Authors: Caitlin Owens A new preprint study that raises concerns about the mRNA vaccines’ effectiveness against Delta — particularly Pfizer’s — has already grabbed the attention of top Biden administration officials. What they’re saying: The study found the Pfizer vaccine was only 42% effective against infection in July, when the Delta variant was dominant. “If that’s not a wakeup call, […]
Authors: By Serena Marshall and Lara Salahi February 24, 2021 — The newest COVID shot uses an existing technology but one with lingering questions As the U.S. hits the half-million death mark from COVID-19 — a grim milestone that is equal to roughly the entire population of Atlanta and more than that of Miami — a new […]
Authors: Eric J. Kremer1,∗ Main Text Most of us might be surprised by the rudimentary scientific rationale prevalent in the field of vaccine research just 50 years ago. For over a century after Louis Pasteur’s vaccine against rabies, approaches usually consisted of inactivating a virus, injecting it, and seeing if it protected the host. Unlike […]
Authors: By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.Reviewed by Sophia Coveney, B.Sc. Adenoviruses are considered excellent vectors for delivering target antigens to mammalian hosts because of their capability to induce both innate and adaptive immune responses. Currently, adenovirus-based vaccines are used against a wide variety of pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Plasmodium falciparum. What are adenoviruses? Adenoviruses are […]
Authors: Heather D. Marshall, PhD | Vito Iacoviello, MD Viruses are genetic material surrounded by a protein shell with the ability to infect cells, highjack cellular machinery, and make copies of themselves. Viruses are also detected by the immune system and stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses and quite often, potent immunological memory that protects the host […]
Authors: Adekunle Sanyaolu 1, Chuku Okorie 2, Aleksandra Marinkovic 3, Risha Patidar 3, Kokab Younis 4, Priyank Desai 5, Zaheeda Hosein 6, Inderbir Padda 7, Jasmine Mangat 6, Mohsin Altaf 8 Abstract A novel human coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Since then, the virus has made its way across the globe to affect over 180 countries. SARS-CoV-2 has infected humans in all age […]
Authors: Xinghua Liu, Wei Li, Bo Zhang, Yan Guo, Zhao Hu, Cao Peng, Xiao Lei, Qunying Luo, Qiong hang, Wei Deng, Juanjuan Wang, Jianqiao Tang, Yunqiao Li & Jianying Chen BMC Infectious Diseases volume 21, Article number: 412 (2021) Abstract Background Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 in December 2019, more than 8 million cases have occurred worldwide as of June 16, 2020. However, it is important to distinguish COVID-19 from other respiratory infectious […]
Authors: Nizar R. Alwaqfi & Khalid S. Ibrahim Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects host cells through angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptors, leading to coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related pneumonia, and also causing acute cardiac injury and chronic damage to the cardiovascular system. The purpose of this review is primarily reviewing the COVID-19 disease, including pathogen, […]
Authors: Muge Cevik, clinical lecturer1 2, Krutika Kuppalli, assistant professor3, Jason Kindrachuk, assistant professor of virology4, Malik Peiris, professor of virology5 What you need to know SARS-CoV-2 is genetically similar to SARS-CoV-1, but characteristics of SARS-CoV-2—eg, structural differences in its surface proteins and viral load kinetics—may help explain its enhanced rate of transmission In the respiratory […]
Authors: Amy H Attaway, assistant professor of medicine, associate director, COPD center1, Rachel G Scheraga, assistant professor of medicine1 2, Adarsh Bhimraj, head, section of neurological infections; staff, infectious diseases1, Michelle Biehl, associate staff, pulmonary and critical care medicine; director, post ICU recovery clinic1, Umur Hatipoğlu, associate professor of medicine; director, respiratory therapy; director, COPD center1 […]