We have summarised all of the most recent news and research surrounding the novel coronavirus and put it here in one place!
Statistics
At the time of writing, there have been:
- 180,374,256 cases
- 3,907,694 deaths
- 165,100,576 recoveries
Research
- Researchers have found that viral genome sequencing of wastewater can provide an early warning system of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. (Wilton et al, 2021)
- Yale researchers have found that exposure to the rhinovirus (most frequent cause of the common cold) can protect against infection by SARS-CoV-2. (Cheermarla et al, 2021)
- A new study provides evidence that coronaviruses achieve pathogenesis through triggering programmed cell death. (Chu et al, 2021)
- A study in hamsters has found that SARS-CoV-2 can infect testes, which has important implications for men’s health. (Campos et al, 2021)
- Scientists have found that surges in COVID-19 case numbers are associated with deletions in the SARS-CoV-2 genome in an antigenic site of the spike protein. (Venkatakrishnan et al, 2021)
- A new study has suggested that immune responses may develop against other proteins produced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. (Heffron et al, 2021)
- Researchers have explored the way in which SARS-CoV-2 reprograms the metabolism of the host cell in order to gain an overall advantage. (Gassen et al, 2021)
- A team has successfully created a model of the cells found in the lungs that can be used to replicate how COVID-19 infects the airway. (Djidrovksi et al, 2021)
- By studying the brains of people who died of COVID-19, researchers have found signs of inflammation and impaired brain circuitry. (Yang et al, 2021)
- Using the methodology from GWAS, researchers have identified more deadly SARS-CoV-2 variants. (Hahn et al, 2021)
- New research indicates that SARS-CoV-2 produces microRNAs that can have an impact on infected cells. (Karimi et al, 2021)
Other news
- UCL researchers have developed a new method – known as Phone Screen Testing (PoST) – to detect the virus on phones with a similar accuracy to lateral flow tests. (Young et al, 2021)
- Novavax have announced strong results from a pivotal vaccine trial, showing 90% efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 infection. (Novavax, 2021)
- A rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome has been documented following Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccination. (Maramattom et al, 2021)
Image credit: By starline – freepik
