SARS-CoV-2

COVID-19 is riskier for people living with HIV than originally thought—upping the odds of dying by 30%, according to a new study of 15,000 cases across 24 countries. 

The US has surpassed 600,000 COVID-19 deaths—the highest of any country in the world, 

Our immune response to SARS-CoV-2 centers on the virus’s spike protein. All 3 COVID vaccines authorized in the US are based on a modified version of spike called 2P. A new, more resilient version called HexaPro may be even better.  

It’s not impossible to get infected with SARS-CoV-2 from contaminated surfaces—but the risk is extremely low—less than 1 in 10,000, the CDC confirmed yesterday,

Overlooked during the global fixation on vaccinations: oral antivirals pills.   A pill-based “Tamiflu approach” would be easier than current therapies like monoclonal antibodies and convalescent plasma that need intravenous infusions.

Good news on reinfection front: US NIH researchers found that people with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies showed “substantial” immunity to the virus at least for a few months, 

A new South Africa variant of SARS-CoV-2 is prompting concerns about increased transmission and how effective current vaccines will be against it,

The SARS-CoV-2 mutation now rapidly spreading across England’s South East is potentially up to 70% more infectious than its predecessor—but not necessarily more dangerous, according to a new 

Could a novel strain of SARS-CoV-2 identified this month be linked to an accelerating spread in the country’s southeast? 

WHO advisors are meeting today to discuss deliberately infecting young, healthy volunteers with SARS-CoV-2 to hasten vaccine development—despite the promising vaccines already on the way.   Pros: Faster results than conventional vaccine field trials…