I'm a lung doctor testing the blood from COVID-19 survivors as a treatment for the sick – a century old idea that could be a fast track to treatment

In the blood of COVID-19 survivors are antibodies that can defeat SARS-CoV-2. Researchers are testing whether these antibodies can be collected and injected into others to save them from the virus.

Jeffrey M. Sturek, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
Aug. 21, 2020 • ~7 min

9 reasons you can be optimistic that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be widely available in 2021

As grim as things are with the pandemic raging in the US and the mounting death toll, there are many reasons to be optimistic there will be a vaccine by early next year.

William Petri, Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
Aug. 20, 2020 • ~9 min

Three major scientific controversies about coronavirus

Researchers can't agree on topics such face mask, immunity and number of infections. Here's why.

Manal Mohammed, Lecturer, Medical Microbiology, University of Westminster • conversation
Aug. 7, 2020 • ~8 min

Coronavirus: could it be burning out after 20% of a population is infected?

There is speculation about whether a population can achieve some sort of immunity to the virus with as little as 20% infected.

Joacim Rocklöv, Professor of Epidemiology, Umeå University • conversation
June 29, 2020 • ~8 min

Antibody injections could fight COVID-19 infections – an infectious disease expert explains the prospects

Antibodies that recognize and block SARS-CoV-2 infection have the potential to be powerful weapons. An infectious disease expert explains what antibodies are and how they could be used as a therapy.

Dimiter Stanchev Dimitrov, Professor of Medicine and Director, Center for Antibody Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
June 1, 2020 • ~6 min

Antigen tests for COVID-19 are fast and easy – and could solve the coronavirus testing problem despite being somewhat inaccurate

An antigen test was given emergency use authorization by the FDA in early May. A biochemist explains how COVID-19 antigen tests work.

Eugene Wu, Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Richmond • conversation
May 29, 2020 • ~9 min

Coronavirus: why we're using llamas to help fight the pandemic

'Nanobodies' produced by the llama immune system can neutralise the virus that causes COVID-19.

Gary Stephens, Professor of Pharmacology, University of Reading • conversation
May 26, 2020 • ~7 min

Coronavirus tests are pretty accurate, but far from perfect

Expanding coronavirus testing is one of the most important tasks public health officials are tackling right now. But questions over accuracy of the two main types of tests have rightly caused concern.

Maureen Ferran, Associate Professor of Biology, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
May 6, 2020 • ~10 min

Infected with the coronavirus but not showing symptoms? A physician answers 5 questions about asymptomatic COVID-19

Your body can be infected and fight off SARS-CoV-2 without your ever noticing.

William Petri, Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
April 30, 2020 • ~6 min

Checking blood for coronavirus antibodies – 3 questions answered about serological tests and immunity

After your body fights off an infection, antibodies remain in your blood. Two researchers explain how tests identify these antibodies and what the data can be used for.

Daniel Stadlbauer, Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai • conversation
April 16, 2020 • ~9 min

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