Category: COVID
Repurposing existing drugs to fight new COVID-19 variants
Michigan State University – MSU researchers are using big data and AI to identify current drugs that could be applied to treat new COVID-19 variants. Finding new ways to treat the novel coronavirus and its ever-changing variants has been a challenge for researchers, especially when the traditional drug development and discovery process can take years. […]
Sep 29, 2022
Association of SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Among Children and Adolescents in Germany
JAMA – Question Is SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity associated with symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in children and adolescents? Findings This cross-sectional study of hospital-based SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence surveys in Germany compared seropositive and seronegative children and adolescents and identified an excess of possible ME/CFS symptoms with serological evidence of preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection. This association almost […]
Sep 28, 2022
Remdesivir resistance in transplant recipients with persistent COVID-19
Clinical Infectious Diseases – New mutations conferring resistance to SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics have important clinical implications. We describe the first cases of an independently acquired V792I RNA-dependent RNA polymerase mutation developing in renal transplant recipients after remdesivir exposure. Our work underscores the need for augmented efforts to identify concerning mutations and address their clinical implications. Download […]
Sep 28, 2022
SARS-CoV-2 mutation leads to resistance to remdesivir in 2 patients
CIDRAP – A report published yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases describes a new SARS-CoV-2 mutation that confers resistance to the COVID-19 antiviral drug remdesivir in two persistently infected kidney transplant recipients treated with immunosuppressive drugs. NYU researchers identified the V792I RNA-dependent 25 RNA polymerase mutation in the transplant patients, who were hospitalized and experienced life-threatening COVID-19 complications […]
Sep 28, 2022
Japan’s COVID herd immunity near 90% after Omicron wave, study says
Reuters – Japan’s population level immunity to COVID-19 has reached about 90% in major population areas after a recent Omicron wave, though that level of protection is likely to diminish in a matter of months, according to a study published on Tuesday.
Sep 28, 2022
Further humoral immunity evasion of emerging SARS-CoV-2 BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants
The Lancet – SARS-CoV-2 BA.4 and BA.5 lineages have been the dominant strains in most regions worldwide and are continuously gaining mutations in the receptor-binding domain. Multiple BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants with Arg346 mutations in the spike glycoprotein have been identified in various countries, such as BA.4.6, BF.7, BA.5.2.6, BA.4.1.9, and BE.1.2 harbouring Arg346Thr; BA.4.7 […]
Sep 28, 2022
Host and viral proteins involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection differentially bind heme
PubMed – In most severe cases, SARS-CoV-2-induced autoimmune reactions have been associated with hemolytic complications. Hemolysis-derived heme from ruptured red blood cells has been shown to trigger a variety of fatal proinflammatory and procoagulant effects, which might deteriorate the progression of COVID-19. In addition, the virus itself can induce proinflammatory signals via the accessory protein […]
Sep 28, 2022
Broadly neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses
Nature – Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a recently emerged pathogenic human coronavirus that belongs to the sarbecovirus lineage of the genus Betacoronavirus. The ancestor strain has evolved into a number of variants of concern, with the Omicron variant of concern now having many distinct sublineages. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by […]
Sep 28, 2022
CDC/IDSA Clinician Call: Updates & Emerging Issues on COVID-19 and Monkeypox
IDSA – Link to download slides Topic: Updates & Emerging Issues on COVID-19 and Monkeypox Moderator:Dana S. Wollins, DrPH, MGCVice President, Clinical Affairs & Practice Guidelines, IDSA Topics and Featured Experts COVID-19: Situation Update, Emerging Variants & Implications for Therapeutics:Pragna Patel, MD, MPHCaptain, U.S. Public Health ServiceChief Medical Officer (acting)Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Diseases Division […]
Sep 27, 2022