MERS tagged posts

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) imaging features overlap with SARS and MERS

47-year-old Chinese man with 2-day history of fever, chills, productive cough, sneezing, and fatigue who presented to emergency department. (Courtesy of Liu M, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China)
B, Initial CT images obtained show small round areas of mixed ground-glass opacity and consolidation (rectangles) at level of aortic arch (A) and ventricles (B) in right and left lower lobe posterior zones.

COVID-19’s imaging features are variable and nonspecific, but the imaging findings reported thus far do show...

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Broad Spectrum Antiviral Drug Inhibits a range of emerging Coronaviruses

Ultrastructural details exhibited by a single, spherical-shaped, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) virion. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Ultrastructural details exhibited by a single, spherical-shaped, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) virion. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Researchers have long known that RNA viruses called coronaviruses cause the common cold and pneumonia. In the last two decades or so, though, researchers have found that these viruses can jump between animal and human hosts. In recent years, coronaviruses have caused lethal outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) that span multiple continents. To date, no retroviral drug has been approved to treat these infections. “These viruses are poised to cause outbreaks,” says molecular virologist Ralph C...

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New Antiviral Drug Inhibits epidemic SARS, MERS and animal Coronaviruses

 GS-5734 is effective against a diverse array of human and zoonotic CoV in HAE. (A) Neighbor-joining trees created with representatives from all four CoV genogroups showing the genetic similarity of CoV nsp12 (RdRp) and CoV spike glycoprotein, which mediates host tropism and entry into cells. Text color of the virus strain label corresponds to virus host species on the left. The heatmap adjacent to each neighbor-joining tree depicts percent amino acid identity (% A.A. identity) against SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV.

GS-5734 is effective against a diverse array of human and zoonotic CoV in HAE.
(A) Neighbor-joining trees created with representatives from all four CoV genogroups showing the genetic similarity of CoV nsp12 (RdRp) and CoV spike glycoprotein, which mediates host tropism and entry into cells. Text color of the virus strain label corresponds to virus host species on the left. The heatmap adjacent to each neighbor-joining tree depicts percent amino acid identity (% A.A. identity) against SARS-CoV or MERS-CoV.

A new antiviral drug candidate inhibits a broad range of coronaviruses, including the SARS and MERS coronaviruses. The findings support further development of the drug candidate for treating and preventing current coronavirus infections and potential future epidemic outbreaks.

Coronavirus...

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Bat ‘Super Immunity’ could help Protect People

Black-headed flying fox amongst a grey-headed colony. Credit: Michelle Baker CSIRO

Black-headed flying fox amongst a grey-headed colony. Credit: Michelle Baker CSIRO

For the 1st time researchers have uncovered a unique ability in bats which allows them to carry but remain unaffected by lethal diseases. Unlike humans, bats keep their immune systems switched on 24/7 and scientists believe this could hold the key to protecting people from deadly diseases like Ebola. Bats are a natural host for more than 100 viruses, some of which are lethal to people, including Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Ebola and Hendra virus, however, interestingly bats do not get sick or show signs of disease from these viruses.

New research examines the genes and immune system of the Australian black flying fox, with surprising results...

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