Healthcare & Medicines
Nancy Lapid
(Reuters) – The following is a summary of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find cures and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease that caused the virus.
There are no escaping changes from all types of antibodies, so far
The human immune system makes many antibodies in response to COVID-19 infection or vaccine, and no single strain of the new coronavirus can escape them all, according to a study posted Thursday on bioRxiv ahead on peer review. Researchers looked at how mutations in coronavirus variants affect the ability of antibodies to target a key area on the spike of the virus called the receptor binding domain (RBD), which has been soon. In particular, the researchers studied three sets of antibodies that were classified according to the structural features that affect their binding to the virus. Despite the multiplicity of antibodies, only one class dominates the antibody response targeting the RBD, they found. They also looked at how many types of antibodies can be avoided with new versions of coronavirus. “There are mutations that have several lines that reduce contact with two of the antibody classes, but so far mutations that escape from all three classes have no sequences,” said coauthor Jesse Bloom of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. “We recommend that this is an important monitoring factor as the virus continues to grow. “(bit.ly/3luUNzA)
Coronavirus strains can catch mice
Some of the new coronavirus variants can cause COVID-19 in mice, researchers have found. The effects, such as whether mice could transmit the virus to humans, need further investigation, they said. The original virus strain identified in Wuhan, China, could not produce disease in mice because the spikes on its surface could not bind well to the ACE2 receptor protein on the cells of the animals. Some of the worrying new variables – especially those first identified in South Africa and Brazil – have mutations that overcome this challenge, enabling them to catch the mice and hurt, researchers reported Thursday on bioRxiv ahead of a peer review. “This is certainly good news for animal studies to gain a better understanding of the disease and infection as mice are widely available … to study many pathologies, and easier to work with than the larger animals. more like a hamster or a ferret, “said coauthor Etienne Simon-Loriere of the Institut Pasteur in Paris. It remains to be determined whether mice can transmit the virus to humans or humans. “We do not have the experience to assess the health risk associated with this new SARS-CoV-2 capability, but this is certainly something that needs to be done,” said Simon-Loriere. “No one wants the virus to move to a new reservoir from which it could come back to humans, as mink farms feared, and hopefully it doesn’t happen. “(bit.ly/3cSCj86)
Homeless patients in Boston benefit from a recycling unit
Homeless people have had to be hospitalized for COVID-19 so often after Boston Medical Center created a rehabilitation unit for them, according to a new report. Boston saw an increase in cases in the spring of 2020, which unfairly affected homeless people and threatened to recover hospital capacity. In response, a COVID-19 Recycling Unit was established near Boston Medical Center to provide a homeless and quarantined place for loneliness and quarantine that was medically stable, saving hospital beds for patients with COVID -19 trom. By the time the unit had been open for two months, the hospital saw a 28% drop in admissions of homeless COVID-19 patients, researchers at JAMA Network Open said. The social distance of COVID-19 and quarantine restrictions were “developed from the perspective of the‘ haves ’and not from the‘ have-nots, ’” coauthor Dr. Joshua Barocas from Boston University School of Medicine. “By resetting the conversation about homelessness, we can see for sure that resources are needed to keep them and us all safer. “(bit.ly/3cOjEdR)
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