Viruses

Integral Molecular Expands its Reporter Virus Technology to Enable Broad Testing for Coronavirus Protection Against Emerging Strains Including D614G

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Viruses, Zoonoses, Coronaviridae, Animal virology, Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Coronavirus, Vaccine, Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Betacoronavirus

These variants will test the breadth of protection afforded by COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines against newly emerging or resistant strains of the virus.

Key Points: 
  • These variants will test the breadth of protection afforded by COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines against newly emerging or resistant strains of the virus.
  • Virus neutralization testing using RVPs is being adopted by vaccine companies for screening sera from clinical trials to provide rapid and safe testing under standard BSL-2 laboratory conditions.
  • Viruses mutate and change over time and these mutations can compromise the efficacy of drugs or vaccines through resistance.
  • SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to other coronaviruses that also cause severe illnesses, including SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) virus.

Enzo Biochem Receives Emergency Use Authorization for Proprietary Test System for Detection of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 13, 2020
Viruses, Coronaviridae, Zoonoses, Emergency Use Authorization, Food and Drug Administration, Animal virology, CoV, Severe acute respiratory syndrome, Coronavirus, Qiagen

NEW YORK, NY, July 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ), a leading biosciences and diagnostics company, today announced that it has formally received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its proprietary product for the detection of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, NY, July 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ), a leading biosciences and diagnostics company, today announced that it has formally received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its proprietary product for the detection of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
  • These platforms include Enzos proprietary GENFLEX automated high-throughput platform, Qiagens QIAsymphony SP lower-throughput platform and Enzos manual workflow.
  • The AMPIPROBE SARS-Cov-2 Test System includes three components: sample collection, AMPIXTRACT SARS-CoV-2 Extraction Kit for sample processing, and the AMPIPROBE SARS-CoV-2 Assay Kit for detection and analysis.
  • Pursuant to receiving the Emergency Use Authorization, Enzos diagnostics division is offering the AMPIPROBE SARS-Cov-2 Test System for use with three platforms.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Enters into Research and Exclusive License Option Agreement with Kansas State University to Develop Vaccine Against COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 13, 2020
Viruses, Seth Lederman, Vaccine, Microbiology, Human parainfluenza viruses, Medical specialties, Vaccines, ATCvet code QI02, ATCvet code QI07

Under the research agreement, K-State will advance preclinical development of a live replicating virus vaccine to protect against COVID-19 based on bovine parainfluenza virus.

Key Points: 
  • Under the research agreement, K-State will advance preclinical development of a live replicating virus vaccine to protect against COVID-19 based on bovine parainfluenza virus.
  • The research will be directed by Dr. Waithaka Mwangi, Kansas State University, Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, who is the inventor of the new technology.
  • In addition, K-State has granted Tonix an option for an exclusive license for the clinical and commercial use of K-States intellectual property associated with coronavirus vaccines under this relationship.
  • This marks our second live viral vaccine vector platform for the prevention of COVID-19, said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix.

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Announces Laboratory Results Confirm Avenova Kills SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 Virus)

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 13, 2020
Infectious diseases, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Health, Viruses, Chemical substances, Animal virology, Microbiology, Zoonoses, Coronaviridae, Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Coronavirus, Severe acute respiratory syndrome, CoV, Disinfectant, Hypochlorous acid

(NYSE American: NBY) announces testing results from an independent third-party laboratory confirming that Avenova, NovaBays proprietary formulation of pure hypochlorous acid, kills SARS-CoV-2.

Key Points: 
  • (NYSE American: NBY) announces testing results from an independent third-party laboratory confirming that Avenova, NovaBays proprietary formulation of pure hypochlorous acid, kills SARS-CoV-2.
  • Test results will be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the EPAs approved list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2.
  • Now we have results from a highly reputable independent laboratory confirming Avenova kills the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, said Justin Hall, NovaBay CEO.
  • The study was designed to determine Avenovas effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 on a hard surface.

Avacta and Integumen plc collaborate for detection of SARS-COV-2 coronavirus in waste water

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 13, 2020
Other Manufacturing, Research, Technology, Infectious diseases, Other Technology, Manufacturing, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Health, Science, Viruses, Zoonoses, Coronaviridae, Animal virology, Affimer, Coronavirus, Severe acute respiratory syndrome

Sampling waste water from households may therefore provide an early warning system for localised outbreaks in communities.

Key Points: 
  • Sampling waste water from households may therefore provide an early warning system for localised outbreaks in communities.
  • Recently, Avacta announced that it had generated a number of highly specific Affimer reagents that detect the SARS-COV-2 virus spike protein for use in diagnostic tests and in neutralising therapies.
  • The collaboration with Integumen announced today aims to evaluate some of these Affimer reagents in next-generation sensors, based on the real-time bacteria detection and alert system1 developed by Rinocloud Ltd, a subsidiary of Integumen, with the aim of integrating these sensors into Modern Water plcs Microtox water contamination system to detect the coronavirus.
  • Upon successful completion of this evaluation, Integumen and Avacta will enter into a supply agreement to allow Integumen to manufacture and commercialise the waste water detection sensors globally by retrofitting into Microtox systems.

New England Biolabs' SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Colorimetric LAMP Assay Kit Enables Visual Detection of Novel Coronavirus In 30 Minutes

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 10, 2020
Viruses, Nidovirales, Zoonoses, Coronaviridae, Laboratory techniques, Health in Saudi Arabia, In Saudi Arabia, Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Coronavirus, Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Severe acute respiratory syndrome, CoV

IPSWICH, Mass., July 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --New England Biolabs (NEB) today announced the launch of the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Colorimetric LAMP Assay Kit, a Research Use Only (RUO) product that can be used for the detection of novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Key Points: 
  • IPSWICH, Mass., July 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --New England Biolabs (NEB) today announced the launch of the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Colorimetric LAMP Assay Kit, a Research Use Only (RUO) product that can be used for the detection of novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
  • The kit serves as a simple alternative to RT-qPCR and enables visual detection of amplification of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in just 30 minutes.
  • "With the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Colorimetric LAMP Assay Kit, all you need is a simple heat source and 30 minutes to visually detect amplification of SARS CoV-2 RNA.
  • NEB,NEW ENGLAND BIOLABS, and WarmStart are registered trademarks of New England Biolabs, Inc.
    View original content to download multimedia: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-england-biolabs-sars-cov-2-r...

Hilltop Holdings Inc. Announces Change in Location of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to a Virtual-Only Format

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Banking, Professional services, Finance, Shareholders, Viruses, Meetings, Animal diseases, Proxy statement, Statements, Proxy, Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Annual general meeting, Articles

Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTH) (Hilltop) determined that, due to public health and safety concerns related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the location of Hilltops 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) has been changed to a virtual-only format.

Key Points: 
  • Hilltop Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HTH) (Hilltop) determined that, due to public health and safety concerns related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the location of Hilltops 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Annual Meeting) has been changed to a virtual-only format.
  • As previously announced, the Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Dallas, Texas local time.
  • Voting now at www.proxyvote.com will ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting regardless of whether you participate in the Annual Meeting.
  • The Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting and the Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 are available at www.proxyvote.com .

AIkido Pharma Inc. Announces Key Progress in Computational Approaches to Identify Virus Treatments, Including Coronavirus

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Viruses, Infectious diseases, Medicine, Zoonoses, Coronaviridae, Health in Saudi Arabia, In Saudi Arabia, Coronavirus, Influenza, Antiviral drug, Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus

NEW YORK, July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --AIkido Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: AIKI) ("AIkido" or the "Company") today provided an update on its effort to identify compounds to potentially address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --AIkido Pharma Inc. (Nasdaq: AIKI) ("AIkido" or the "Company") today provided an update on its effort to identify compounds to potentially address the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • These compounds were tested for their ability to block replication of the Influenza virus in human cells, from which several active compounds were found.
  • "This is encouraging progress, demonstrating the importance of machine learning to accelerate pharmaceutical research," commented Anthony Hayes, CEO of AIkido.
  • The Company is also developing a broad spectrum antiviral platform that may potentially inhibit replication of multiple viruses including Influenza virus, SARS-CoV (coronavirus), MERS-CoV, Ebolavirus and Marburg virus.

Effectory: Good Crisis Communication Is Essential for Productivity During the Coronavirus Situation

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Viruses, Animal virology, Coronaviridae, Coronavirus

What lessons can we learn from employee experiences during the first wave of coronavirus cases?

Key Points: 
  • What lessons can we learn from employee experiences during the first wave of coronavirus cases?
  • Employees who are satisfied with the way in which their organization communicates and manages the crisis can perform better and get more work done.
  • On average, 60 percent of employees were unable to maintain a good work-life balance during the first wave of coronavirus cases.
  • This percentage was highest (62%) at the start of the coronavirus crisis and has barely reduced since.

Effectory: Good Crisis Communication Is Essential for Productivity During the Coronavirus Situation

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Viruses, Animal virology, Coronaviridae, Coronavirus

What lessons can we learn from employee experiences during the first wave of coronavirus cases?

Key Points: 
  • What lessons can we learn from employee experiences during the first wave of coronavirus cases?
  • Employees who are satisfied with the way in which their organization communicates and manages the crisis can perform better and get more work done.
  • On average, 60 percent of employees were unable to maintain a good work-life balance during the first wave of coronavirus cases.
  • This percentage was highest (62%) at the start of the coronavirus crisis and has barely reduced since.