MIT Study finds specific cells in the lungs, nasal passages, and intestines that are more susceptible to infection Researchers at MIT; the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard; and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; along with colleagues from around the world have identified specific types of cells that appear to be targets
In a paper recently published by a team of New York researchers Hydroxychloroquine administration was not associated with either a greatly lowered or an increased risk of the composite end point of intubation or death. Hydroxychloroquine has been widely administered to patients with Covid-19 without robust evidence supporting its use. The association between hydroxychloroquine use
Effective antiviral therapy is important for tackling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this paper published on The Lancet the efficacy and safety of combined interferon beta-1b, lopinavir–ritonavir, and ribavirin for treating patients with COVID-19 was assessed. Methods This was a multicentre, prospective, open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial in adults with COVID-19 who were
The rapid global spread of the novel coronavirus SARS–CoV–2 has caused societal, economic, and medical upheaval not seen since the 1918 influenza pandemic. As of May 9th, cases were confirmed in 203 countries, areas or territories, with over 3.9 million confirmed cases and over 275,000 deaths. Further, many experts believe these numbers to be a
As the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third month, businesses in the United States are marketing unlicensed and unproven stem-cell-based “therapies” and exosome products that claim to prevent or treat the disease. In Cell Stem Cell on May 5, bioethicist Leigh Turner describes how these companies are “seizing the pandemic as an opportunity to profit from hope and
Based on previous research that explored therapies against SARS-CoV, a new report has identified a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) that prevents the SARS-CoV-2 virus from infecting cultured cells. Authored by a team of researchers from Utrecht University, Erasmus Medical Center, and Harbour BioMed, the report was published in Nature Communications on May 4. Monoclonal antibodies that
Cytokine storms may impact the severity of COVID-19 cases by lowering T-cell populations, according to a study published in Frontiers in Immunology on May 1. The immune response against virus-infected cells often requires activation of cytotoxic T cells to clear infection. Therefore, a boost in number and function of T cells — a specialized type of white
Preliminary research from the US has suggested one particular mutation – G614 -has emerged in Europe and become dominant around the planet, leading the researchers to believe the virus has mutated to become more contagious. The paper hasn’t yet been reviewed by other scientists and formally published. The bold hypothesis, however, was immediately met with skepticism
Scientists and international bodies including Stem Cells Australia, the International Society for Stem Cell Research, the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy and EuroStemCell have raised the alarm about the marketing of unproven therapies during the pandemic, warning of damage to patients and to the credibility of the field. Source The Medical Republic Professor Daniel
FDA has issued guidance to provide recommendations to health care providers and investigators on the administration and study of investigational convalescent plasma collected from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 (COVID-19 convalescent plasma) during the public health emergency. The guidance provides recommendations on the following: pathways for use of investigational COVID-19 convalescent plasma patient eligibility collection of
