Cases of co-infections with two variants were earlier reported. Not much was known about viral recombination yielding viruses with hybrid genomes. Two recent studies report cases of genetic recombination among SARS-CoV-2 variants Denta & Omicron. The recombinant, called Deltamicron, had...
WHO has updated its living guidelines on COVID-19 therapeutics. The ninth update released on 03 March 2022 include a conditional recommendation on molnupiravir.
Molnupiravir has become the first oral antiviral drug to be included in the treatment guidelines for COVID-19....
Successful development of mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2 (of Pfizer/BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (of Moderna) against the novel coronavirus SARS CoV-2 and the important role these vaccines played recently in mass immunisation of people against COVID-19 pandemic in several countries has established...
A new, complete dataset of comprehensive functional trait for all birds, called AVONET, containing measurements of more than 90,000 individual birds has been released courtesy an international effort. This would serve as an excellent resource for teaching and research...
KATRIN experiment mandated to weigh neutrinos has announced a more precise estimate of the upper limit of its mass - neutrinos weigh at most 0.8 eV, i.e., the neutrinos are lighter than 0.8 eV (1 eV = 1.782 x 10-36...
Sea level along USA coastlines will rise about 25 to 30 cm on average above current levels over the next 30 years. Consequently, tide and storm surge heights will increase and reach further inland worsening coastal flooding pattern. The additional...
Omicron BA.2 subvariant seems to be more transmissible than BA.1. It also possesses immune-evasive properties that further reduce the protective effect of vaccination against infection.
On 26 November 2021, WHO had designated B.1.1.529 variant of SARS-CoV-2 as a Variant of...
NeoCoV, a coronavirus strain related to MERS-CoV found in bats (NeoCoV is not a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, the human coronavirus strain responsible for COVID-19 pandemic) has been reported to be the first case of a MERS-CoV variant using ACE2....
Effective 27th January 2022, it will not be mandatory to wear a face covering or need to show COVID pass in England. The measures put in place under Plan B in England, to be lifted.
Earlier on 8th December...
In order to explore the dark energy, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) at Berkeley Lab has created largest and most detailed ever 3D map of the Universe by obtaining optical spectra from millions of galaxies and quasars. The...
A gene variant of OAS1 has been implicated in reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 disease. This warrants developing agents/drugs that can increase the level of OAS1 enzyme, thereby reducing the severity of COVID-19.
Advanced age and comorbidities are known...
The eighth version (seventh update) of a living guideline is released. It replaces earlier versions. The latest update includes a strong recommendation for the use of baricitinib as an alternative to interleukin-6 (IL-6), a conditional recommendation for the use of...
Doctors and scientists of University of Maryland School of Medicine have successfully transplanted heart of a genetically engineered pig (GEP) into an adult patient with end-stage heart disease. This surgery was patient’s only option left for survival after being...
The remain of Britain’s largest ichthyosaur (fish-shaped marine reptiles) has been discovered during routine maintenance work at Rutland Water Nature Reserve, near Egleton, in Rutland.
Measuring around 10 metres in length, the ichthyosaur is approximately 180 million years old.
Appearing as dolphin skeleton,...
The Research.fi service, maintained by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland is to provide Researcher Information service on the portal enabling quick access to information on researchers working in Finland. This will make it easier for users...
A new variant called ‘IHU’ (a new Pangolin lineage named B.1.640.2) is reported to have emerged in south-eastern France.
Researchers in Marseille, France have reported detection of a new variant of novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
The index patient had recent travel history...
Following assessment and approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), WHO has issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for Nuvaxovid on 21 December 2021. Earlier on 17 December 2021, the WHO had issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for Covovax.
Covovax and Nuvaxoid thus become the...
Single dose of the vaccine can increase vaccine coverage rapidly which is an imperative in many countries where level of vaccine uptake is not optimal.
WHO has updated its interim recommendations1 on the use of the Janssen Ad26.COV2.S (COVID-19).
One-dose schedule of...
Of the several comets discovered in 2021, the comet C/2021 A1, called Comet Leonard after it’s discoverer Gregory Leonard, may become visible to the naked eye on 12 December 2021 when it comes closest to the Earth (at the distance of...
In order to raise levels of protection across the population against the Omicron variant, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)1 of UK has recommended that the booster programme should be expanded to include all remaining adults aged 18...
WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) was convened on 26th November 2021 to assess the variant B.1.1.529. Based on the available evidences, the group of experts has advised WHO that this variant should be designated as a Variant...
The mineral Davemaoite (CaSiO3-perovskite, the third most abundant mineral in lower mantle layer of Earth’s interior) has been discovered on the surface of the Earth for the first time. It was found trapped inside a diamond. Perovskite is found naturally ONLY in...
Development of multi-drug resistance (MDR) bacteria in the past five decades have led to increasing research in search of a drug candidate to address this AMR issue. A fully synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic, Iboxamycin, provides hope to treat both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria...
A nebula is a star-forming, massive region of interstellar cloud of dust in the galaxy. Looking like a monster, this is image of a massive nebula in our home galaxy Milky Way.
The image was captured by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.
These types of regions cannot...
Fluvoxamine is an inexpensive anti-depressant commonly used in mental healthcare. Evidence from the recently concluded clinical trial suggest that it can be repurposed to treat patients with COVID-19. It is found to reduce risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms, reduces need...
