Several schools find harmful bacteria in water systems, reminding all reopening buildings to check the pipes

When water stagnates in pipes, harmful metals and bacteria can accumulate and make people sick. Buildings that were shut down for weeks during the pandemic may be at risk.

Andrew J. Whelton, Associate Professor of Civil, Environmental & Ecological Engineering, Purdue University • conversation
Sept. 8, 2020 • ~8 min

CRISPR can help combat the troubling immune response against gene therapy

The immune system is trained to destroy viruses, even when they carry therapeutic cargo as is the case in gene therapy. Now researchers have figured out how to dial down the immune response.

Samira Kiani, Associate Professor of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
Sept. 3, 2020 • ~7 min

Will the new 15-minute COVID-19 test solve US testing problems?

The new BinaxNOW antigen test is quick, easy, accurate and cheap. It could solve the US testing problem, but the emergency use authorization only allows people with COVID-19 symptoms to get tested.

Zoë McLaren, Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County • conversation
Sept. 1, 2020 • ~6 min

Five techniques we’re using to uncover the secrets of viruses

Viruses are too small to visualise with traditional microscopes.

Grace C Roberts, Research Fellow in Virology, Queen's University Belfast • conversation
Aug. 26, 2020 • ~7 min

A man was reinfected with coronavirus after recovery – what does this mean for immunity?

Reports describe a Hong Kong man who was reinfected with the coronavirus after returning from Europe. Does that mean he wasn't immune after the first infection?

Megan Culler Freeman, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow, University of Pittsburgh • conversation
Aug. 25, 2020 • ~5 min

Approval of a coronavirus vaccine would be just the beginning – huge production challenges could cause long delays

Once a coronavirus vaccine is approved, billions of doses need to be manufactured. Current vaccine production is nowhere near ready, for a variety of reasons, but planning now could help.

Bruce Y. Lee, Professor of Health Policy and Management, City University of New York • conversation
Aug. 24, 2020 • ~11 min

Challenge trials for a coronavirus vaccine are unethical – except for in one unlikely scenario

Challenge trials – purposefully exposing volunteers to the coronavirus – could speed up the development of a vaccine. But there are serious ethical concerns with this approach.

Ben Bramble, Visiting Fellow, Princeton University • conversation
Aug. 24, 2020 • ~8 min

I'm a lung doctor testing the blood plasma 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 • ~8 min

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

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