Blocking COVID replication | Vitamin D | Reducing risk

Compounds that can block virus’ ability to replicate

CLEVELAND—Case Western Reserve University researchers have released new findings identifying compounds that have the potential to slow and even block the COVID virus’ ability to replicate. The Case Western team, joined by teams from Duke University and Rutgers, identified molecules that can target the RNA of SARS-CoV-2 — or the genetic foundation of the virus.

COVID, inflammation, and vitamin D

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN—A new joint study by Purdue University and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrates that an active metabolite of vitamin D (non-OTC) is involved in “switching off” inflammation in the body during infections such as COVID-19. As part of the study, researchers analyzed individual lung cells from eight people with COVID-19. They found that in these cells, part of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 was going into overdrive and exacerbating inflammation in the lungs.

Decreased risk of death in vaccinated patients

MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Dialysis patients who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines had a lower risk of COVID-19 diagnosis post-vaccination and were less likely to be hospitalized or die following breakthrough infection than unvaccinated patients, according to a DaVita Clinical Research (DCR) study. Researchers evaluated the electronic health records of 35,206 DaVita dialysis patients vaccinated with Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines between Jan. 1 and Feb. 25, 2021.