A new preprint deals with the characterization of neutrophil phenotypes in an attempt to provide biomarkers that can predict severe disease in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
In a study that will be published in Nature Communications on May 28, 2021, a research team led by Dr. Yuan Liu from Georgia State University reports that intratumoral SIRPα-deficient macrophages activate tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells to eliminate various syngeneic cancers under radiotherapy.
Do vaccinations result in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in human milk?
Human breastmilk has been found to be one of the best sources of nutrition for infant health and development while also aiding the maturation of the immune system. This is significant as when a pregnant mother experiences an infection, her antibody response can be transferred to the milk, with specific antibodies reportedly being found in milk. Due to the exclusion of pregnant women from initial clinical trials of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines, there are limited data on the effects of vaccination on breastfeeding women.
This has given rise to a longitudinal study based in Spain observed 75 lactating women receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. The aim of this study investigates the impact of different types of vaccines on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels found in human milk. A pre-print version of the observational study is ava
Researchers develop a nanoparticle-based formulation with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity
A study recently published in the journal
Matter has demonstrated the development and validation of a nanoparticle-based formulation, capable of completely inhibiting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection blocking the interaction between viral spike protein and host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).
A scanning electron microscope image of a nanotrap (orange) binding a simulated SARS-CoV-2 virus (dots in green). Scientists at the University of Chicago created these nanoparticles as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Image courtesy Chen and Rosenberg et al.
Background
SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is an enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the human Coronaviridae family. It is now well-established that SARS-CoV-2 infection initiates with the binding of viral spike protein to ho
Why does convalescent plasma therapy for severe COVID-19 show mixed success?
Treatment modalities against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are limited in efficacy. This has led many centers to use convalescent plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients in the management of this condition.
A surprising new preprint, released on the
medRxiv server, suggests that the beneficial effects of convalescent plasma (CP) in this disease stem not only from the presence of neutralizing antibodies, but also the immunomodulatory effects of this plasma that shapes the host immune response.
Discrepancy in results from convalescent plasma trials
Randomized controlled trials have failed to yield evidence of significant benefit from CP when administered late in the course of illness. However, within three days of symptom onset, CP with high titers of antibodies led to a 73% reduction in the risk of progressive COVID-19.