Coronavirus

Keep up-to-date with the latest research news, political developments, and background information on COVID-19.

News • Airway bacteria

Oral and lung microbiome differs drastically in long Covid patients

A study of more than 700 people has shown that those with long Covid have a distinctly different mix of bacteria – the microbiome – that live in their mouths and lungs.

News • Information processing in biological systems

'Computing' disease course with bacteria

Bacterial growth could be used for information processing – for example, to predict the severity of an infection. New research results could pave the way for simple and low-cost diagnostic methods.

News • Post-infection outcomes

Diabetes worsens long Covid complications

Slower recovery, more complications, longer monitoring: People with diabetes face considerably worse long-term effects after a coronavirus infection – also known as long Covid, a new study shows.

News • Infection prevention

Needle-free ‘universal vaccine’ could protect from future virus outbreaks

A research team has developed a way to engineer better vaccines that could provide broad protection from thousands of variants of viruses - such as coronaviruses or Ebola - in a single vaccine.

News • TSPO PET study

Brain inflammation unlikely to explain long Covid symptoms

Persistent long Covid symptoms are often linked to brain inflammation. However, results from a new study point at a different explanantion for fatigue, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression.

News • Combination of complementary approaches

New dual antiviral strategy against Covid-19 pathogen

A new study proposes a new antiviral strategy against SARS-CoV-2 based on a treatment that combines two complementary approaches, capable of attacking the virus simultaneously.

News • Dolosigranulum pigrum

“Lazy” bacteria may protect against long Covid

Scientists have discovered the protective role of a bacterium that could prevent long Covid. Their discovery could lead to the development of new therapy approaches.

News • tRNA reprogramming mechanism identified

New therapeutic target to curb coronavirus spread

Coronaviruses can generate new variants capable of infecting humans after circulating in animal reservoirs. Researchers develop broad-spectrum antiviral drugs to curb the spread of these pathogens.

News • Reserach on side effects

Covid vaccine and decrease in childbirth: study debunks fertility-related rumours

Can a Covid-19 vaccination reduce fertility? A new study from Linköping University finds no evidence to back up rumours naming vaccinations as a cause behind a decrease in childbirth.

News • Residual lung abnormality

Promising biomarker detects lingering lung damage after Covid-19

A new study into the long-term health impacts of coronavirus has found changes in the blood after Covid-19 that might pinpoint patients at risk of ongoing lung disease.

News • Altered brain connection

fMRI reveals why thinking feels so hard for ME/CFS and Long Covid patients

Brain fog explained: People with ME/CFS and long Covid experience a disruption to their brain connectivity during a mentally demanding task, new research finds.

News • Sex-specific dysregulation

Why women are three times more likely to get severe long Covid

New research reveals why women with long Covid — especially those who develop chronic fatigue syndrome — tend to experience more severe and persistent symptoms than men do.

News • Link between Covid, flu, HIV and CVD

Viral infections may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

After a bout of influenza or Covid, the risk of heart attack or stroke may rise dramatically, and chronic infections may increase the long-term risk of serious cardiovascular disease events.

News • Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Blood test for ME/CFS unveiled

Chronic fatigue (ME/CFS) affects millions worldwide, but is poorly understood and has long lacked reliable diagnostic tools. Now, a new blood test claims to diagnose the condition with 96% accuracy.

News • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Heart rhythm disorder POTS common in long Covid patients

Dizziness upon standing up or during exertion: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) affects almost a third of patients with severe long Covid, a new study finds.

News • Focus on AMPA receptor density

Molecular basis of Long Covid's “brain fog” uncovered

New insights on the mechanisms that cause “brain fog” in Long Covid patients: Researchers use a specialized brain imaging technique to identify a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.

News • Higher risk stroke and heart attack

Covid infection accelerates vascular aging – especially in women

Blood vessels become stiffer with age, but a new study suggests that a Covid infection could accelerate this process, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack.

News • Viral persistence in the brainstem

Long Covid: Researchers find clues for "brain fog" origin

After an infection with the coronavirus Sars-CoV-2, the virus is able to persist at low levels in the brainstem, new research finds. This helps explain some of the enduring neurological symptoms.

News • Respiratory viruses wake up cells in the lungs

How Covid-19 and flu infections revive dormant breast cancer

Common respiratory infections such as influenza and Covid-19 can awaken dormant breast cancer cells that have spread to the lungs, setting the stage for new metastatic tumors, new research finds.

News • Radiology consensus statement

How to: CT imaging for post-Covid-19

CT imaging is important to detect residual lung abnormalities after a Covid-19 infection. To avoid confusion with interstitial lung diseases, experts from 14 countries published a best-practice guide.

News • Tracking current and emerging threats

Combined wastewater and individual testing for better virus detection

When someone is infected with a virus, traces of it are shed in their bodily waste and end up in the sewage system. Thus, combined wastewater and individual testing can benefit public health response.

News • COVID-related acute kidney injury

COVID-19 vaccination lowers dialysis and mortality risk in patients with COVID-related acute kidney injury

COVID-19 vaccination reduces risk of dialysis and death in patients hospitalized with COVID-related acute kidney injury (AKI), new UCLA research shows. Vaccinated patients were less likely to require ongoing dialysis and more likely to survive after discharge than unvaccinated patients.

News • From neutrophil to PMN-MDSC

Blood cell corruption identified as path to severe Covid

A US research team has shown that Sars-CoV-2 can “reprogram” pathogen-fighting white blood cells into immune system suppressing cells — a potential mechanism by which severe Covid may arise.

News • Environmental impact

Plastic waste from test kits: call for urgent action

During the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone became familiar with lateral flow tests. These tests generate a lot of plastic waste, creating an environmental crisis. Experts call for urgent action.

News • CCTA reveals CVD impact

Covid-19 increases risk of cardiac events

The virus behind Covid-19 initially causes acute lung injury and respiratory failure. However, new evidence indicates the virus also involves inflammation that can affect the cardiovascular system.

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