The ancient Neanderthal hand in severe COVID-19
Reading Time: 3 minutesSINCE first appearing in late 2019, the novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, has had a range of impacts on those it infects. Some people become severely ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and require hospitalization, whereas others have mild symptoms or are even asymptomatic. There are several factors that influence a person’s susceptibility to […]
Washington University’s saliva test for Covid-19 faster and easier
Reading Time: < 1 minuteRESEARCHERS at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a new saliva test to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus faster and easier. The results from this diagnostic test are available in a few hours, and therefore easily communicated to people who were tested within the day. The test does not require special swabs or reagents […]
Genomic analysis reveals many animal species may be vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection
Reading Time: 2 minutesHUMANS are not the only species facing a potential threat from SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to a new study from the University of California, Davis. An international team of scientists used genomic analysis to compare the main cellular receptor for the virus in humans — angiotensin converting enzyme-2, or ACE2 — […]
YSD scholars engage in special development programme
Reading Time: 3 minutesIN recent years, organisations have begun focusing more on competencies rather than merely on credentials. Soft skills like strong leadership and innovative problem solving skills have become as sought after as academic excellence, if not more. Therefore, it is worrisome that the rate of unemployment among youths is increasing, not just due to COVID-19 but to […]
Experts develop nasal spray against Covid-19 virus
Reading Time: < 1 minuteTHE University of California at San Francisco successfully developed a nasal spray with one of the most potent SARS-CoV-2 antivirals yet discovered. Known as AeroNabs, it is promising protection against the COVID-19 virus until a vaccine becomes available. The performance of the antiviral is published in bioRxiv. The inventors describe AeroNabs as a molecular form of personal protective equipment […]
3 million face acute food insecurity, Burkina Faso grapples with COVID-19 and conflict
Reading Time: 2 minutesOUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso: Urgent and sustained action is needed to address worsening food and nutrition insecurity in Burkina Faso, say the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), citing alarming new data. Some 3.3 million people are estimated to be facing acute food insecurity during […]
Malaysian researchers discover unique lineage of Covid-19 virus in the country
Reading Time: 2 minutesKUANTAN: A consortium of researchers performing a whole genome sequencing of the prevailing Covid-19 virus in the country have discovered that the virus strains have [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ ] evolved from different lineages. The team from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) Kuantan and Makmal Kesihatan Awam Johor Baru were led by UMP’s Dr Hajar […]
Facemasks and lockdowns can halt second, third waves of Covid-19
Reading Time: 3 minutesPOPULATION-WIDE use of facemasks keeps the coronavirus ‘reproduction number’ under 1.0, and prevents further waves of the virus when combined with lockdowns, a modelling study from the universities of Cambridge and Greenwich suggests. The research suggests that lockdowns alone will not stop the resurgence of SARS-CoV-2, and that even homemade masks with limited effectiveness can […]
The ‘silent stealth’ of Covid-19
Reading Time: 2 minutesAN EXTRAORDINARY percentage of people infected by the virus behind the ongoing deadly COVID-19 pandemic never show symptoms of the disease, according to the results of a Scripps Research analysis of public datasets on asymptomatic infections. The findings, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, suggest that asymptomatic infections may account for as [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”2,3,5″ ihc_mb_template=”1″ […]
Bat ‘super immunity’ may explain how bats carry coronaviruses, study finds
Reading Time: 3 minutesA UNIVERSITY of Saskatchewan (USask) research team has uncovered how bats can carry the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus without getting sick — research that could shed light on how coronaviruses make the jump to humans and other animals. Coronaviruses such as MERS, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and more recently the COVID19-causing SARS-CoV-2 […]