Differences in lung physiology and immune function in children may lie behind their decreased rates of symptomatic infections, hospitalization and death, according to a study from The University of Texas and Baylor College of Medicine (both TX, USA).
In a collaborative study between the University of South Florida (USF Health; FL, USA) and the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy (AZ, USA), several existing drugs have been identified as potential therapies for COVID-19.
Researchers have identified a specific change in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spike protein that may increase its transmission, making it more infectious in cell culture.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 can infect human myocardiocytes in vitro. COVID-19 infection can cause heart problems. This study demonstrates that this could be due to direct infection of myocardiocytes by the virus.
Researchers have accurately profiled the immune response to COVID-19 in critically ill patients, allowing them to identify six inflammatory molecules as potential targets for COVID-19 treatment.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have revealed the binding action of the bacterial toxin responsible for toxic shock syndrome. Although similar to the toxin that causes diarrhea, the two proteins behave differently due to a short amino acid sequence, which the researchers were able to manipulate.
Researchers at the Emory Vaccine Center have demonstrated that a novel adjuvant, 3M-052, can aid long-lasting immunity against HIV in rhesus monkeys. This could have implications for developing successful vaccines against HIV, influenza and COVID-19.
Rebiotix (MN, USA) recently announced positive preliminary results from an ongoing clinical trial investigating the use of an investigational microbiota-based formulation, RBX2660, for the reduction of C. diff infection.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have used the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients to identify potent antibodies that protect against SARS-CoV-2. The study, published in Science, has shown the antibodies’ successful use in animal models and human cell cultures.
Dexamethasone, a steroid drug typically used to treat inflammation in conditions such as arthritis and asthma, has recently been tested as part of the Recovery trial at Oxford University (UK), and results are looking positive.
