SARS-CoV-2

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SARS-CoV-2

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·May 26, 2020·3 min read

Dementia gene raises risk of severe COVID-19

People with the Alzheimer's associated ApoE e4e4 gene have increased vulnerability to developing severe symptoms of COVID-19 if they become infected with the virus. Findings suggest those with the dementia-related gene have double the risk of developing severe coronavirus symptoms compared to those who those with the common e3e3 form of the APOE gene.

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·May 25, 2020·3 min read

Coronavirus mutations do not appear to increase transmissibility

Researchers have identified 6,822 mutations of SARS-CoV-2 across a global dataset. 273 mutations have occurred repeatedly and independently. Of those, researchers investigated 31 mutations that have occurred at least ten times during the current pandemic. They found no evidence that any of the common mutations are increasing the ability of the virus to be transmitted. Some common mutations are neutral, but most are mildly detrimental to the virus. New evidence also suggests the viral spike protein, D614G, is not associated with increased viral transmission.

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·May 25, 2020·4 min read

Scientists isolate live COVID-19 virus from feces, detect RNA on surfaces

Researchers isolated live SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, from the feces of patients who died as a result of coronavirus infection. Antigens to the virus were also found in post-mortem gastrointestinal surface cells. Isolating the live virus from fecal matter indicates evidence of the infectious virus in feces is a common manifestation of COVID-19. Researchers also found SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces and bedding samples in hotel rooms used by two presymptomatic people who were later diagnosed with COVID-19.

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·May 24, 2020·5 min read

Preventing ‘cytokine storm’ may ease severe COVID-19 symptoms

Treating coronavirus patients with alpha-blockers may help prevent the cytokine storm associated with severe COVID-19 infection. Alpha-blockers interfere with the cell signaling that triggers cytokine storms. Mice with bacterial infections that were treated with alpha-blockers experienced reduced cytokine storms and decreased death rates.

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·May 24, 2020·5 min read

No improvement in death rate for COVID-19 patients who received hydroxychloroquine

Coronavirus patients treated with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine are significantly more likely to experience ventricular arrhythmias than those who were treated with other medications. The study also revealed that out of 100,000 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized, the 15,000 who received hydroxychloroquine were more likely to have worse health outcomes than those treated with other drugs.

This shows a pregnant woman in a hospital bed

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 22, 2020·5 min read

Placentas from COVID-19-positive pregnant women show injury

The placentas of sixteen women who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy showed evidence of significant injury, a new study reports. The placental injuries were consistent with abnormal blood flow between mother and baby in-utero, suggesting another complication of coronavirus infection in pregnant women.

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·May 20, 2020·3 min read

COVID-19 cytokine storm: Possible mechanism for the deadly respiratory syndrome

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, enters human cells by attaching to ACE2 and utilizing TMPRSS2. Drugs that block ACE2 or inhibit the enzyme could help treat the coronavirus, but only during early infection. As the infection progresses, SARS-CoV-2 becomes engulfed in human cells, reducing the number of ACE2 receptors on a cell and leading to an increase of angiotensin II in the blood. Angiotensin II triggers an inflammatory pathway, providing a positive feedback cycle, named IL-6 amplifier, resulting in excessive immune activation and the cytokine storm associated with severe COVID-19.

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·May 19, 2020·3 min read

Six feet not far enough to stop coronavirus transmission in light winds

A new study reveals the recommended 6 foot of distance to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 may not be enough. Researchers report that even with a slight breeze of 4 KPH, saliva and cough droplets travel 18 feet per 5 seconds.

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·May 18, 2020·4 min read

Study reports ‘staggering’ death rate in US among those infected who show symptoms

The current national death rate among those infected with coronavirus is 1.3%. The comparable rate of death for seasonal flu is 0.1%. The study estimates that if the same number of people are infected with COVID-19 by the end of the year as are infected with flu, roughly 33.5 million people in 20018-19, almost 500,000 people will die as a result of coronavirus infection. However, COVID-19 is more infectious than the seasonal flu. Current conservative estimates suggest 20% of the US population will be infected by the end of 2020, leading to a possible 1.2 million deaths.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 18, 2020·3 min read

Antiviral drug can speed up recovery of COVID-19 patient

Interferon-a2b an antiviral treatment shows promise in helping to speed up the recovery of patients with severe COVID-19 infections. IFN-a2b improves viral clearance and decreases the levels of inflammatory markers in coronavirus patients.

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·May 18, 2020·4 min read

Antibody neutralizes SARS and COVID-19 coronaviruses

S309, a neutralizing antibody first identified in blood samples from a patient who recovered from SARS in 2003, shows promise for the treatment of COVID-19.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 18, 2020·3 min read

Smokers more likely to express ACE2 protein that coronavirus uses to enter human cells

Smoking increases the gene expression of ACE2, a protein that binds to SARS-CoV-2, increasing the risk of coronavirus infection. Findings suggest long-term smokers could have an increase of ACE2 in the lungs, leading to higher rates of morbidity in COVID-19 patients.

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