SARS-CoV-2 Archives

SARS-CoV-2 in water: A surveillance tool for infected populations

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ARS-CoV-2 in environmental waters and its elimination in sewage treatment plants.

The presence of land-derived bacteria in the marine environment is an indicator of wastewater contamination and of human health at a population level. However, the survival of human viral pathogens in the marine environment and their use as indicators is poorly understood. Dr Helena Galvão of the University of Algarve, Portugal, investigated the survival of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental waters and […]

Using patient datasets to track COVID-19 prevalence

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Hou and colleagues accessed existing patient data collected by the Maui Medical Group (MMG) clinics.

Obtaining an accurate picture of COVID-19 cases has provided a major challenge throughout the pandemic. Changes in testing methods and skewed selection of higher-risk groups may bias the results. Dr Amy Hou, Dr Genevieve Pang, and Dr Lorrin Pang at the Hawaii State Department of Health, Maui District Health Office, US, propose a novel way to estimate local prevalence of […]

Nanomedicine for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and other viruses

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Thomas J Webster develops nanomaterials for novel nanomedicine treatments of viruses such as COVID-19

While many viral infections can be prevented through vaccination, it can take a long time for vaccinations to be developed for new diseases and many people object to themselves or children taking vaccines. There is a high need for quicker, readily available alternative treatments. Serial entrepreneur Professor Thomas J Webster thinks this could be achieved using nanomaterials. Webster’s research has […]

Is monoclonal antibody therapy effective and achievable in hospitals with limited resources?

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Dr Nikhitha Mantri researched the use of MAT treatments for COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms at an inner-city hospital with limited resources in the Bronx

Monoclonal antibody therapy (MAT) is a way of treating COVID-19 for people who have tested positive, have mild to moderate symptoms, and are at high risk of developing more serious symptoms and complications. Although there are already studies showing promising results, the number of patients in the US, especially ethnic minorities, who have so far received MAT is small. Dr […]

Seasonal competition between mould spores and respiratory viruses

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Professor Gregory Retzinger researches the link between mould spores and influenza-like-illnesses, with the intention of understand the link between cell receptors and potential disruption to the COVID-19 virus

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is one of a number of respiratory viruses that demonstrate a clear seasonal incidence. Professor Gregory Retzinger and colleagues have explored the relationship between influenza-like illnesses (ILIs), COVID-19 and bioaerosol burden. They found an inverse relationship between mould spores and cases of ILIs and COVID-19 which is potentially due to competition for the same […]

Assessing the effectiveness of pre-travel testing for COVID-19

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Dr Hou and Dr Pang describe a method to measure the amount of COVID-19 that arriving travellers are bringing into a community.

There is a global need to implement new control measures for travel in order to monitor and prevent the spread of COVID-19 and novel variants. Dr Amy Hou and Dr Lorrin Pang, Maui District Health Office and Hawaii State Department of Health, are exploring a simple, rapid method that can be used to monitor the COVID-19 infection status of travellers […]

Understanding SARS-CoV-2: A closer look into its genome

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A team of BARJ scientists from the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh have conducted significant research on SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for causing COVID-19. In a recent research project, BARJ researchers collected samples from positive coronavirus patients and conducted a comparative study to analyse differential host responses in various SARS-CoV-2 infection systems. In another project, the research team predicted […]

To Test, Or Not To Test – The COVID-19 Question

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The research showed that countries with a higher health expenditure identify more positive cases and deaths.

Dr Cristina Isabel Ibarra-Armenta is a lecturer at the Autonomous University of Sinaloa and UNICAF University. Dr Moisés Alejandro Alarcon-Osuna is a lecturer at the University of Guadalajara, and a member of the Mexican System of National Researchers from CONACYT (National Council for Science and Technology). Their research focuses on econometrics, regional analysis, and policy and technology change. In a […]

Tracking how SARS-CoV-2 mutates around the world during COVID-19 pandemic

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The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global health crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 strain of coronavirus. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates as it spreads, and monitoring these mutations and their distribution could provide information relevant for the treatment and control of the disease. Santiago Justo Arévalo (Ricardo Palma University, Peru) and his colleagues have analysed the progress of several mutations across […]

Viral encephalitis and virus-mediated memory disorders

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Prof Klein researches viral infections that target neurons.

Viral encephalitis is a debilitating consequence of viral infections: invasion of the brain by viruses causes an inflammation that, even months or years after recovery from the viral infection, can impair cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Prof Robyn S. Klein from Washington University School of Medicine has developed novel animal models and approaches to study virus-mediated memory disorders, […]