For the last several weeks, the news has been dominated not only by updates on the COVID-19 vaccine but also by a potential mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There is significant public concern about this variant, which emerged in Europe several months ago and was named D614G, but little research has been published thus far. A recent article in Science Magazine features a collaborative project between University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Wisconsin-Madison analyzing the effects of the mutation.
News
CEIRS Researchers Review the Effects of the Microbiome on Vaccination
An individual’s microbiome plays a big part in every aspect of their health. CEIRS researchers reviewed the implications the microbiome may have on vaccine efficacy.
SJCEIRS Researcher Featured on NPR
Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry, a leading researcher at St. Jude CEIRS, was included in an interview with NPR science correspondent Joe Palca about approval for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The interview focused on the science behind vaccine development and the approval requirements. New COVID-19 vaccines are being approved by the FDA through a process called an “emergency use authorization” in order to get them to vulnerable populations more quickly, so… Read more »
CEIRS Researchers Publish Promising Data from Universal Influenza Vaccine Clinical Trial
The efficacy of the flu vaccine has long been an area of interest for researchers. Because of the high rate of mutations between influenza strains, the vaccines developed annually may not always match the prevailing strain that is circulating in the population. This is problematic from a public health perspective and may lead to a… Read more »
CRIP Investigators Publish Key SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Findings
Several investigators from the Center for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis (CRIP), including Drs. Daniel Stadlbauer, Harm van Bakel, and Florian Krammer, completed a retrospective analysis of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in New York City that has been accepted for publication by Nature. The study is based on a large and demographically diverse dataset that was assessed over several months during the first wave of… Read more »
International Collaboration Identifies Biological Markers of COVID-19 Severity
Most people infected with COVID-19 only have mild or moderate symptoms, but some are much more severe. This study assessed immune response and clinical history from patients at two medical centers in order to compare type and severity of respiratory disease.
Dr. Mohamed Ali receives the Egyptian State Merit Award for his work on infectious disease surveillance
Professor Mohamed Ali is a virologist and the director of the Centre of Excellence for Influenza Viruses at the National Research Centre in Egypt, as well as a SJCEIRS collaborator. He was recently recognized with the prestigious State Merit Award from the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Cairo for his extensive research on… Read more »
Hong Kong contact tracing study identifies case clusters and superspreading events
Previous coronavirus epidemics have included superspreader events as important mechanisms of disease transmission. This study, using data from contact tracing in Hong Kong early in the pandemic, demonstrates how different events and interactions facilitate or prevent SARS-CoV-2 spread.
Study reports first direct evidence of germinal center response in humans following influenza vaccination
CEIRS scientists compare lymphoid tissue and blood cell samples to determine origins of vaccine response. This research hopes to improve influenza vaccine efficacy by creating broad-spectrum protection against various virus strains.
Dutch study does not find evidence of transmission of COVID-19 in hospitals
A consistent theme throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is assessing risk to healthcare workers. In a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, CEIRS investigators determined that Dutch healthcare workers who were infected in the early stages of the outbreak were likely infected through community spread and not in a hospital setting. Understanding risk of disease spread in hospitals, or nosocomoal transmission, is critical in mitigating future hazards to the population.