Tag: coronavirus
EU drug regulator hopes for approval for adaptive coronavirus vaccines this year
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is hoping to have access to multi-protection vaccines, including one that is able to address several coronavirus variants, by September 2022. Vaccine developers are currently investigating whether shots that target just one variant offer advantages over vaccines that target two variants, said Marco Cavaleri, Head of Biological Health Threats and […]
Coronavirus infection increases risk of developing insulin resistance
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 virus) leads to activation of the immune system and subsequent release of pro-inflammatory signaling substances (cytokines). Studies show that this immune system activity persists for months after a coronavirus infection and even affects the human pancreas thus impairing insulin secretion and effectiveness – a hallmark […]
Omicron found to survive longer on skin and plastic; nose swabs best for detection of virus
Japanese researchers have found the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is able to survive longer on human skin and plastic surfaces than all previous variants, likely due to its high “environmental stability” i.e., its ability to remain infectious. Laboratory experiments using skin samples from cadavers showed the average virus survival times were 8.6 hours for […]
‘Pan-coronavirus’ vaccine in development by US Army
A massive project aimed at developing a coronavirus vaccine that can provide protection against all SARS-CoV-2 variants is underway at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). Instead of focusing on a single permutation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, as most first-wave COVID-19 vaccines have, WRAIR scientists chose to harness the unique structure of […]
Children develop different blood molecules to fight coronavirus infection
Most children are asymptomatic after confirmed infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, but about one in 1,000 children experience multi-system inflammatory response (MIS-C) for four to six weeks with symptoms including fever, abdominal pain with vomiting and/or diarrhea, rash, and even cardiovascular and neurological problems. If diagnosed early, the condition is readily treatable with […]
Experimental new vaccine blocks COVID-19 and other coronavirus variants
A pan-coronavirus vaccine developed by members of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI), from the Duke University School of Nursing, NC, has proven effective in protecting monkeys and mice from a variety of coronavirus infections such as SARS-CoV-2, the original SARS-CoV-1 and related bat coronaviruses. Its success in primates is highly relevant to humans and […]
Mask sensor to detect and track coronavirus in development
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) has been awarded US$1.3 million by The National Institutes of Health to develop a mask sensor that detects the presence of the novel coronavirus. The lightweight sensor would be attached to face masks to monitor a person’s breath or saliva for virus-related molecules. The sensor will also detect […]
First coronavirus outbreak reported in Antarctica
The coronavirus has finally reached Antarctica, the last continent previously free from COVID-19. Chile’s armed forces have reported an outbreak among staff at a remote research station near the tip of a peninsula in northernmost Antarctica, including 26 army personnel and 10 civilian contractors conducting maintenance at the base. Research and military stations in Antarctica […]
India health minister: Don’t panic over new UK coronavirus strain
An Indian health minister has advised against panicking over a new virulent strain of the coronavirus which was recently identified in Britain. India, which has the second-highest number of cases after the US, does not currently mandate institutional quarantine for international travellers if they have a negative COVID-19 test result 72 hours before entering India.However, […]
NZ to roll-out COVID-19 vaccine in mid-2021
New Zealand (NZ) will begin to offer free COVID-19 vaccines to all of the country’s 5 million people by the middle of next year. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that “NZ’s largest immunisation roll-out ever” is thanks to vaccines secured from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer-BioNTech (1.5 million doses, AstraZeneca (7.6 million doses) and Novavax (10.72 million […]
