Researchers develop saliva testing method for SARS-CoV-2 using robotic RNA extraction
Researchers have developed an automated method of RNA extraction from saliva samples to allow faster processing times and high test sensitivity. Saliva testing could be used as an alternative to swab testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance.
Overview of nucleic acid extraction from saliva specimens a , Overview of Innovative Genomics Institute’s (IGI’s) specimen processing pipeline for both swab and saliva samples. OP = oropharyngeal. OP-MT = oropharyngeal-mid turbinate. b , Cultured SARS-CoV-2 (1.58x10 6 TCID50/ml) was mixed 1:1 with OMNIgene solution present in OM-505 collection tubes to test incubation conditions that inactivate viral replication. Samples were either held at room temperature (RT) or incubated at 65°C for the indicated length of time before being applied to Vero-E6 cells. Cytopathic effect (CPE) was quantified at 3 and 7 days post treatment (dpt). c ,
A recent study has found that extracellular vimentin can bind to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in vitro, and antibodies against vimentin can decrease virus infectivity by up to 80%. This suggests vimentin could aid the virus’s binding to host cells and help in infection.
Researchers studied convalescent plasma from recovered coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, with samples collected up to 34 weeks after recovery. They found IgG antibodies gradually declined with a median half-life of about 60 days.
SARS-CoV-2 viral load in saliva may be linked to COVID-19 disease severity
Researchers at Yale University and other major institutions found that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral loads in saliva are higher for patients with associated risk factors and underlying conditions that lead to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and death. Thus, saliva viral loads could be used to predict disease severity.
The symptoms and severity of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2, differ widely among patients. Some patients are asymptomatic, while in others, the condition becomes severe, requiring medical intervention and can also lead to death.
Severe manifestations of the disease have been mainly seen in older men who also have other diseases. In these cases, patients show a strong inflammatory response, and production of cytokines and chemokines. However, it is still not clear which factors affect disease severity and can explain the different
A common compound in mouthwashes found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro
Researchers found that cetylpyridinium chloride, found in most mouthwashes, lowers infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
in vitro, likely by inhibiting viral fusion with target cells. With more tests to prove validity, mouthwashes could be a simple, cheap way of curbing transmission.
Studies in the past have shown that mouthwashes can have antiviral properties. They can decrease airborne respiratory coronavirus infections, including infections from the flu virus and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
If more tests prove the antiviral properties of mouthwashes, they may be a potent and economical strategy to combat the pandemic. Using mouthwashes would be a cheap and easily accessible strategy that can be quickly implemented. Reducing viral loads in the mouth can