A research group from the US (led by experts from Yale University School of Medicine) recently presented a case of an immunocompromised female patient with acquired deficiency of B lymphocytes who subsequently developed a protracted course of the infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The research paper is currently available on […]

A team of UK-based scientists has recently developed an allele-specific probe polymerase chain reaction method that can accurately detect different variants/lineages of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in respiratory samples. The method can detect viral variants even in samples with low viral RNA or degraded viral RNA. The study is currently available on […]

A new preprint deals with the characterization of neutrophil phenotypes in an attempt to provide biomarkers that can predict severe disease in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Study: Longitudinal characterization of circulating neutrophils uncovers distinct phenotypes associated with disease severity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/ Shutterstock A preprint version of […]

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in Wuhan, China in 2019 and is the causal agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is highly infectious, virulent, and has claimed more than 5 million lives worldwide. Study: Robust Virus-Specific Adaptive Immunity in COVID-19 Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Δ382 Variant […]

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus was detected in Wuhan, China, later called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to mutate and evolve, causing millions of cases of mortality and morbidity worldwide. […]

An interesting new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine examines the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to a susceptible individual who is part of a family with COVID-19 immunity. Study: Association Between Risk of COVID-19 Infection in Nonimmune Individuals and COVID-19 Immunity in Their Family Members. Image Credit: Chakkaphong Nutalay / Shutterstock.com […]

As the current coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic advances, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is mutating.  In addition to posing a significant risk of severe infection, SARS-CoV-2 variants are able to escape neutralizing antibodies induced by currently available vaccines. Scientists have proposed that complementary vaccines that can induce cytotoxic T-cell responses towards multiple […]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spreads from human to human primarily through droplet transmission. Viral RNA can be detected in nasal and saliva secretions, and sneezing and coughing out droplets carrying the virus can lead to infection of individuals over one meter away. Study: SARS-CoV-2 and wastewater: What does it mean for non-human […]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has baffled scientists with its apparently random pattern of severe disease. Caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19 has a mortality rate of 1% in most developed nations, thereby suggesting that most infections are asymptomatic or mild. Study: Lasting Changes to Circulating Leukocytes in People […]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread worldwide in 2019, causing a global health and economic crisis. The rapid transmission of the disease combined with the high death rates in at-risk groups led to millions of deaths, and many countries introducing social distancing measures, lockdowns, and other restrictions. Study: The impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on […]