Viruses of the Betacoronavirus genus that bind to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) are the coronaviruses posing the most significant pandemic risk. Sarbecoviruses of this genus caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Therefore, new vaccines with broader protection from ACE2-binding sarbecoviruses and emerging variants of concern are urgently needed.
The fungus Candida auris has become an urgent clinical problem at a shocking speed. It was not even mentioned in the U.S. CDC’s 2013 reports on antimicrobial threats, but was one of five pathogens on the agency’s 2019 top-tier Urgent Threat List.
The Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund has announced new investments in the development of a new prophylactic vaccine against malaria, a new anti-malarial drug, and product development projects against neglected tropical diseases.
An2 Therapeutics Inc. has received a research grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to discover novel, boron-containing small molecules for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) causes difficult-to-treat infections due to its inherent resistance. Thus finding new strategies to overcome MRSA resistance is critical. Researchers from China Agricultural University reported on the discovery and optimization of a novel series of pleuromutilin derivatives containing benzoxazole-2-thiol.
TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) serves prominent innate immune functions via complex interactions with adaptor proteins to affect phosphorylation of NF-κB (NF-κB). TBK1 is at the nexus of multiple pathways connecting interferon pathway activation and this is ultimately beneficial or hyperinflammatory-pathological in the context of viral infections.
Fearing cross contamination might have occurred during manufacturing, Scynexis Inc. is recalling Brexafemme (ibrexafungerp tablets) from the market and putting a temporary hold on the drug’s clinical trials until it knows more details.
Westvac Biopharma Co. Ltd. has described keto amide derivatives acting as 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).