SARS antibody found to neutralise COVID-19 virus

An antibody first identified in a blood sample from a patient who recovered from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 has demonstrated the ability to prevent SARS-CoV-2 live virus infection of cells in the laboratory, says a study, raising new hope in the fight against COVID-19.

The antibody, called S309, is now on a fast-track development and testing path at San Francisco-headquartered Vir Biotechnology in the next step toward possible clinical trials.

The initial results, published in the journal Nature, could ultimately pave the way for using the S309 antibody, alone or in a mixture, as a preventive measure for people at high-risk of exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus or as post-exposure therapy to limit or treat severe illness, according to the scientists.

"We still need to show that this antibody is protective in living systems, which has not yet been done," said study co-author David Veesler, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

"Right now there are no approved tools or licensed therapeutics proven to fight against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19," he added.

Vir Biotechnology in a separate statement said it is advancing two clinical development candidates based on the S309 antibody as potential therapeutics for COVID-19 -- VIR-7831 and VIR-7832 -- in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline plc.

The research showed that the S309 antibody is particularly potent at targeting and disabling the spike protein that promotes the coronavirus entry into cells.

It was able to neutralise SARS CoV-2 by engaging with a section of the spike protein near the attachment site to the host cell.

Through their cryo-electronmicroscopy studies and binding assays, the researchers learned that the S309 antibody recognises a binding site on the coronavirus that is conserved across many sarbocoviruses, not just the SARS and COVID-19 viruses.

That is probably why this antibody, instead of being single-minded, is able to act against related coronaviruses.

Combining the S309 antibody with other, though weaker, antibodies identified in the recovered SARS patient enhanced the neutralisation of the COVID-19 coronavirus, said the study.

This multiple antibody cocktail approach might help limit the coronavirus' ability to form mutants capable of escaping a single-ingredient antibody treatment, according to the researchers.

"Remarkably, we believe S309 likely covers the entire family of related coronaviruses, which suggests that, even as SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, it may be quite challenging for it to become resistant to the neutralizing activity of S309," Herbert "Skip" Virgin, Chief Scientific Officer, Vir, said in a statement.

"In addition, S309 exhibits potent effector function in vitro, potentially allowing the antibody to engage and recruit the rest of the immune system to kill off already infected cells."

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Coronavirus survivors list 12 telling symptoms of the disease

The COVID-19 infection has been declared a pandemic which has led to worldwide lockdowns and an overall state of panic and fear. We have now reached more than 200,000 cases worldwide. The virus presents itself with flu-like symptoms that include fever and dry cough. As doctors around the world are still grappling with finding a cure for the novel coronavirus, here is a list of twelve symptoms as explained by survivors of the pandemic.
 
Painful sinuses
Painful sinuses are common with the flu and the cold. It can be very painful and often paired with a dull pressure. Connor Reed, a resident of Wuhan city in China, said that the sinuses were agonizing. Reed contracted the virus in November 2019 making him one of the first people to contract the strain of the novel coronavirus. “I ache all over, my head is thumping, my eyes are burning, my throat is constricted,” he wrote in his diary.
 
Ear pressure
Connor discovered that his ears made him feel that they were ready to pop. It is most likely to be caused by clogged up ears because of the virus. The Eustachian tube, leading between the inner and the middle ear, becomes clogged and that can cause you to feel pressure in your ears. It is advisable not to use an earbud to massage and help relieve the pressure. That can cause more harm than good.
 
Thumping headache
A headache is common when you have the flu or the cold. It can also be caused by dehydration. Do not panic the moment you start experiencing a headache. People suffering from coronavirus are advised to take paracetamol instead of an ibuprofen whenever required. Kevin Harris was admitted to a hospital Ohio recounts that the worst part was the pain. He said that on a scale of 10, the pain was a 15
 
Burning eyes
The sensation of burning in the eye’s mimics to the irritation and itchiness that you face during other allergies. Such irritation can also be caused by smoke, smog and other allergens. Connor Reed also recorded that the symptoms that initially felt like the flu had no worsened and caused his eyes to burn and he developed a headache
 
Constricted throat
A constricted throat can be caused by inflammation of the throat caused by continuous coughing which is a characteristic symptom of the disease. If you are having trouble breathing or swallowing, it is important that you see a doctor immediately. Andrew O’ Dwyer caught the infection in Italy. He said that the cough was quite debilitating. “The worst bit was the uncontrollable coughing,” he said
 
Body aches
People with coronavirus experience severe pain in their body. It is not restricted to the ears and the chest but also the arm and legs. This can be due to the fever that occurs during coronavirus infection. The stress and tension also add to the aches. Elizabeth Schneider, a resident of Seattle, said that the first symptoms she experienced were severe headaches, body and joint aches along with a very high fever

Lungs sound like a paper bag
If your lung sounds crackly when you breathe, it could be symptoms of pneumonia. The crackly breathing can be caused by fluids in your air sacs which is linked to the coronavirus infection. Marc Thibault, from Rhode Island, said he felt as if he is as asphyxiating and panicked because he could not breathe.

Fatigue and lack of appetite
Fatigue is a common symptom during the flu. It is advisable to rest as much as you can at times like these. Jaimuay Sae-Ung, the first Thai citizen to contract the virus, recounts that she was always tired, fatigued and couldn’t eat. She also complained she never felt up to eating while she had coronavirus.

Fever
Fever was discovered to be one of the first symptoms to be identified. People thought that a fever is the only symptom for the virus infection. Many patients only experienced a fever without the onset of any respiratory problems or cough. Rohit Dutta, Delhi’s first COVID-19 patient said he experienced a fever on the day when he returned from his trip to Italy and then again after a few days. This is when he got himself tested and was found to be positive for the coronavirus infection.

Tightness in the chest
Along with a fever, the first symptoms to be discovered were tightness and persistent coughs. The virus also spreads through respiratory droplets from the coughs. Therefore it is advised to cough and sneeze on a flexed elbow. Carl Goldman from Santa Clarita, who was aboard the Diamond Princess, said that he developed a fever and 'a bit of a cough' during his flight back to America and was quarantined on his return. His chest feels tight and had coughing spells.

Jet LagBridget Wilkins, who lives in London, started experiencing symptoms after she returned from Australia. She felt tired and sore, which she thought was because of jet lag. Just like fatigue, the feeling of jet lag can make people feel that they’re not quite up to it.

Feeling like passing out
The virus can have a toll on the patient and leave them drained and always feeling like they are about to pass out. David and Sally Abel, from Oxfordshire, recorded their journey of battling with their infection. They, too, like many others felt the same when they were tested positive.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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COVID-19: Experts pin hope on blood-related therapie

Even as a group of scientists are racing against time to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 so that new infections can be prevented, experts are now pinning a lot of hope on effectiveness of blood-related therapies being investigated in some countries.At the centre of these blood-related therapies are the people who have recovered from the dreaded disease.

Worldwide, nearly 250,000 people have recovered from COVID-19, while about 65,000 of about 12 lakh infected people have succumbed to the disease.

The US is investigating the effectiveness of two blood related therapies called convalescent plasma and hyperimmune globulin.

These are antibody-rich blood products made from blood donated by people who have recovered from the infection caused by the virus.

Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from an infection. Antibodies present in it are proteins that might help fight the infection.

Hyperimmune globulin is a biological product manufactured from convalescent plasma.

The US started these investigations after positive results emerged from China.

“Based on prior experience with respiratory viruses and on data that have emerged from China, these products have the potential to lessen the severity or shorten the length of illness caused by COVID-19,” the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement on April 3.

According to Neha Gupta, Infectious Diseases Consultant at Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram, based on the type of severity of COVID 19 infection, immunity develops.
Immunity develops early in asymptomatic or persons with mild symptoms, while it develops later in severe and critically-ill COVID 19 patients, she explained.

“Antibodies from the convalescent serum (of patients who have recovered from COVID 19) may offer an option for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 disease,” she told IANS, adding that some recent experiments showed lower mortality rate for plasma-treated patients compared to control patients.

But much still remains to be known about the effectiveness of these therapies.

“Humans make antibodies when they are infected with a virus and it generally provides immunity to reinfection. But SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is a new virus and we don’t know that there is going to be immunity for few months or long term,” Navin Kumar, Head of Clinical Virology & Infection Prevention, Manipal Hospitals, New Delhi, told IANS.

“The plasma from recovered patients (convalescent plasma) have been used for treating many viral infections but not much is known about how effective it is for treating COVID-19.

“There are few reports of successful treatment from other countries but no good research studies are there to support its routine use and what is the best time to use during the illness. At this moment it is considered as an experimental treatment,” Kumar said.

Japan-headquartered global bio-pharmaceutical company Takeda has already initiated development of a plasma-derived therapy to treat high-risk individuals with COVID-19.

“As a leader in plasma-derived therapies with more than 75 years of experience in the development of plasma-derived products, Takeda has the expertise to research, develop, and manufacture a potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 polyclonal H-IG (hyperimmune globulin), which Takeda is referring to as TAK-888,” the company said last month.

Takeda said it is currently in discussions with multiple national health and regulatory agencies and health care partners in the US, Asia, and Europe to expeditiously move the research into TAK-888 forward.

It goes without saying that without a vaccine at their disposal, the world is waiting with bated breath for the success of any therapy to effectively beat the virus behind the pandemic.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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Cleanliness Is So Important Right Now—Here's How to Wash Fruits and Vegetables Properly

As the world battles the COVID-19 global pandemic, practicing proper food safety and handling protocol is vital. Though the FDA says that there is no evidence of food or its packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19, approximately 48 million (one in six) people are sickened by contaminated food each year. Although it's common knowledge that one must thoroughly wash hands and surfaces after handling poultry or meat, most don’t realize that washing produce is equally important to avoid cross-contamination and food-borne illnesses.

Learn how to keep your family safe with these simple steps to ensure your fruits and vegetables are as clean as possible before you consume them during this time of extra caution and cleanliness.

1. Practice the Four Key Steps of Food Safety: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.
You should always practice these four easy food safety steps to ensure your food is as safe for consumption as possible.

    When preparing food, it is extremely important to always wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before AND after handling fresh produce.
    Make sure to sanitize your workstation, knives, tools, and cutting board before you begin cooking. Additionally, separate produce, poultry, meat, seafood, and eggs while you cook to avoid cross-contamination.
    In order to kill viruses and bacteria, cook food to the appropriate internal temperature and make sure to keep food out of the temperature danger zone (40° - 140°F) for long periods of time.
    Refrigerate and freeze food properly within two hours to prevent potentially harmful pathogen growth. 

2. Inspect Your Produce for Damage.
Inspect your fruits and veggies at the store and purchase items that are not visibly bruised or damaged. If you notice physical dents and dings once home, simply cut away any bruised or torn areas. Additionally, it is important to remove and discard the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage to reduce contamination risk. Lastly, make sure to throw away and never consume any produce that looks rotten.

3. Rinse Produce Before You Start Chopping.

Make sure to wash your produce thoroughly under cool running water BEFORE eating or preparing. It is important to rinse before (even if you don’t plan on eating the skin) to avoid transferring dirt or bacteria onto your knife, the flesh of the produce or your work surface. The FDA does not recommend washing your fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent nor commercial produce wash, as it may leave additional residue. However, you may want to use a clean produce brush to scrub firm crops like melons and cucumbers.


4. Follow Marion Nestle's Expert Advice.

Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health, emerita, at New York University and author of Food Politics, suggests that to be “100 percent safe while eating fresh produce” during the COVID-19 epidemic, “follow the P rules and only eat foods that are: piping hot, peeled, purified, and packaged.”

This means that you should consume food that is heated at sufficiently hot temperatures to help destroy microorganisms and other viruses, opt for peelable fruits and vegetables (as long as you wash your hands before and after), ensure that your cooked food is not recontaminated and remains purified before consumption, and purchase packaged foods (packed, frozen, or dried) whenever possible to avoid contamination.

“If you have fresh produce, wash it," Nestle warns. "When in doubt, cook it to be on the safe side.” She believes that “washing well in water” is key but urges to err on the side of extreme caution.

5. Dry Your Produce With Clean Towels.

After washing, avoid recontaminating your food and dry with a clean cloth towel or disposable paper towel to further reduce the risk of bacterial or viral transmission from a dirty surface onto your ready-to-eat fruit or veggie. 

6 .Store Your Clean Produce in a Safe Place.

Now that you’ve successfully cleaned your produce, make sure to store or refrigerate pre-cut items at 40°F or below if you’re not going to eat them right away, and same goes for fruits and veggies that require refrigeration (find them here). Lastly, make sure your clean produce is not at risk for recontamination and wash again if you suspect it has been re-exposed to harmful pathogens before eating.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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How to Kill Germs with Bleach in a Few Easy Steps

There is one powerful disinfectant that can be found in nearly every household, and that is bleach. It is usually preserved for the toilet or for cases when serious sterilization is needed, and not usually used to clean ‘regular’ surfaces. However, with the outbreak of the coronavirus, many people are looking to take extra safety measures to keep their homes as germ-free as possible. This is where bleach comes in. 

Is it actually effective? The short answer is yes. Studies confirm that bleach can indeed kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses, such as influenza, streptococcus, and salmonella. This is because the sodium hypochlorite found in bleach oxidizes or burns the protective membranes of bacteria and the protein shell of viruses, thus leaving them vulnerable to destruction. Influenza is known to survive 24-48 hours on inanimate surfaces, while COVID-19 can live on them for 72 hours or even days depending on the surface. Bleach radically reduces the chances of that happening. 

Still, before you resort to bleach, there some important precautions you should be aware of!

Instructions for Using Bleach to Disinfect Surfaces

What is Bleach Safe For? 

• Most kitchen counters
• Bathroom sinks
• Door handles

Do NOT use it on wooden floors or painted surfaces! Always wear gloves when working with bleach.

How to Kill Germs with Bleach According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
1. Mix one cup of bleach and five gallons of water in a bucket. For a smaller dose, use 4 teaspoons of bleach with one quart of water.
2. Scrub the surface using a stiff brush and the solution.
3. Let it air dry for at least 10 minutes. This is important, as it assures proper disinfection.

Using Bleach to Sanitize Fabric:
1. For a normal-sized load of laundry, add ¾ cup of bleach to the wash cycle. In case of a large or heavily soiled load, add 1 ¼ cups.
2. Dry on high heat.
3. Note! This is to be used mainly on whites, as bleach can ruin and fade colored fabrics. 

Important Warning -  bleach may release toxic fumes. The CDC recommends seeking medical help immediately if you feel one of the following after using bleach:

• Blurred vision
• Headaches

Difficulty breathing.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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