Neurons result from a highly complex and unique series of cell divisions. For example, in fruit flies, the process starts with stem cells that divide into mother cells (progenitor cells), that then divide into precursor cells that eventually become neurons….
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Novel mRNA delivery vehicle provides alternative to LNPs for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
Researchers in the United States have developed an alternative messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery platform to the lipid nanoparticles that are currently used in vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019…
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Experimental evidence that ADAM17 inhibition prevents severe COVID-19
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that is contagious in humans. It is the causal agent of the ongoing coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This virus causes a mild to severe infection and has…
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Identification of specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with cross-neutralization potency
A team of scientists from the USA and Canada recently characterized the cross-neutralizing potency of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies isolated from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. The findings reveal that some of the isolated antibodies targeting…
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Impact of type I interferon (IFN) autoantibodies in critical COVID-19
The emergence and rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has triggered the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To date, over 118 million cases have been confirmed, and over 2.6 million have lost their lives. The sheer…
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New mRNA treatment appears to stop replication of flu and Covid-19 viruses
With a relatively minor genetic change, a new treatment developed by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University appears to stop replication of both flu viruses and the virus that causes Covid-19. Best of all, the treatment…
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Could rotavirus vaccine platforms aid in the immunization campaign against SARS-CoV-2?
Rotavirus is a common diarrheal disease that affects young children. Live oral rotavirus vaccines have been used to reduce its incidence in many countries. However, with the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and amid focus on vaccines…
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Regulation of Gene Expression
Gene expression can be regulated by various cellular processes with the aim to control the amount and nature of the expressed genes. Expression of genes can be controlled with the help of regulatory proteins at numerous levels. These regulatory proteins…
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What are Viral Retroposons?
By Gillian D’Souza, MSc Retroposons are repetitive DNA fragments that are inserted into a host chromosome after reverse transcription from an RNA molecule. Credit: Katryna Kon/Shutterstock.com Retroposons that share structural similarities with retroviruses, such as the HIV virus, are called…
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What is Sugar-Coated RNA?
“Sugar-coated RNA” is a term that was coined after a pre-printed article last year reported that some sugars seem to bind to RNAs, molecules that carry DNA instruction for protein synthesis and catalyze chemical reactions. Image Credits: nobeastsofierce /…
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