CITF-funded researchers have published a short letter in Clinical Microbiology and Infection proposing a complementary approach, known as SNP-PCR, as a front-line diagnostic approach. SNP-PCR is based on the detection of minor targeted genomic variations among SARS-CoV-2 variants (also known as single nucleotide polymorphisms).
In a preprint, not yet peer-reviewed, a CITF-funded study led by Dr. Ryan Troyer (Western University) developed four spike-based vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and measured antibody and cellular responses.
A new case report, published in pre-print and therefore not yet peer-reviewed, indicates that Omicron reinfection - that is, two infections with distinct Omicron variants one after the other - is possible, even in vaccinated individuals.
The race to vaccinate the world against SARS-CoV-2 became more urgent as variants of concern (VOCs) began to emerge.
In a not yet peer-reviewed pre-print study led by CITF-funded researcher Dr. Jeff Kwong on behalf of the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN), researchers evaluated the effectiveness of mRNA (or combined mRNA and AstraZeneca’s Vaxzevria) vaccines in preventing symptomatic infection and severe outcomes caused by the Omicron variant in Ontario.
CITF-funded researchers Drs. Sharon Straus, Allison McGeer, and Anne-Claude Gingras, all at the University of Toronto, are among those who contributed to this manuscript characterizing the ability of antibodies acquired via immunization, infection, or both, to neutralize Omicron.