Linking two copies of a specific antibody produced by llamas, researchers have created a new antibody that binds tightly to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The antibody, called VHH-72, blocks the virus from infecting cells in lab cultures. Researchers say this is one of the first antibodies found to neutralizes SARS-CoV-2. Animal studies are currently underway to test if the antibody is viable in the fight against coronavirus. If successful, the antibody therapy will move into human testing. Read More
Virologist and computational neuroscientists agree, how humans treat and trade animals may have played a significant role in the coronavirus pandemic and other viral infections. Read More
Common coronaviruses are usually detected between December and May, with a peak of infection during January and February. Only 2.5% of cases occurred in the summer months. Researchers caution it is still too early to tell if COVID-19 will follow the same seasonal path as other coronaviruses. Read More
Researchers have developed a new vaccine that fully protects mice against MERS by using a harmless virus to deliver MERS-CoV into cells and generate an immune response. The vaccine is an innocuous parainfluenza virus (PIV5) which carries the spike protein MERS uses to infect cells. Findings show the PIV5 based vaccine could be a useful platform for COVID-19. Read More
Researchers explore why COVID-19 is more deadly compared to the flu and other viruses. Read More