Three different vaccines have been authorised for emergency use in the United Kingdom to control the pandemic: two of them are mRNA vaccines, and one is based on a viral vector. The latter, called AZD1222, has been developed by Oxford University in collaboration with the biopharma company Astra Zeneca. AZD1222 is based in a chimpanzeeContinue reading “The Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine: a viral vector-based vaccine”
Category Archives: Public health
Clinical trials: rules, phases, and results
To obtain marketing authorization, all drugs must pass several phases of preclinical (in the lab) and clinical (on human volunteers) trials. During the preclinical phases, molecules are tested on models such as cells, and animal models more or less similar to humans (from mice to primates, where permitted by the local laws). Experimentation on animalContinue reading “Clinical trials: rules, phases, and results”
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines: promising results in less than one year since the beginning of the pandemic
Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been hoping for a vaccine to defeat the virus and get back to “normality”, a more lighthearted daily life that we had to put aside. On March 16th, a few days after the WHO had declared the pandemic, the biotech company Moderna announced the beginning of phaseContinue reading “The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines: promising results in less than one year since the beginning of the pandemic”
The flu: seasonal outbreaks and pandemics
At the beginning of 2020, when the spread of SARS-CoV-2 was undeniable but its consequences were still unknown, some tried to minimize the situation, saying that it was “just like a flu”. However, the flu is not an insignificant disease: it is a viral infection of the airways that we can prevent with a vaccineContinue reading “The flu: seasonal outbreaks and pandemics”
COVID-19 swab tests: how they work
If one year ago someone had told me that our daily conversations would have had “virus, PCR, swab, antibodies” as keywords, I would have not believed it, but (unfortunately) these are trending topics in 2020. Since everybody talks about that, but many still mix things up, here are the differences between “swab test” and “rapidContinue reading “COVID-19 swab tests: how they work”
West Nile Virus (WNV)
Author’s note: this article was published for the first time on 15/09/2020; latest update: 28/07/2025 What is the West Nile Virus and where is it found? West Nile Virus (WNV), despite its exotic name, is quite a common virus in Europe. In 2025 cases have been reported in Greece, Romania and Italy. It was initiallyContinue reading “West Nile Virus (WNV)”
Serology tests for COVID-19: what they are and how they work
Serology tests detect the presence of specific proteins of interest in the serum (the liquid phase of blood after clotting). Serology tests for COVID-19 aim to detect in the serum specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (antibodies are proteins as well). The human body produces 5 different types of antibodies (IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG e IgM, whereContinue reading “Serology tests for COVID-19: what they are and how they work”
Vaccines, antibodies and herd immunity (in a nutshell)
Vaccines make us immune to viruses and bacteria stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies. They have significantly contributed to reducing infant mortality and improving the health of the population. Vaccination was first introduced by Jenner in 1976. Vaccines protect not only the individual but also the entire community.
What we know about SARS-CoV-2
“Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2” by NIAID is licensed under CC BY 2.0 (Virus emerging from the surface of an infected cell) We have heard about a new virus that was causing pneumonia since December 2019; the virus was spreading in China and it was temporarily called 2019-nCoV. On February 11th, 2020, the International Committee on TaxonomyContinue reading “What we know about SARS-CoV-2”
COVID-19
Dear all,at the link below a letter from Italian scientists working all over the world to raise further awareness amongst academics over the apparent lack of appropriate countermeasures to the spread of the Coronavirus in several countries.Please share with your network if you find it appropriate.You can add your signature adding a comment to theContinue reading “COVID-19”
Virus&Co. 