A recent perspective in Science asked whether there are lessons that can be learned from arthritis and cell therapy in cancer for COVID-19. Severe disease in 20% of COVID-19 cases appear to be from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is often fatal. This poignant piece outlines the pathways leading to cytokine release syndrome (CRS)...
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COVID-19 Antibody Immunology Video
Webinar by Prof. Danny Altmann from Imperial College London reviews new and exciting studies on COVID-19 antibody immunology and emerging data from all around the world. We have written articles that discuss the importance of Abs in diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, as well as detection of SARS-Cov-2 nAbs in cats.
Uncertainty is hampering doctors’ ability to treat COVID-19
There is a great deal of uncertainty prevailing across the globe over the current COVID-19 pandemic, and clinicians and scientists are working hard to find a cure to treat this disease (Read Solidarity Trial). However, doubt about whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself or the patient’s immune system inundates the patient’s organs...
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 nAbs in cats
Zhang et al, investigated the infection of SARS-CoV-2 in cats by detecting specific serum Abs. A cohort of serum samples were collected from cats in Wuhan, including 102 sampled after COVID-19 outbreak, and 39 prior to the outbreak. 14.7% of cat sera collected after the outbreak were positive for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 by ELISA.
Susceptibility of domestic animals to SARS-Cov-2
Although SARS-CoV-2 shares 96.2% identity with the coronavirus RaTG13, which was detected in horseshoe bats in Yunnan province (1), it has not previously been detected in humans or other animals. Could the widely disseminated viruses transmit to other animal species, which then become reservoirs of infection?
Indian population could have intrinsic immunity to resist COVID-19 challenge
In a short span of time, COVID-19 has become a rapidly spreading communicable disease forcing the WHO to declare it as the “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” on January 30. As of April 16, the WHO pandemic update indicates a whopping 1,991,562 confirmed reported cases...
Viral dynamics in mild vs severe COVID-19
Due to the heterogeneity of disease symptoms in those infected with the COVID-19-causing virus, SARS-CoV-2, Liu and colleagues (Liu et al., 2020) set out to elucidate whether there were differences in viral dynamics between patients with severe versus mild COVID-19. More specifically, the authors evaluated the shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal samples.
SARS-CoV-2 transmission and mask wearing.
Use of face masks, has gained much attention, with the World Health Organization urging people to use them wisely as there is a worldwide shortage. As a result, the general public has started using cloth masks as an alternative, although their efficacy remains to be proven. If a complete shortage of N95 and surgical masks (surgical masks) occurs, HCW...
Convalescent sera option for containing COVID-19
According to Casadevall A and Pirofski using convalescent sera as passive antibody (Ab) therapy may be an option for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 that could be available as soon as sufficient numbers of people recover and can donate immunoglobulin-containing serum.
Potential SARS-CoV-2 & COVID-19 Vaccines
As the number of novel coronavirus infections rises daily across the globe, strategies for developing a safe and effective vaccine are rapidly moving forward. Recently published perspective by Amanat & Kramer highlights 6 main vaccine-platforms being investigated. It is estimated that more than 24 COVID-19 vaccine candidates .