A new study from Tel Aviv University (TAU) found that the British variant of the COVID-19 virus (B.1.1.7) is 45% more contagious than the original virus. The researchers relied on data from about 300,000 PCR tests for COVID-19 obtained from the COVID-19 testing lab established by TAU in collaboration with the Electra Group. The new… Read More
Tel Aviv University and Clalit Research Institute researchers have found that the South African variant of the COVID-19 virus is significantly more likely to break through the protective effect of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine compared to the British COVID-19 variant. Researchers say that the exact reduction in effectiveness cannot be accurately assessed from… Read More
A new study conducted jointly by Tel Aviv University and the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center–Ichilov found that vaccinating breastfeeding mothers promotes the production of important antibodies in their breast milk, potentially contributing to the protection of their nursing babies. The leading team at TAU included Dr. Yariv Wine and PhD student Aya Kigel from… Read More
Despite tens of millions of cases worldwide and rising, SARS-Cov-2, the new coronavirus also referred to as COVID-19, remains largely misunderstood. The scientific and medical communities still do not know the causes – or long-term effects – of the killer virus’s wide range of symptoms. As more and more countries, including Israel, experience a second… Read More
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been reports in the professional literature on possible hearing loss caused by the disease. A new study from Tel Aviv University (TAU), in collaboration with the Galilee Medical Center, finds no evidence of damage to the auditory system as a result of COVID-19 infection. The study… Read More
Researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU) have proven that the coronavirus can be killed efficiently, quickly, and cheaply using ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). They believe that the UV-LED technology will soon be available for private and commercial use. This is the first study conducted on the disinfection efficiency of UV-LED irradiation at different wavelengths… Read More
Tel Aviv University researchers have isolated and characterized six antibodies derived from the blood of two severely ill coronavirus patients, then demonstrated that combinations of three antibodies at a time act as an effective cocktail against COVID-19. The cocktail provided natural immunity against the disease that possibly extends for several months. The researchers found that the… Read More
Tel Aviv University researchers suggest that carriers of the genetic mutations PiZ and PiS are at high risk for severe illness and even death from COVID-19. These mutations lead to deficiency in the alpha1-antitrypsin protein, which protects lung tissues from damage in case of severe infections. Other studies have already associated deficiency in this protein… Read More