News

COVID-19 antibody testing. What is it good for?

While it’s too soon to use COVID-19 antibody testing to issue “immunity passports,” the antibody tests available today are good enough to inform decisions about public health, such as how and when to relax social distancing interventions, according to an international group of infectious disease and public health experts

Battling disease with ultraviolet light

A new seed grant-funded study could provide the knowledge base needed to develop optical radiation products to sanitize large indoor environments to prevent the transmission of viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 Data 4 Action Project will help inform local decision-making

Penn State researchers will collect pandemic-related information in an effort to provide Centre County officials, Penn State administrators, and the public with actionable data.

The Mighty Microbiome

Researchers in the College of Agricultural Sciences aim to put microbes to work to improve our health and environment.

'Viral Imaginations: COVID-19' site offers Pennsylvanians a creative outlet

As millions shelter in place at home due to COVID-19, many are turning to art to pass the time, relieve stress or spark joy — either as consumers or artists themselves. Penn State has launched a new project called “Viral Imaginations: COVID-19” to give all Pennsylvanians a venue to display their artistic reflections on the pandemic.

Researcher explores disinfectant strength, contact time against viruses

Cleaning products, alcohol-based sanitizers and other common chemicals are all being used on surfaces to try to kill the virus that causes COVID-19, but knowing how much to use and how long to use it for is unknown, according to Craig Meyers, distinguished professor of microbiology and immunology and obstetrics and gynecology, College of Medicine, Penn State, who is looking at testing these chemicals to find out.

Which COVID-19 models should we use to make policy decisions?

With so many COVID-19 models being developed, how do policymakers know which ones to use? A new process to harness multiple disease models for outbreak management has been developed by an international team of researchers.

Online tutor helps general public turn COVID-19 prevention efforts into action

New tool provides comprehensive education on disease prevention guidelines for the general public

Plasma medicine research highlights antibacterial effects and potential uses

As interest in the application of plasma medicine — the use of low-temperature plasma (LTP) created by an electrical discharge to address medical problems — continues to grow, so does the need for research advancements proving its capabilities and potential impacts on the health care industry.

Plants pass on 'memory' of stress to some progeny, making them more resilient

By manipulating the expression of one gene, geneticists can induce a form of “stress memory” in plants that is inherited by some progeny, giving them the potential for more vigorous, hardy and productive growth, according to Penn State researchers, who suggest the discovery has significant implications for plant breeding.