Scientists have identified a common genetic risk factor for the loss of smell due to COVID-19. Six months after testing positive for COVID-19, 1.6 million people in the US have experienced changes to their sense of smell, including the loss of smell entirely. Loss of smell and taste are distinctive symptoms of COVID-19 and are […]
Genetic Risk Factor Identified for COVID-19 Loss of Smell Read More »
Now that Omicron is running through the globe and increasing exposure to SARS-CoV-2 more than any previous variant, scientists are optimistic that there may be a much-welcomed extended period of quiet after this wave ends. According to data, a country’s vaccination rate alone doesn’t clearly correlate with its COVID death rate. For instance, as would
What Happens After Omicron? Scientists’ Predictions Read More »
The Swiss biotech company Idorsia announced this week that it has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new drug that can help adult patients treat their insomnia. The sleeping pill, called Quviviq (daridorexant) is the first drug created by Idorsia that has received approval from the FDA, and, pending scheduling
The FDA grants approval for a new insomnia drug to improve sleep in adults Read More »
Novavax, a Maryland-based biotechnology company, gets approval for its more traditional protein-subunit COVID-19 vaccine, offering an alternative to newer mRNA and viral vector vaccine options. Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine is the only mRNA vaccine to be FDA approved, and mRNA vaccines are relatively new, making some skeptical of them. These vaccines work by delivering mRNA into
Pfizer executives predict COVID will be endemic as early as 2024. What does COVID’s endemicity look like? Much like the flu, where more predictable patterns of outbreaks occur seasonally, with fewer cases at a time and less severe symptoms on average. While hopes had been high for vaccines and social distancing to eliminate SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 is
COVID Predicted to be Endemic by 2024 Read More »
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been in the news recently. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently released a three-year plan to study and regulate these “forever chemicals,” which have been found in sources of drinking water. PFAS have also been linked to numerous detrimental health effects, making them a concern for public health officials. PFAS leak
PFAS Found Entering the Atmosphere via Sea Spray Read More »
We’ve long known that there are bacteria in the human gut; some can be dangerous if they are ingested. But genetic and computational technologies have advanced rapidly in recent years, giving scientists an unprecedented look at all the species of microbes that inhabit the gastrointestinal tracts of animals, including humans. That work , much of
To Understand the Gut Microbiome, Researchers Create New Method to ID Strains Read More »
Anthrax conjures thoughts of bioterrorism, though it’s a disease caused by a rare but naturally-occurring bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. Scientists have now found that a toxin produced by the infectious pathogen could be a useful pain reliever; researchers determined that it can change the way signals are sent by neurons that sense pain. Reporting in Nature Neuroscience, when the
Anthrax Toxin Has Potential as Non-Opioid Pain Therapeutic Read More »
