immunity

Associations between exposure to air pollution and severe COVID-19

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A recent study published in the Nature Communications Journal explored associations between prolonged exposure to air pollution and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Study: Long-term exposure to air pollution and severe COVID-19 in Catalonia: a population-based cohort study. Image Credit: pizzastereo/Shutterstock.com Background Ambient air pollution contributes to the global burden of disease. There are few … Read more

Comprehensive nationwide mapping of high-mortality SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in nursing homes

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In a recent study published in the Nature Aging Journal, researchers analyzed data from three SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in nursing homes in Belgium with high case fatality rates (CFR, 209 to 35%) to identify the risk factors and determine the genetic signature of fatal disease post-coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) following vaccination. Study: Immunovirological and environmental screening reveals … Read more

Is COVID-19 booster vaccination in early pregnancy associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion?

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A recent study published in JAMA Network Open determined the relationship between booster vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in early pregnancy and spontaneous abortion. Study: COVID-19 booster vaccination in early pregnancy and monitoring of spontaneous abortions. Image Credit: MarinaDemidiuk/Shutterstock.com Background COVID-19 in healthy young adults is often mild or asymptomatic; however, severe acute respiratory … Read more

Scientists identify broadly neutralizing antibody against all dominant variants of SARS-CoV-2

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In a recent study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers in the United States identified a broadly neutralizing antibody (S728-1157 bnAb) that targets the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 receptor binding site (RBS). (SARS-CoV-2). The bnAb S728-1157 was derived from a SARS-CoV-2 positive individual infected before the emergence of COVs (variants of concern) … Read more

Bivalent mRNA boost broadens humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants

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In a recent study published on bioRxiv* server, researchers from Emory University, Stanford University and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases assessed whether bivalent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) boosters confer protection against the new Omicron sub-variants. Study: Bivalent mRNA Booster Enhances Neutralization Against BA.2.75.2 and BQ.1.1. Image credit: NIAID Background Two new Omicron … Read more

Italian study assesses risk of COVID-19 reinfection in previously infected and vaccinated people

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In a recent study published on Research Square* preprint server, a team of Italian researchers investigated the risk of reinfection and hospitalization with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in people vaccinated and previously infected with SARS-CoV -2. Study: Assessing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization in vaccinated and previously infected subjects based … 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 published on the bioRxiv* The preprint server showed that the SpyCage intranasal vaccine platform can protect against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and may prove to be a versatile and adaptable modality for formulating intranasal vaccines that target respiratory pathogens. Study: Vaccine mimicking intranasal viral particles improves … Read more

Association of COVID-19 severity with nasopharyngeal fungal colonization and interleukin-17 induction

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In a recent study published on medRxiv* preprint server, researchers assessed concurrent colonization of fungi in the nasopharynx of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). They explored the pathways of antifungal immunity by analyzing data from their previous study including patients with acute SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infections. Study: Severe COVID-19 … Read more

Some healthcare workers vaccinated against COVID-19 show surprisingly poor responses to vaccinations

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A subset of healthcare workers vaccinated against COVID-19 had surprisingly poor responses to vaccinations, Cedars-Sinai investigators found. The findings of the new study are published in iScience, a Cell Press log. In a matched control study, researchers compared vaccine responses among a group of Cedars-Sinai healthcare workers who were generally healthy. Study participants received the … Read more

Pomegranate metabolite product improves immune cell function to fight cancer

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As part of an interdisciplinary project at the LOEWE Center Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), researchers from the Georg-Speyer-Haus in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and Goethe University Frankfurt succeeded in identify a new approach for the treatment of colorectal cancer. In preclinical models and studies of human immune cells, they found that urolithin A, a metabolite … Read more