Daily curated COVID-19 literature
WP11 - The objective of this work package is to respond to requests concerning the current scientific knowledge on SARS-CoV-2. Based on the latest scientific literature the team will compile findings and give advice when needed
150 publications
2020-05-27
A mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis
Expert Summary: The authors generated a mouse model expressing hACE2 using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. When performed intranasal infection with SARS-CoV-2, these mice sustain higher viral loads in lung, trachea and brain; they also develop interstitial pneumonia and elevated cytokines were observed. The authors present this animal model as a useful tool to study SARS-CoV-2 and evaluate COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.
Challenges in Laboratory Diagnosis of the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
Expert Summary: This review article discusses the currently available laboratory methods and surveillance technologies available for the detection of COVID-19, their performance characteristics, highlight the gaps in current diagnostic capacity and propose potential solutions. The authors summarize the specifications of the majority of the available commercial kits (PCR, EIA, and POC) for laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19.
Evaluating the use of posterior oropharyngeal saliva in a point-of-care assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2
Expert Summary: In this study, The authors assessed the use of posterior oropharyngeal saliva as specimens for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in an automated point-of-care molecular assay. Archived nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and posterior oropharyngeal saliva specimens of 58 COVID-19 patients were tested with the Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay. In conclusion, posterior oropharyngeal saliva and NPS were found to have similar detection rates in the point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Due to the easy collection of posterior oropharyngeal saliva, the use of saliva as an alternative specimen type for SARS-...
2020-05-25
Herd Immunity: Understanding COVID-19
Expert Summary: The authors explain the basic concepts of herd immunity and discuss its implications in the context of COVID-19.
Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 — Preliminary Report
Expert Summary: There is currently no effective therapy against Covid-19. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intravenous remdesivir in adults hospitalized with Covid-19 with evidence of lower respiratory tract involvement showed that remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults hospitalized with Covid-19 and evidence of lower respiratory tract infection.
COVID-19 Research in Brief: 9 May to 15 May, 2020
Expert Summary: Nature Medicine summarizes all the research you need to know of last week to keep on top of how science is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nasal Gene Expression of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 in Children and Adults
Expert Summary: The lower risk among children for SARS-COV2 infection is hypothesized to be due to lower expression of Ace2, limiting the virus entry. This study investigated expression of Ace2 in nasal epithelium uin children and adults and found age-dependent expression of ACE2 in nasal epithelium, the first point of contact for SARS-CoV-2 and the human body.
2020-05-22
Ten reasons why immunity passports are a bad idea
Expert Summary: The authors state that any documentation that limits individual freedoms on the basis of biology allows human rights restrictions, increasing discrimination and threatens public health.
