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Coronavirus Research
Study suggests those who had COVID-19 may only need one vaccine dose
Study suggests those who had COVID-19 may only need one vaccine dose
People who have recovered from COVID-19 had a robust antibody response after the first mRNA vaccine dose, therefore only a single dose may be needed to produce a sufficient antibody response, according to new research from the Penn Institute of Immunology.
With impressive accuracy, dogs can sniff out coronavirus
With impressive accuracy, dogs can sniff out coronavirus
In a proof-of-concept study led by the School of Veterinary Medicine, dogs identified positive samples with 96% accuracy.
In the U.S., COVID-19 wasn’t sole cause of excess deaths in 2020
In the U.S., COVID-19 wasn’t sole cause of excess deaths in 2020
Comparing death rates in the United States with those of the five biggest European countries, Penn and Max Planck demographers found that significant excess mortality cost more lives annually than the epidemic itself.
Understanding and addressing barriers to COVID vaccine acceptance
Understanding and addressing barriers to COVID vaccine acceptance
Different communities have different reasons for wanting to wait on this shot. Getting to the heart of those concerns can help meet people where they are.
Hormone drugs may disarm COVID-19 spike protein and stop disease progression
Hormone drugs may disarm COVID-19 spike protein and stop disease progression
Hormone drugs that reduce androgen levels may help disarm the coronavirus spike protein used to infect cells and stop the progression of severe COVID-19 disease, suggests a new preclinical study.
‘Research at Penn’ showcases University breakthroughs and innovations
‘Research at Penn’ showcases University breakthroughs and innovations
Produced by the Provost’s Office, the brochure highlights groundbreaking research from each of Penn’s 12 schools. This year it is online-only.
Immune response in some children may influence COVID treatments for adults
Immune response in some children may influence COVID treatments for adults
A joint study from researchers at Penn and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows that T cell activation in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome is more similar to adults with severe COVID-19.
When the message matters, use science to craft it
When the message matters, use science to craft it
An interdisciplinary initiative called the Message Effects Lab aims to understand, tap into, and develop communication around what motivates specific behaviors for specific populations. Its first projects center around COVID-19 testing and vaccines.
Antibodies to common cold coronaviruses do not protect against SARS-CoV-2
Antibodies to common cold coronaviruses do not protect against SARS-CoV-2
Antibodies that react to both ordinary coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 are common in the population but don’t neutralize the COVID-19-causing virus.
An ‘electronic nose’ to sniff out COVID-19
An ‘electronic nose’ to sniff out COVID-19
Through a newly funded grant, researchers across the University are developing a device that can rapidly detect COVID-19 based on the disease’s unique odor profile.
In the News
Reuters
Regeneron to seek U.S. OK for COVID-19 cocktail to be used for prevention
Katharine Bar of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about her research on the efficacy of a new preventative treatment for people in households where someone has contracted COVID-19. “These data pave the way for REGEN-COV to be used before patients become symptomatic,” she said.
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The New York Times
Kati Kariko helped shield the world from the coronavirus
Katalin Kariko, who worked with colleague Drew Weissman in the Perelman School of Medicine to research mRNA, was profiled. Their findings laid the foundation for the development of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Pa. coronavirus update: North Philly to get vaccination site; Study finds variants spread in city
Frederic Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about a recent study that found that more than one-third of Philadelphia COVID-19 infections were caused by variants of the virus. “The fear is that the virus is evolving to infect people more efficiently,” he said.
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Science
Researchers hunt for cause of rare, COVID-19–linked immune disease in children
Audrey Odom John and Laura Vella of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and E. John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine are studying multi system inflammatory in children (MIS-C) and its relationship to COVID-19.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Two Pa. prisons have vaccinated more than 70% of inmates. An incentive program may be making a difference
Jessica Fishman of the Annenberg School for Communication is researching how incentives compare to other vaccine promotion methods. “I think it’s worth testing since we don’t have evidence that speaks directly to the policy debate, where some are quite adamant that it would absolutely backfire and increase fears of vaccination,” she said.
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NBC Philadelphia
Rapid COVID-19 test developed at Penn could give on-the-spot results quickly
César de la Fuente of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about his work, conducted in collaboration with the School of Engineering and Applied Science, developing a rapid, at-home COVID-19 test. “It all works through these chips that we’ve generated. They’re very small. You can make them out of different materials: paper, cardboard,” he said. “You can put your saliva sample onto the chip, and you can connect it to this little machine, and then you connect it to your phone.”
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