shed and transmit the virus for up to five days once infected, according to a new study......»»
Effectiveness of antibiotics significantly reduced when multiple bugs present
A study has found that much higher doses of antibiotics are needed to eliminate a bacterial infection of the airways when other microbes are present. It helps explain why respiratory infections often persist in people with lung diseases such as cysti.....»»
Hundreds of GoDaddy-Hosted Sites Backdoored In a Single Day
Internet security analysts have spotted a spike in backdoor infections on WordPress websites hosted on GoDaddy's Managed WordPress service, all featuring an identical backdoor payload. The case affects internet service resellers such as MediaTemple,.....»»
COVID cases are again on the rise globally as testing, health measures decline
BA.2 is now accounting for about 75% of SARS-CoV-2 sequences worldwide. Enlarge / World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (L) and WHO Technical Lead Maria Van Kerkhove attend a daily press briefing o.....»»
New research reveals clues to how antibodies become fine-tuned to fight infection
Researchers at the University of Alberta have uncovered new information about a cellular mechanism in the immune system that provides a critical step toward better understanding how antibodies evolve and improve in the human body......»»
Coronavirus lockdown in Shenzhen and Dongguan disrupting handset supply chain
China's smartphone suppliers are facing another ordeal after Shenzhen and Dongguan authorities announced week-long lockdowns to curb rising COVID-19 infections......»»
Delta-omicron recombinant virus no reason for panic, health experts say
The hybrid virus is rare, and data on spread and disease severity is not concerning. Enlarge / Transmission electron micrograph of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle isolated from a patient sample and cultivated in cell culture. (credit: Get.....»»
From quantum vibrations to nanodiamonds, unusual toolbox puts dangerous SARS-CoV-2 variants under surveillance
With each new SARS-CoV-2 variant that has emerged, global panic ensues to determine its level of threat. But a group of quantum biologists, engineers, and virus physicists think we already have the tools to more easily detect—and stop—dangerous c.....»»
Extensive study finds small drop in brain volume after COVID-19
The changes are focused in areas linked to the olfactory system. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Infection by SARS-CoV-2 causes a dizzying array of symptoms beyond the respiratory distress that is its most notable feature. Thes.....»»
New 3D atomistic imagery of SARS-CoV-2 shows how virus uses spike protein to fuse with and infect human cells
New computer models and simulations from Los Alamos National Laboratory are showing researchers how the virus that causes COVID-19 manages to use its spike protein to fuse with and infect human cells. To be presented at the March meeting of the Ameri.....»»
How stress hormones guide bacteria in their host
In humans and animals, catecholamines such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine are common stress hormones. Stress can increase the body's susceptibility to bacterial infections. In the laboratory, stress hormones stimulate the growth of vari.....»»
"Fingerprint" machine learning technique identifies different bacteria in seconds
Bacterial identification can take hours and often longer, precious time when diagnosing infections and selecting appropriate treatments. There may be a quicker, more accurate process according to researchers at KAIST. By teaching a deep learning algo.....»»
Targeted enzymes destroy virus RNA
A research team led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has successfully used specific enzymes to destroy the genetic information of SARS-CoV-2 directly after the virus penetrates the cell. The findings could serve as the basis for a therapy.....»»
Genome sequence of COVID in a cat nearly identical to viral sequences found in people
Since being identified in people in 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has gone on to infect a wide range of animal species, wild and domestic. Concerns abound that these species jumps could lead to novel mutations and even harmful new variants......»»