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Triggering an IgA response could increase COVID-19 vaccine efficacy
Two new studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA antibodies are more neutralising and therefore COVID-19 vaccines should encourage an IgA response.
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Disease Research
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Proteomics study to investigate plasma proteins in 53,000 participants
Next-generation sequencing will be employed to study 1,500 plasma proteins in participants, according to UK Biobank.
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Novel target for pulmonary fibrosis identified using tissue from COVID-19 patients
Study suggests reducing the expression of the methyl-CpG-binding domain 2 (MBD2) protein on macrophages could be a viable therapeutic strategy for lung fibrosis.
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Microscopy reveals four classes of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies
Researchers show that neutralising antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein have four distinct structures.
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Researchers provide new insights into SARS-CoV-2 lung pathology
The new study shows how SARS-CoV-2 significantly remodels cellular processes in just an hour and identifies potential drug targets and therapeutics for COVID-19.
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Tracking SARS-CoV-2 with genome sequencing
Researchers have been tracking SARS-CoV-2 by sequencing the genomes of virus samples collected from diagnostic testing. They hope that using next-generation sequencing (NGS) on SARS-CoV-2 will help to accurately diagnose the novel coronavirus, identify mutations and track its history. This article explores the findings of their latest study and what…
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Genetic screening to predict the risk of future diseases
The use of genetic testing has had a positive impact on patient care, bringing abundant opportunities for diagnosis or predictions of future diagnoses. Pushpanathan Muthuirulan explains how the application of genetic screening can help to customise healthcare for individuals based on their unique genetic makeup.
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Predicting COVID-19 susceptibility and severity
Recent reports suggest that both clinical and genetic risk factors may contribute to COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. Catherine Ball, Chief Scientific Officer of Ancestry®, discusses results of the company’s COVID-19 Research Study, designed to explore non-genetic and genetic associations with disease outcomes.
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Antimicrobial resistance – a public health emergency on the horizon
Researchers at Ingenza and the University of Plymouth are using a machine learning and high‑throughput screening approach to discover novel antimicrobial therapies. In this article, Nikki Withers spoke to one of the researchers, Jack Kay, to hear about the current threat posed by antimicrobial resistance and how he hopes their…
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Researchers identify a novel tau aggregation control mechanism
According to researchers, the more small tau protein variants expressed by neurons, the slower neurofibrillary tangles form.
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Drug target to tackle COVID-19 inflammatory processes identified
Researchers have shown that the presence of the inflammasome mediated by NLRP3 is a marker and drug target for COVID-19-related cytokine storms.
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A novel blood-brain barrier model for cerebral malaria research
In this article Maria Bernabeu, Group Leader at EMBL, Barcelona, discusses why it is important to research and develop novel therapeutics for cerebral malaria and how her research group intends to develop a 3D blood-brain barrier model for this purpose.
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Researchers discover how SARS-CoV-2 reaches the brain
A new study has identified the mechanisms through which the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the brain and how the immune system responds once it does.
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Tweaking synonymous sites for gene therapy and vaccines
Professor Laurence D Hurst explains why understanding the nucleotide mutations in viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can have significant implications for vaccine design.
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More COVID-19 research on mucosal immune system required, scientists say
Researchers have said that more COVID-19 studies should focus on the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, to reveal insights into SARS-CoV-2 immunity.