SARS-CoV-2 is the third β-coronavirus to appear in humans. After the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV epidemics, very few antibodies had been isolated for therapeutic use. Currently there are numerous attempts underway to purify and characterise those antibodies that are effective against SARS-CoV-2 so as to guide the choices of treatment strategies and to assess their responsiveness […]

At the end of December 2019, the first case of COVID-19, the illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was detected in the city of Wuhan in the province of Hubei. The virus rapidly spread throughout China and resulted in a pandemic. Thanks to retrospective studies and analyses, the first transmission cluster was discovered in a […]

Although SARS-CoV-2 mutates little in comparison to other RNA viruses, the relentless course of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact of its high transmissibility means that the original Wuhan strain has already acquired a certain genetic diversity. This is shown in the regular discovery of new variants, modifying their transmission, their virulence and their capacities […]

The clinical symptoms of the acute phase of COVID-19 have been described in detail and involve pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations. However, cases of “long COVID” have also been reported, and some patients continue to suffer persistent symptoms over several months. Researchers at Saint-Louis, Missouri in the United States have listed the clinical symptoms that patients […]

During the last four years, relations between China and the United States have been strained, mainly for economic and security reasons. Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, these tensions have got worse, especially concerning questions about the origin of the virus and exchange of information. However, the global fight against COVID-19 requires these two […]

In this time of pandemic, availability of safe and effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is a key condition for being able to reduce the severity of illness and limit transmission. Eleven vaccines have already been authorised in at least one country. The three main vaccines remain the 2 mRNA Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, approved in 60 […]

SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have all been at the origin of epidemics over the last 20 years. The β-coronaviruses often come from animals in which they exist without causing illness, in particular bats. When the human immune response moves into action, neutralizing antibodies target the spike viral protein and block interaction of the virus with […]

Like all viruses, and in particular RNA viruses, SARS-CoV-2 makes errors in the replication of its genome, which causes mutations and the appearance of new variants. These mutations can give the virus a selective advantage (increase in transmissibility or evasion of the immune response). This is case with the UK variant, which seems to be […]

Vaccination is our main weapon against COVID-19. Since December 2020, 4 vaccines have been approved by the European Medicines Agency: 2 mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna) and two adenovirus vaccines (AstraZeneca and Janssen). By the 7th April 2021, more than 82 million doses had been administered in Europe. In numerous countries, health workers who are […]

Subunit vaccines are those which contain only a part of a pathogen’s protein. They are amongst the safest and the most used against multiple infectious diseases (hepatitis B, diphtheria or tetanus for example). An essential component of these vaccines is the adjuvant, which helps to create a stronger, longer lasting and better quality immune response. […]