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Chemically self-propelled gold–platinum nanorods tilt like a weathervane against the flow, Penn State researchers found. IMAGE: LEONARDO DOMINGUEZ RUBIO, PENN STATE

Biomedical engineers find active particles swim against the current

Sorry to Burst Your Quarantine Bubble

Hotter Seas Imperil Both Human and Marine Life

Still plan to have a big Thanksgiving in Centre County this year? Don’t, experts say — here’s why

Why fewer people are dying of COVID-19, even as cases surge

7 Things to know before taking Vitamin D Supplements

A team of researchers from Penn State explored the genetic relationships among elephant populations in Tanzania, highlighting priority areas for conservation. IMAGE: GEORGE LOHAY, PENN STATE

Elephant genetics guide conservation

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Penn State COVID experts urge students to consider avoiding family gatherings

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Altered 'coat' disguises fatal brain virus from neutralizing antibodies

Will There Be Black Friday Shipping Delays? Prepare To Be Patient

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Spring symposium, seed grants to promote transdisciplinary biodiversity research

Bioprocessing’s Potential Impact on Patients

Virus evolution could undermine a COVID-19 vaccine – but this can be stopped

As COVID-19 cases increase in Centre County, numbers in long-term care facilities soar

Researchers find that self-reports of smell and taste changes provide earlier markers of the spread of infection of SARS-CoV-2 than current governmental indicators. IMAGE: ENGIN AKYURT, UNSPLASH

Smell and taste changes provide early indication of COVID-19 community spread

Mutant coronaviruses found in mink spark massive culls and doom a Danish group’s research

Vaccines will not be a 'silver bullet' to end Covid-19 immediately

Schematic illustrating three ways that standard samples from COVID-19 clinical trials can be repurposed to assess the risk that vaccine resistance will evolve. 1. The complexity of B-cell and T-cell responses can be measured using blood samples. Different neutralizing antibodies are depicted above in different colors. More complex responses indicate more evolutionarily robust immunity. 2. The effect of vaccination on transmission potential can be assessed by collecting viral titer data using routine nasal swabs. Plaque assays from multiple vaccinated and control individuals are compiled into a histogram. Undetectable viral titers suggest little or no transmission potential, due to either complete immune protection or the absence of exposure. High viral titers suggest high transmission potential due to the absence of a protective immune response. Intermediate viral titers, marked above with an asterisk, suggest moderate transmission potential due to partial vaccine protection. Intermediate titers indicate an increased risk for resistance evolution since pathogen diversity can be generated within hosts and selection can act during transmission between hosts. 3. Pre-existing variation for vaccine resistance can be assessed by recovering genome sequences from nasopharyngeal swabs of symptomatic COVID-19 cases included in the study. In a placebo controlled, double blind study, any significant differences in the genome sequences of samples from vaccinated and control individuals would suggest at least partial vaccine resistance.

Could SARS-CoV-2 evolve resistance to COVID-19 vaccines?

IMAGE: PENN STATE

Rainbow Science Network: Inclusive scientists, inclusive science

High-yielding plants that survive temperature swings may be our next weapon against climate change

Ganesh S Anand headshot.

Ganesh Anand joins Department of Chemistry as associate professor

Podward State: Inside Penn State’s Coronavirus Response

Corals are first animals seen to pass on mutations acquired as adults

State not releasing detailed COVID outbreak data