Researchers have developed an open-source molecular diagnostic assay for pathogen detection, successfully tested for COVID-19. The innovative RT-LAMP method is heat-stable, uses only non-proprietary reagents, and eliminates the need for expensive commercial kits and cold chain storage. Demonstrating performance in both Vienna and Ghana, the low-cost solution has potential for enhancing quick and equitable testing capabilities in resource-limited areas worldwide.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University and the Israel Institute for Biological Research in Ness Ziona have used the platform developed for COVID-19 vaccines to create the world’s first mRNA-based vaccine against a deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacterium. In this groundbreaking study, the researchers tested the vaccine’s resistance to the virulent pathogen that causes the disease and were able to demonstrate 100% protection against infection in animal models. The researchers now hope that this technology can be used to combat other lethal bacteria as well.

A new, low-cost biosensing technology that could make rapid at-home tests up to 100 times more sensitive to viruses like COVID-19. The diagnostic could expand rapid screening to other life-threatening conditions like prostate cancer and sepsis, as well. Created by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, the test combines a natural evaporation process called the “coffee-ring effect” with plasmonics and AI to detect biomarkers of disease with remarkable precision in just minutes. 

This multicenter study investigates the association between hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) dosage and COVID-19 mortality among hospitalized patients in China, aiming to clarify conflicting evidence from prior research. Leveraging data from multiple medical centers, the analysis focuses on determining whether low-dose HCQ confers mortality benefits with acceptable safety, contrasting with potential risks of higher doses. By systematically evaluating clinical outcomes across different HCQ dosage groups, the research seeks to provide evidence-informed guidance for antiviral therapy in COVID-19 management, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

In a study published in National Science Review, researchers present multiple lines of observational and modeling evidence for a ~4% decline in global atmospheric oxidation capacity in 2020, reflected by a drop in hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations. Using satellite-based carbon monoxide data, as well as methane and methyl chloroform observations, the study reveals that this OH reduction occurred in both hemispheres—approximately 2.4% in the Northern Hemisphere and 5.7% in the Southern Hemisphere—driven by distinct mechanisms. In the Northern Hemisphere, reduced NO_x emissions due to COVID-19 lockdowns led to lower OH and tropospheric ozone levels, while in the Southern Hemisphere, massive emissions of reactive carbon from unprecedented Australian wildfires caused OH depletion but tropospheric ozone increases. This contrast in tropospheric ozone anomalies is further corroborated by satellite data. The findings help explain one of the record-breaking rises in atmospheric methane in 2020 and underscore the critical role of both natural and anthropogenic factors in shaping Earth’s atmospheric chemistry and global methane budget.

People who have survived cancer as children are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19, even decades after their diagnosis. This is shown by a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal The Lancet Regional Health – Europe.