Moderna Inc’s (MRNA.O) experimental COVID-19 vaccine, the first to be tested in the United States, produced protective antibodies in a small group of healthy volunteers, according to very early data released by the biotech company on Monday.



The data comes from eight people who took part in a 45-subject safety trial that kicked off in March. The Moderna vaccine is one of more than 100 under development intended to protect against the novel coronavirus that has infected more...

Abstract"A novel coronavirus was recently discovered and termed SARS-CoV-2. Human infection can cause coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has been rapidly spreading around the globe. SARS-CoV-2 shows some similarities to other coronaviruses. However, treatment options and a cellular understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection are lacking. Here we identify the host cell pathways modulated by SARS-CoV-2 infection and show that inhibition of these pathways prevent viral replication in human cel...

A test to find out whether people have been infected with coronavirus in the past has been approved by health officials in England.

Public Health England said the antibody test, developed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, was a "very positive development".

The blood test looks for antibodies to see if a person has already had the virus and might now have some immunity.

Until now, officials have said such tests are not reliable enough.






<...

Immune warriors known as T cells help us fight some viruses, but their importance for battling SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has been unclear. Now, two new studies reveal that infected people harbor T cells that target the virus—and may help them recover. Both studies also found that some people never infected with SARS-CoV-2 have these cellular defenses, most likely because they were previously infected with other coronaviruses.

“This is encouraging data,” says virol...

At least eight candidates for a coronavirus vaccine are in the clinical development stage, and some could be ready as early as the “late fall”, Anthony Fauci, the US’ top infectious disease expert, has told senators.
“The [National Institutes of Health] has been collaborating with a number of pharmaceutical companies at various stages of development,” Mr Fauci said, in testimony on Tuesday.


As part of that plan, the administration is moving ahead with production of the vaccines ...

Spain recorded fewer fatalities from the coronavirus as about half the country’s population awaits a further easing of lockdown restrictions starting Monday.

The number of deaths in the last 24 hours was 143, the lowest tally since March 18, versus 179 the previous day, according to Health Ministry data. The number of new cases rose by 621, slightly more than 604 the previous day.

The government has authorized a further partial easing of restrictions from Monday for areas of...

A combination of three antiviral drugs plus an immune system booster seemed to help patients recover more quickly from coronavirus infections, doctors in Hong Kong reported Friday.



They said the approach needs more testing but it could offer another treatment possibility for Covid-19 patients. Currently the only authorized treatment is the experimental antiviral drug remdesivir, which also shortens the duration of illness but is limited in supply.
Dr. Kwok-Yung Yuen at H...

A new study adds to evidence of immunity among those who have already been exposed to the pathogen.
A new study offers a glimmer of hope in the grim fight against the coronavirus: Nearly everyone who has had the disease — regardless of age, sex or severity of illness — makes antibodies to the virus.

The study, posted online on Tuesday but not yet reviewed by experts, also hints that anyone who has recovered from infection may safely return to work — although it is unclear how long t...

The company has developed the test in record time in a global coordinated effort of its facilities in San Diego, Barcelona and Bilbao, and has recently received the authorization of the Spanish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (AEMPS) for its use in blood, plasma and respiratory samples. It has a sensitivity equal or even superior to that of other molecular tests currently available, such as those based on PCR.


Thanks to this high sensitivity, the molecular test will also permi...

Both drugs are FDA-approved for other illnesses.

Korean researchers have screened 48 FDA-approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2, and found that two, that are already FDA-approved for other illnesses, seem promising. The FDA approval for other uses would greatly reduce the time needed to gain FDA approval of use in COVID-19. The research is published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

The UK government launched its first test of a coronavirus contact tracing app Monday on a small island off the south coast of England.

Using bluetooth technology, the app will alert users if they have been near someone who has tested positive for the virus. The app, which was developed by the digital technology unit of the National Health Service (NHS), will also upload information to a central database to help public health experts study the behavior of the virus.
Click here f...

New Zealand has recorded its first day of no new cases of Covid-19 since a stringent national lockdown began more than one month ago.

The public has been engrossed by the daily release of case numbers by the health ministry each afternoon – especially as a deadline looms for the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, to decide whether the country’s lockdown rules will ease further next Monday.

One week into level-3 restrictions, however, officials sounded a cautious note as breache...