Routine sero-surveillance of the population to estimate presence of antibodies to COVID-19 is required to understand the development of herd immunity in a population. Data from the sero-surveillance study of population in the Ischgl town of Austria throws light on this aspect...
MicroRNAs or in short miRNAs (not to be confused with mRNA or messenger RNA) were discovered in 1993 and have been extensively studied in the past two decades or so for their role in regulating gene expression. miRNAs are...
Results from the phase2 trial support the view that subcutaneous administration of IFN- β for treatment of COVID-19 enhances speed of recovery and reduces mortality.
The extraordinary situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic has warranted exploring different possible avenues for...
In countries like UK, USA and Italy which are badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, the life expectancy has reduced by at least 1.2-1.3 years.
Diseases and risk factors lead to premature deaths and disabilities and result in ‘burden’ on the...
Advanced age and comorbidities are known to be high risk factors for COVID-19. Does genetic make-up predispose some people making them more susceptible to severe symptoms? Conversely, does genetic make-up enable some people to have innate immunity making them...
The plant derived agent, Thapsigargin (TG) has been used in traditional medicine for long time. TG has shown promises as a potential anti-cancer drug because of its biological property to inhibit the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) pump which is necessary for...
Povidone Iodine (PVP-I) can be used in the form of mouthwash and nasal spray (especially in Dental and ENT settings) to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to reduce cross-infection and to manage patients at the early stage of disease.
Povidone...
A number of ingredients have been used as carriers to successfully deliver vaccines and to enhance their immune response. These include peptides, liposomes, lipid nanoparticles and polymers to name a few. Recently, Lam et al describe the use of...
COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major economic impact all over the globe and has resulted in disruption of “normal” life. Countries across the world are battling to find solutions to this disease that includes strengthening the immune system and...
In the practice of medicine, one generally prefers time tested proven path while treating and trying to prevent diseases. An innovation is usually expected to pass the test of time. The three approved COVID-19 vaccines, two mRNA vaccines and...
A plasmid DNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 has been found to induce immunity in animal trials. Few other DNA based vaccine candidates are at early stages of clinical trials. Interestingly, plasmid DNA vaccines can be developed in a short period of time....
Researchers at Southern Illinois University have reported a new variant of SARS COV-2 Virus in the USA.
According to reports published on preprint server which is yet to be peer-reviewed, researchers have identified a new variant using genomic virus surveillance approach.
Referred as 20C-US, this variant...
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the regulator of all medicines and medical devices in the UK has approved Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine after meeting the required safety, quality and effectiveness standards for use in the UK (1).
This is the...
The preliminary report of findings from the clinical trial NCT02735707 reported in preprint suggests that Tocilizumab and Sarilumab, the interleukin-6 receptor antagonists are effective in treating critically ill COVID-19 patients and improve survival.
Severely ill COVID-19 patients receiving intensive care support responded well to...
The assay time is considerably reduced from about an hour to few minutes by the newly reported RTF-EXPAR method which uses reverse transcriptase-free (RTF) approach for conversion of RNA into DNA followed by EXPAR (Exponential Amplification Reaction) for amplification at...
To protect the NHS and save lives., National Lockdown has been put in place across the UK. People have been asked to stay home at home. This is in view of recent rapid increase in number of cases across...
Interim data from the phase III clinical trial of Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine show the vaccine is effective at preventing COVID-19 caused due to SARS-CoV-2 virus and offers a high level of protection against the disease.
The phase III trial tested two...
What causes severe COVID-19 symptoms? Evidences suggest inborn errors of type I Interferon immunity and autoantibodies against type I Interferon are causal for critical COVID-19. These errors can be identified using whole genome sequencing, thereby leading to proper quarantine...
Anti-viral properties of manuka honey are due to the presence of methylglyoxal (MG), an arginine directed glycating agent that modifies sites specifically present in the SARS-CoV-2 genome, thereby interfering with its replication and inhibiting the virus. In addition, manuka...
University College London Hospitals (UCLH) has announced neutralising antibody trial against COVID-19. The announcement on 25 December 2020 says ‘’UCLH doses first patient in the world in Covid-19 antibody trial’’ and ‘’ Researchers in the STORM CHASER study led by...
Several new strains of the virus have emerged since the pandemic began. New variants were reported as early as February 2020. The current variant that has brought the UK to standstill this Christmas is said to be 70% more...
A novel mechanism to explain the different unrelated symptoms of COVID-19 has come to light by exploiting the second fastest Supercomputer in the world known as Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee. The study involved analysing 2.5...
Existing biologics such as Canakinumab (monoclonal antibody), Anakinra (monoclonal antibody) and Rilonacept (fusion protein) can be exploited as therapeutics that restrain inflammation in COVID-19 patients. In addition, designer monoclonal antibodies can provide passive immunity by neutralizing the SARS-CoV-2 virus...
There are reports of Russia registering world’s first vaccine against novel corona virus while the phase 3 trial of this vaccine is still in progress. Developed jointly by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry, this vaccine is based on the use...
A type of virus that preys on bacteria could be harnessed to combat bacterial infections in patients whose immune systems have been weakened by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease, according to an expert at the University...
