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  • SARS-COV-2 was already spreading in France in late December 2019

    6 May, 2020

    The COVID-19 epidemic is believed to have started in late January 2020 in France. We report here a case of a patient hospitalized in December 2019 in our intensive care, of our hospital in the north of Paris, for hemoptysis with no etiological diagnosis and for which RT-PCR was performed retrospectively on the stored respiratory sample which confirmed the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Based on this result, it appears that the COVID-19 epidemic started much earlier.


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  • Rapid reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 using a synthetic genomics platform

    6 May, 2020

    Reverse genetics has been an indispensable tool revolutionising insights into viral pathogenesis and vaccine development. Large RNA virus genomes, such as from Coronaviruses, are cumbersome to clone and manipulate in E. coli due to size and occasional instability1–3. Therefore, an alternative rapid and robust reverse genetics platform for RNA viruses would benefit the research community. Here we show the full functionality of a yeast-based synthetic genomics platform to genetically recons...
  • SARS-CoV-2 productively infects human gut enterocytes

    5 May, 2020
    The virus severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can cause coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an influenza-like disease that is primarily thought to infect the lungs with transmission via the respiratory route. However, clinical evidence suggests that the intestine may present another viral target organ. Indeed, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is highly expressed on differentiated enterocytes. In human small intestinal organoids (hSIOs), ...
  • Site-specific glycan analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 spike

    5 May, 2020
    The emergence of the betacoronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, represents a significant threat to global human health. Vaccine development is focused on the principal target of the humoral immune response, the spike (S) glycoprotein, which mediates cell entry and membrane fusion. SARS-CoV-2 S gene encodes 22 N-linked glycan sequons per protomer, which likely play a role in protein folding and immune evasion. Here, using a site-specific mass spectrometric approach, the scie...
  • Management Considerations for the Surgical Treatment of Colorectal Cancer During the Global Covid-19 Pandemic

    5 May, 2020

    Surgical practice guidelines for colorectal cancer must be modified for the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic as well as potential future outbreaks. Data to support delays in surgical care are limited. This review published in Annals of Surgery analyzes management recommendations and the strength of published evidence using the GRADE system to provide a rational basis for clinical decision-making.

    Colorectal cancer surgeries - prioritized as emergency, urgent with (a) imminent emerge...
  • Management Considerations for the Surgical Treatment of Colorectal Cancer During the Global Covid-19 Pandemic

    5 May, 2020
    Surgical practice guidelines for colorectal cancer must be modified for the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic as well as potential future outbreaks. Data to support delays in surgical care are limited. This review published in Annals of Surgery analyzes management recommendations and the strength of published evidence using the GRADE system to provide a rational basis for clinical decision-making.
    Colorectal cancer surgeries - prioritized as emergency, urgent with (a) imminent emergency or (...
  • A human monoclonal antibody blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection

    5 May, 2020

    The emergence of the novel human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China has caused a worldwide epidemic of respiratory disease (COVID-19). Vaccines and targeted therapeutics for treatment of this disease are currently lacking. Here we report a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 (and SARS-CoV) in cell culture. This cross-neutralizing antibody targets a communal epitope on these viruses and may offer potential for prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
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  • SARS-CoV-2 is present in peritoneal fluid in COVID-19 patients

    4 May, 2020
    Abstract
    The excretion patho-mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 are actually unknown. No certain data exist about viral load in the different body compartments and fluids during the different disease phases. 
    In this study, specific real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction targeting three SARS-CoV-e genes were used to detect the presence of the virus. 
    Findings show that SARS-CoV-2 is present in peritoneal fluid at a higher concentration than in respiratory tract. Detection ...
  • Contamination of Health Care Personnel During Removal of Personal Protective Equipment

    4 May, 2020
    Abstract
    Importance: Contamination of the skin and clothing of health care personnel during removal of personal protective equipment (PPE) contributes to dissemination of pathogens and places personnel at risk for infection.

    Objectives: To determine the frequency and sites of contamination on the skin and clothing of personnel during PPE removal and to evaluate the effect of an intervention on the frequency of contamination.

    Design, setting, and participants: We conducted a p...
  • Imbalanced host response to SARS-CoV-2 drives development of COVID-19

    4 May, 2020
    Viral pandemics, such as the one caused by SARS-CoV-2, pose an imminent threat to humanity. Because of its recent emergence, there is a paucity of information regarding viral behavior and host response following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we offer an indepth analysis of the transcriptional response to SARS-CoV-2 as it compares to other respiratory viruses. Cell and animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infections, in addition to transcriptional and serum profiling of COVID-19 patients, consistentl...
  • A SARS-CoV-2 protein interaction map reveals targets for drug repurposing

    1 May, 2020

    The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 respiratory disease, has infected over 2.3 million people, killed over 160,000, and caused worldwide social and economic disruption. There are currently no antiviral drugs with proven clinical efficacy, nor are there vaccines for its prevention, and these efforts are hampered by limited knowledge of the molecular details of SARS-CoV-2 infection. To address this, these scientifics cloned, tagged and expressed 26 of the 29 SA...
  • Pathological evidence for residual SARS-CoV-2 in pulmonary tissues of a ready-for-discharge patient

    1 May, 2020



    SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus and causing COVID-19, has given rise to a worldwide pandemic. So far, tens of thousands of COVID-19 patients have been clinically cured and discharged, but multiple COVID-19 cases showed SARS-CoV-2 positive again in discharged patients, which raises an attention for the dis- charged patients. Also, there is an urgent need to understand the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
    Here, you can read postmortem pathologic study in a ready-for- dischar...