Phys.org May 17, 2023 Researchers in the UK have developed antimicrobial surface film based on sustainable micro fibrillated cellulose. The porosity, and microstructure of the film can be modulated by the formulations and the coating process. They observed a threefold reduction in water contact angles and accelerated water evaporation kinetics on the cellulose film (more than 50% faster than that on a flat glass surface). It exhibited a rapid inactivation effect against SARS-CoV-2 in 5 minutes, following deposition of virus-loaded droplets, and an exceptional ability to reduce contact transfer of liquid, e.g., respiratory droplets, to surfaces such as an artificial […]
Tag Archives: Epidemics
Mathematical model offers new insights into spread of epidemics
Phys.org October 8, 2021 The complexity of real-world scenarios still poses new theoretical challenges for mathematical modeling of epidemic spreading. Existing network models of epidemic spreading often focus on contacts between pairs of individuals while co-location of individuals such as in the workplace, restaurants, or gym typically include more than two people. An international team of researchers (Canada, UK, USA – University of Vermont) has developed a new approach to epidemic modeling that considers interactions between two or more people in the same location and for different amounts of time and considered emerging evidence that suggests a minimal infective dose […]
Deadly virus’s pathway to infect cells identified
Science Daily September 23, 2021 Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic pathogen with pandemic potential. RVFV entry is mediated by the viral glycoprotein (Gn), but host entry factors remain poorly defined. An international team of researchers (USA – Washington University, University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, MIT, Canada) conducted genome-wide CRISPR screen and identified low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (mouse Lrp1/human LRP1), heat shock protein (Grp94), and receptor-associated protein (RAP) as critical host factors for RVFV infection. RVFV Gn directly binds to specific Lrp1 clusters and is glycosylation independent. Exogenous addition of murine RAP domain 3 (mRAPD3) and anti-Lrp1 […]
A Coronavirus Epidemic Hit Humanity 20,000 Years Ago, DNA Study Reveals
Science Alert June 24, 2021 Modern human genomes contain evolutionary information tracing back tens of thousands of years, which may help identify the viruses that have impacted our ancestors—pointing to which viruses have future pandemic potential. An international team of researchers (Australia, USA – University of Arizona, UCSF) applied evolutionary analyses to human genomic datasets to recover selection events involving tens of human genes that interact with coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, that likely started more than 20,000 years ago. These adaptive events were limited to the population ancestral to East Asian populations. Multiple lines of functional evidence support an ancient viral […]
Duke University Develops Portable Diagnostic to Detect Early Biomarkers of Ebola Virus
Global Biodefense April 7, 2021 Ebola virus (EBOV) hemorrhagic fever outbreaks have been challenging to deter due to the lack of health care infrastructure in disease-endemic countries and a corresponding inability to diagnose and contain the disease at an early stage. EBOV vaccines and therapies have improved disease outcomes, but the advent of an affordable, easily accessed, mass-produced rapid diagnostic test (RDT) that matches the performance of more resource-intensive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays would be invaluable in containing future outbreaks. A team of researchers in the US (Duke University, UT Galveston) has developed and demonstrated the performance of a […]
Reemergence of Human Monkeypox and Declining Population Immunity in the Context of Urbanization, Nigeria, 2017–2020
Global Biodefense March 9, 2021 Using the monkeypox outbreak in Nigeria during 2017–2020 researchers in Australia built a statistical model to simulate declining immunity from monkeypox at 2 levels: At the individual level, they used a constant rate of decline in immunity of 1.29% per year as smallpox vaccination rates fell. At the population level, the cohort of vaccinated residents decreased over time because of deaths and births. By 2016, only 10.1% of the total population in Nigeria was vaccinated against smallpox; the serologic immunity level was 25.7% among vaccinated persons and 2.6% in the overall population. The substantial resurgence […]
Vaccine shows signs of protection against dozen-plus flu strains
Science Daily March 3, 2021 Influenza A virus infection in swine impacts the agricultural industry in addition to its zoonotic potential. A team of researchers in the US (University of Nebraska, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, TN, Los Alamos National Laboratory) designed a universal swine H3 influenza vaccine using epigraph, a computational algorithm. The epigraph hemagglutinin proteins were delivered using an Adenovirus type 5 vector and compared to a wild type of hemagglutinin and the commercial inactivated vaccine, FluSure. In mice, epigraph vaccination leads to significant cross-reactive antibody and T-cell responses against a diverse panel of swH3 isolates. Epigraph vaccination also […]
Startling Case Study Finds Asymptomatic COVID-19 Carrier Who Shed Virus For 70 Days
Science Alert November 5, 2020 An international team of researchers (USA – NIH, Washington University, industry, UK) have observed long-term SARS-CoV-2 shedding up to 70 days, and genomic and subgenomic RNA up to 105 days past initial diagnosis from the upper respiratory tract of a female immunocompromised patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Several weeks after a second convalescent plasma transfusion, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was no longer detected. They observed marked within-host genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2, with continuous turnover of dominant viral variants. Their data indicate that certain immunocompromised patients may shed infectious virus for longer durations than previously recognized. They recommend […]
An innovative modelling approach to more accurately predict COVID-19 outbreaks
EurekAlert October 26, 2020 Researchers at Leigh University, working under an NIH funded program, have developed a new approach that uses computational models based on data, in concert with human judgement, to produce more accurate forecasts of COVID-19 outbreaks. According to the researchers their approach has the potential to forecast outbreaks more accurately than current ensemble predictions because it incorporates computational models trained on formatted datasets and predictions from humans who have access to unstructured data. They will also model possible interventions by collecting probabilistic predictions from experts on optimal interventions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S., […]
Keep Focus on Emerging Infections, Disease X: Analysts
Global Biodefense October 24, 2020 According to the latest G-Finder report, compiled by global health think tank Policy Cures Research despite rapid growth of global spending to tackle emerging infectious diseases, which largely impact the developing world, much of the basic research and development takes place in industrial countries. Funding is very much driven by epidemics. It does not square with a forward-looking approach. According to the researchers will never be prepared for the next pandemic if we only invest in R&D targeting diseases grabbing headlines at the time. US share of overall emerging infectious disease research funding was 85 […]