SARS-CoV-2: Neutralization of BA.1 and BA.2 by therapeutic monoclonal antibodies
Scientists studied the sensitivity of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 to nine monoclonal antibodies, some of which are used in pre-exposure prophylaxis in immunocompromised individuals. The scientists showed a loss of neutralizing activity against BA.1 and BA......»»
Novel hydrogel finds new aptamers, or "chemical antibodies," in days
One double-helix strand of DNA could extend six feet, but it is so tightly coiled that it packs an entire sequence of nucleotides into the tiny nucleus of a cell. If that same DNA was instead split into two strands and divided into many, many short p.....»»
Targeting a coronavirus ion channel could yield new COVID-19 drugs
The genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus encodes 29 proteins, one of which is an ion channel called E. This channel, which transports protons and calcium ions, induces infected cells to launch an inflammatory response that damages tissues and contributes t.....»»
Scientists discover how the SARS-CoV-2 virus initiates replication program in infected cells
How SARS-CoV-2 initiates its replication process during infection is not yet fully understood. Researchers from the Helmholtz Institute Würzburg have now shown for the first time in the journal Cell that it is the human protein SND1 that works toget.....»»
Researchers discover promising treatment to combat hospital superbug
Cal State Fullerton antibiotic-resistance researcher María Soledad Ramírez and her students have discovered a promising new therapeutic to treat Acinetobacter baumannii, a superbug commonly found in hospitals and resistant to many antibiotics......»»
Disrupting a core metabolic process in T cells may improve their therapeutic efficacy
In exploring an aspect of how killer T cells generate the raw materials required for their proliferation, a Ludwig Cancer Research study has uncovered an unexpected link between the immune cells' metabolism, regulation of gene expression, persistence.....»»
COVID mutates rapidly in white-tailed deer, but here"s why we don"t need to worry—for now
At some point during the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, spread from humans to white-tailed deer in the US......»»
Why S-linked glycosylation cannot adequately mimic the role of natural O-glycosylation
Protein glycosylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications that can be exploited to improve various aspects of therapeutic proteins and industrial enzymes. Different types of glycosylation have a variety of effects on protein.....»»
RNA modification: Mechanisms and therapeutic targets
RNA modifications are dynamic and reversible chemical modifications on substrate RNA that regulate mRNA stability, translation, and localization. This review is designed by Dr. Junhong Han and written by his postdoctoral researcher Dr. Lei Qiu and P.....»»
Novel molecular design for enhanced efficacy and safety in radiotheranostics
Radiotheranostics embodies the convergence of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals into a unified platform. In cancer treatment, radiotheranostic procedures typically involve the use of antibodies that bind to proteins abundantly found on.....»»
How incoming adenoviruses change their chromatin structure for efficient gene expression
Adenoviruses, known for their low pathogenicity and technological approachability, have become instrumental in many therapeutic applications, including as a vaccination vector platform during the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Central to their efficacy.....»»
Researchers make genome prime editors smaller and more efficient for therapeutic applications
Prime editing technologies allow scientists to precisely edit the genome in a variety of ways and could one day be used to treat genetic diseases. Now researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have used cutting-edge continuous laboratory.....»»
Mapping the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein could provide insight into vaccine development
Although the COVID-19 pandemic was the first time most of humanity learned of the now infamous disease, the family of coronaviruses was first identified in the mid-1960s. In a new study, molecular biologist Steven Van Doren, a scientist in the Univer.....»»
Inhalable molecules neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in mice
Nanofitins, which are derived from a protein found in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius—an archaeal microorganism found in hot springs—successfully neutralized SARS-CoV-2 in mice and were well-tolerated. When inhaled by the rodents, the engineered nanofi.....»»
SARS-CoV-2: How the history of human populations influences their immune response
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical spectrum observed among people infected with SARS-CoV-2 ranged from asymptomatic carriage to death. Researchers at the Institut Pasteur, the CNRS and the Collège de France, in collaboration with researchers.....»»
Learning from viruses: Molecular fibers can help to introduce genetic material into cells
Pathogenic viruses that enter the human body can dock onto cells with their tentacle-like extensions, whereupon the cell takes up the viruses. This process, which is already known and occurs in diseases such as HIV, can also be used for therapeutic a.....»»
BA.2.86 shows just how risky slacking off on COVID monitoring is
The variant has grabbed attention, but with such limited data, the risk is unclear. Enlarge / Transmission electron micrograph of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle isolated from a patient sample and cultivated in cell culture. (credit.....»»
Genetic blueprint for vaccine and therapeutics production in plants
An international research project led by QUT has made a major step forward on the potential of the Australian plant, N. benthamiana, to grow therapeutic proteins and vaccines cheaply and quickly. The research, titled "A multi-omic Nicotiana benthamia.....»»
Using AI to find antibodies is fast and produces unimagined molecules
Automation means drug discovery process is less "artisinal" and more streamlined. Enlarge / Researchers use CyBio FeliX workstations to extract and purify DNA samples for testing (credit: LabGenius) At an old biscuit fac.....»»
Tiny antibodies hold big promise for cancer treatment
Using antibodies derived from alpacas, a University of Kentucky research team has developed a tool that could lead to new therapies to stop the growth of several types of cancer......»»
AI Is Building Highly Effective Antibodies That Humans Can’t Even Imagine
Robots, computers, and algorithms are hunting for potential new therapies in ways humans can’t—by processing huge volumes of data and building previously unimagined molecules......»»