Mostly Microbes and Infection

  A new realm of “precision fermentation” beckons

  Pfizer starts a study to test its oral antiviral drug against COVID19 among those who have been exposed to the coronavirus . In the trial, PF-07321332, designed to block the ability of the virus to multiply, will be administered along with ritonavir.

Clinical trials are still under way to determine if ivermectin has any benefits against COVID19 . In the meantime, health authorities caution against using it for the coronavirus.

At least three promising antivirals that could prevent symptoms and limit transmission of Covid-19 are in clinical trials.

New research implies that many social processes that drive spread of disease might be driving spread of songs. Music & infectious diseases depend on social connections to spread through populations.

Moderna Chief Executive Stéphane Bancel thinks the coronavirus pandemic could be over in a year as increased vaccine production ensures global supplies

Current Research in Microbial Sciences is a peer-reviewed gold open access research journal covering all aspects of the broad field of microbiology. It is a companion to the highly regarded review journal Current Opinion in Microbiology and part of Elsevier’s CO+RE suite of journals.

Threatened Indigenous languages convey unique knowledge of medicinal plants. Researchers found that 75% of the medicinal uses for some species are known in only one language. And those languages are the ones at greatest risk of being lost forever.

The muscles of older men & women who have exercised for decades are indistinguishable in many ways from those of healthy 25-year-olds, according to a new study of active septuagenarians.

SARS-like coronaviruses may jump from animals to people ~400,000 times per year in undetected spillovers, according to a new study (not yet peer-reviewed). The study also identifies Asian regions that could spark the next coronavirus pandemic.

The SARSCoV2 coronavirus could have spilled from animals to people multiple times, according to preliminary analysis of viral genomes sampled from people infected in China & elsewhere early in the COVID19 pandemic. But the findings still have to be peer reviewed.

 by  Chuan-Sheng Lin ,  Chih-Jung Chang ,  Chia-Chen Lu ,  Jan Martel ,  David M Ojcius ,  Yun-Fei Ko ,  John D Young ,  Hsin-Chih Lai

 by  Maria Avila ,  David M Ojcius ,  Ozlem Yilmaz

 by  Cássio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-da-Silva ,  Harmony Matshik Dakafay ,  Kenji O'Brien ,  Dallin Montierth ,  Nan Xiao ,  David M Ojcius

 by  David Chambers , Michelle Brady , David Ojcius , Evelyn Cuny

  It turns out what’s going on in your mouth has a much bigger impact on your overall health than you might think.

  It’s no secret that we rely on our immune systems to fight off common infections. But what you might not know is that the immune system is highly evolved and can even sense danger.

  If you feel like you’re slowing down a bit as you age, you’re not alone. Many of our systems ( including our brain ) tend to taper off as we get older and the immune system is no exception.

  “The idea of working in my current field came from my original interest in microorganisms and how they affect the immune system of the host. Previously, I had worked on different pathogens in the body, not those found in the mouth. Most researchers are attracted to fields that are new where there is a lot still to be discovered and the oral microbiome is an area where there is still a lot we don’t know and so much to be learned.”

  “The industry I’m in is actually two in one: teaching and research. I love teaching and interacting with students. In many ways I learn as I teach them. I love their enthusiasm and their optimism. The thing about research is you are a student for life. You constantly have to learn new skills. It requires you to be a lifelong learner, which is something I enjoy.”

by  Jan Martel ,  Yun-Fei Ko ,  John D Young ,  David M Ojcius

 by  Nathalie Botros ,  Parvati Iyer ,  David M Ojcius

Parvati Iyer ,  Kalid Aziz ,  David M Ojcius

by  Fiona Q Bui ,  Cassio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-da-Silva ,  Brandon Huynh ,  Alston Trinh ,  Jessica Liu ,  Jacob Woodward ,  Homer Asadi ,  David M Ojcius

by  Cassio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-da-Silva ,  Harmony Matshik Dakafay ,  Kaitlyn Liu ,  David M Ojcius

  by  Jean M Kanellopoulos ,  David M Ojcius

  by  Jean M. Kanellopoulos ,  Cássio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-da-Silva ,  Sirje Rüütel Boudinot  and  David M. Ojcius

by Frederic Rieux-Laucat, Jean M. Kanellopoulos, David M. Ojcius