Severe Acute Respiratory

Structure-directed mutagenesis produces thermostable SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimers with potential vaccine booster applications

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In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, a team of researchers investigated the change in the stability, antigenicity, and protein expression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein trimer using structure-directed mutagenesis to alter a cavity in the core of the spike protein. Study: Enhanced stability of the … Read more

Mosaic nanoparticles displaying spike protein trimers from different coronaviruses elicits cross-reactive protection

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In a recent study under review at the Nature Portfolio journal and currently posted to Research Square* preprint server, researchers developed and assessed the immunogenicity of nanoparticles expressing spike trimers from coronaviruses (CoVs). CoVs, particularly beta-CoVs, thrive in animal reservoirs and constantly threaten human health. Seven CoVs infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus … Read more

COVID-19 amplifies damage to the central nervous system in Alzheimer’s disease

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In a recent study published in the journal Annals of Diagnostic Pathologyresearchers Alzheimer in the United States evaluated the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on central nervous system (CNS) damage in’s disease (AD). Studies have reported that the human brain is highly susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated pathological changes. In … Read more

SARS-CoV-2 enclosed structural protein found to form voltage-activated and calcium-activated calcium channels

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In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers investigated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) envelope (E) protein activity in terms of calcium cations (Ca2+cations. Study: The SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein forms a calcium- and voltage-activated calcium channel. Image Credit: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock Functional ion channels are critical in the infectious … Read more

SpyCatcher-SpyTag technology used to develop recombinant protein-based intranasal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

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The findings of a new study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server showed that the intranasal SpyCage vaccine platform can be protective against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may prove to be a versatile and adaptable modality for the formulation of intranasal vaccines that target respiratory pathogens. Study: Intranasal virus-particle mimicking vaccine … Read more

Researchers design a COVID-19 vaccine construct using hybrid SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and nucleocapsid protein peptides

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In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers designed a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine construct using hybrid SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) spike(S) protein (containing SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variant mutations) and nucleocapsid (N) protein peptides that confer T lymphocyte-mediated immune protection. Study: De novo design of anti-variant COVID … Read more

Motif-based SARS-CoV-2 protein-human protein interactions as potential antiviral target sites

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In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers performed a ProP-PD (proteomic peptide phage display) analysis to identify peptides from intrinsically disordered human (host) proteome regions that bind with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome-encoded folded protein domains (PDs). Study: Identification of motif-based interactions between SARS-CoV-2 protein domains and human … Read more

Study indicates that the major determinants of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity reside outside of the spike protein

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In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* server, researchers at Boston University made a chimeric recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encoding the spike(S) glycoprotein gene of Omicron in the backbone of an ancestral SARS-CoV-2 isolate. Study: Role of spike in the pathogenic and antigenic behavior of SARS-CoV-2 BA.1 Omicron. Image Credit: … Read more