One year after the first COVID-19 case was reported, researchers and medical professionals continue to learn more about the virus that causes it.
Through a $188,253 National Science Foundation grant, Rutgers University‒Camden researcher Andrey Grigoriev is studying the RNA genome of the coronavirus behind COVID-19 – and trying to anticipate how to combat its mutations in the future.
“Viruses undergo frequent mutations, and the worldwide effort of sequencing the RNA of thousands of coronavirus isolates allows us to analyze them using computational methods,” says Grigoriev, a Rutgers‒Camden professor of biology. “We search for the regions in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus genome that mutate rarely and try to understand what the reasons for such stability of these regions are.”
Even as the first vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are being distributed, scientists and clinicians around the world have remained steadfast in their efforts to better understand how the human immune system responds to the virus and protects people against it. Now, a research team led by Johns Hopkins Medicine and in collaboration with ImmunoScape, a U.S.-Singapore biotechnology company has published one of the most comprehensive characterizations to date of a critical contributor to that protection: the response of immune system cells called T lymphocytes (more commonly known as T cells) in people who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Project Supported by UVM Office of Engagement Grant Callahan (right) discusses ventilation for control of diseases in greens and tomatoes with local growers at the Mighty Food Farm in Shaftsbury, Vt. in late 2019.
As an agricultural engineer for the UVM Extension Service, Chris Callahan is finding his training and background useful in building a new web app to measure COVID-19 case counts.
“That might seem like a leap, but in my Extension work I’m using data all the time, advising farmers on water management, energy use, or development of new equipment. Lately the concerns have been with COVID the risk of partnering with customers in different states or counties.”
By Theresa Cordon and Kris Ross
How are they doing it? Hint: Your cellphone plays a big role.
We have all had to learn new ways to navigate the world in the age of COVID-19. For many, just deciding to leave home for essential needs has become a more thoughtful and planned process. But as we slowly resume a sense of normalcy and get back into our routines, could we be entering viral hotspots?
Researchers from Clarkson are working with their counterparts from Arizona State University (ASU) to empower communities with this knowledge.
Leading the project is Mahesh Banavar, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. Stephanie Schuckers, professor and director of the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) joins Banavar in collaborating with ASU researchers Andreas Spanias and Cihan Tepedelenlioglu to develop the technology that will use data collected from cell phone towers, WiFi and Bluetooth traces and a specialized algorithm to help detect poten