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Vaccines will not be a 'silver bullet' to end Covid-19 immediately

Schematic illustrating three ways that standard samples from COVID-19 clinical trials can be repurposed to assess the risk that vaccine resistance will evolve. 1. The complexity of B-cell and T-cell responses can be measured using blood samples. Different neutralizing antibodies are depicted above in different colors. More complex responses indicate more evolutionarily robust immunity. 2. The effect of vaccination on transmission potential can be assessed by collecting viral titer data using routine nasal swabs. Plaque assays from multiple vaccinated and control individuals are compiled into a histogram. Undetectable viral titers suggest little or no transmission potential, due to either complete immune protection or the absence of exposure. High viral titers suggest high transmission potential due to the absence of a protective immune response. Intermediate viral titers, marked above with an asterisk, suggest moderate transmission potential due to partial vaccine protection. Intermediate titers indicate an increased risk for resistance evolution since pathogen diversity can be generated within hosts and selection can act during transmission between hosts. 3. Pre-existing variation for vaccine resistance can be assessed by recovering genome sequences from nasopharyngeal swabs of symptomatic COVID-19 cases included in the study. In a placebo controlled, double blind study, any significant differences in the genome sequences of samples from vaccinated and control individuals would suggest at least partial vaccine resistance.

Could SARS-CoV-2 evolve resistance to COVID-19 vaccines?

IMAGE: PENN STATE

Rainbow Science Network: Inclusive scientists, inclusive science

High-yielding plants that survive temperature swings may be our next weapon against climate change

Ganesh S Anand headshot.

Ganesh Anand joins Department of Chemistry as associate professor

Podward State: Inside Penn State’s Coronavirus Response

Corals are first animals seen to pass on mutations acquired as adults

State not releasing detailed COVID outbreak data

Football is back in Happy Valley. The Coronavirus never left.

Penn State researcher defends deer antler point harvest restrictions

Observing the Performance of Planova Filters

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Podcast features researchers collecting local COVID-19 data for action

How Does COVID-19 Spread Differently Than The Flu?

IMAGE: U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL

Malaria parasites hide out in humans when it's not mosquito season

Bee on flower

Penn State, Freiburg offer virtual course on pest and pollinator management

Researchers graft tomato plants with epigenetically-modified rootstock

Penn State study: Mouthwashes, oral rinses could lessen COVID-19 transmission

The grafted tomato plants involved in the research produced seed that resulted in progeny that were, on average, 35% more productive. And that growth vigor persisted in the progeny over five generations in the study. IMAGE: PENN STATE

Grafting with epigenetically-modified rootstock yields surprise

Podward State: Data 4 Action Ft. Symbiotic Podcast

Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, this surgical screw secretes citrate to help damaged tissue heal. IMAGE: ACUITIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Novel bioresorbable, tissue-healing surgical device approved by FDA

Penn State study says mouthwash can kill coronavirus — in lab dishes. Human trials are next.

Penn State study finds mouthwashes, oral rinses may ‘inactivate’ coronavirus

Penn State College of Medicine researchers say certain oral antiseptics and mouthwashes may have the ability to inactivate human coronaviruses. They say clinical trials needed to determine if these products can reduce the amount of virus COVID-19 positive patients spread when talking, sneezing or coughing.  IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES | JAE YOUNG JU

Mouthwashes, oral rinses may inactivate human coronaviruses

Oral Antiseptics and Mouthwashes May Reduce Spread of Coronavirus: Study