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Three covid rapid antigen tests displaying (left to right) invalid, positive, and negative results.
What Does a Positive Covid Test Look Like?
Lateral flow tests for COVID-19 can be very accurate and specific when used as directed, but introducing acidic fluids can cause the tests’ detecting antibodies to clump, which may read as a positive result.
What Does a Positive Covid Test Look Like?
What Does a Positive Covid Test Look Like?

Lateral flow tests for COVID-19 can be very accurate and specific when used as directed, but introducing acidic fluids can cause the tests’ detecting antibodies to clump, which may read as a positive result.

Lateral flow tests for COVID-19 can be very accurate and specific when used as directed, but introducing acidic fluids can cause the tests’ detecting antibodies to clump, which may read as a positive result.

SARS-CoV-2

Detecting the Viral Elephant in the Room
Laura Tran, PhD | Nov 29, 2023 | 3 min read
A tornado-like vortex sampling technology detects low levels of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles within minutes.
qPCRDriving Wastewater Surveillance for Infectious Disease
Nathan Ni, PhD | Oct 30, 2023 | 3 min read
Natalie Knox and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory are helping establish a national qPCR-driven wastewater surveillance network for SARS-CoV-2 and other diseases.
Vaccines and Beyond: Strategies and Technologies for mRNA Therapeutics
Vaccines and Beyond: Strategies and Technologies for mRNA Therapeutics
The Scientist Staff | 2 min read
An expert panel will discuss mRNA-based vaccines, current approaches and challenges, and how researchers are moving RNA therapeutics forward in exciting new directions.
Illustration of glowing fireflies
Glow-in-the-dark Diagnostics
Danielle Gerhard, PhD | Jul 5, 2023 | 2 min read
A nucleic acid detection platform that marries CRISPR diagnostic tools with bioluminescence could accelerate treatment decisions in the clinic.
Woman with her back to camera, with arms stretched out, soaking up the sunshine
A Genetic Predisposition to Vitamin D Deficiency Contributes to Severe COVID-19
Iris Kulbatski, PhD | Jun 1, 2023 | 3 min read
Ana Teresa Freitas discussed how individual variation in vitamin D synthesis and metabolism influences susceptibility to upper respiratory viruses.
Beyond Cytotoxicity: The Importance of T Cell Memory<br ><br>
Beyond Cytotoxicity: The Importance of T Cell Memory
The Scientist | 1 min read
In this webinar, Grégoire Lauvau and Marcus Buggert will discuss the function and role of memory T cells in health and disease.
Illustration of a virus
Vaccines: Sex Matters
Niki Spahich, PhD | Jun 1, 2023 | 3 min read
Male patients who recover from mild COVID-19 have baseline immune states primed to mount stronger responses to future challenges than female patients.
SARS-CoV-2 self-assembling virus-like nanoparticle with spike proteins protruding from the surface.
New Technology Improves SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine-Induced Immune Responses
Elina Kadriu | May 30, 2023 | 3 min read
mRNA-encoded self-assembling enveloped virus-like particles presenting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein enhance immunity and may provide better protection against viral variants. 
<em >The Scientist</em>&rsquo;s Journal Club: Infectious Diseases
The Scientist’s Journal Club: Infectious Diseases
The Scientist | 1 min read
Scientists present the latest research on infection prevention and treatment, including COVID-19 and tropical infectious diseases.
Artist&rsquo;s rendition of red SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses floating near blue strands of DNA.
COVID-19 Infections May Reshape Genetic Landscape
Holly Barker, PhD | Mar 30, 2023 | 3 min read
SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers structural changes in the host cell’s DNA, which provide a molecular explanation for long COVID, a new study suggests. 
Microscope image of A549-ACE2 lung cells coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 and a reporter vector containing a key regulatory variant of interest in the region on human chromosome 3
How Genes from Neanderthals Predispose People to Severe COVID-19
Alakananda Dasgupta | Feb 22, 2023 | 4 min read
Researchers dissect the Neanderthal-derived region on chromosome 3 that drives severe COVID-19 to zero in on the key causal variants.
<em >The Scientist</em>&rsquo;s Journal Club: Immunology
The Scientist’s Journal Club: Immunology
The Scientist | 1 min read
Scientists present the latest research on the immune response against SARS-CoV-2, the influence of COVID-19 on future vaccine responses, and drivers of T cell development.
An artistic rendering of SARS-CoV-2 made to look like stained glass
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Can Alter Future Immune Reponses
Niki Spahich, PhD | Feb 22, 2023 | 3 min read
Males recovered from mild COVID-19 have baseline immune states primed to mount stronger responses to future challenges.
An artist&rsquo;s rendering of a DNA-based virus trap, represented as gray rods in a short cone-shaped arrangement. One is coated with blue molecules, likely antibodies, that adhere to a virus target. Another image shows to traps coming together to capture a red coronavirus.
“Origami” DNA Traps Could Keep Large Viruses From Infecting Cells
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Jan 18, 2023 | 4 min read
By engineering structures out of DNA, scientists could potentially prevent larger viruses, like coronaviruses and influenza viruses, from interacting with cells.
Improve qPCR Efficiency and Reproducibility
The Components of Effective qPCR
Bio-Rad | 1 min read
Putting the pieces together for molecular diagnostics and infectious disease research
Illustration of viruses represented with different colors overlapping each other.
What Happens When You Catch More than One Virus?
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Dec 7, 2022 | 8 min read
The “tripledemic” shines a spotlight on viral interference, in which one infection can block another.
Image of a white cardboard box with a blue vertical stripe on the left side, the word &ldquo;Apixaban&rdquo; in blue lettering at the bottom, and a depiction of apixaban&rsquo;s molecular structure in black.
Blood Thinner Ineffective for COVID-19 Patients: Study
Dan Robitzski | Nov 28, 2022 | 2 min read
A clinical trial finds that the anticoagulant apixaban, which has been prescribed to help COVID-19 patients recover, is ineffective and in rare instances dangerous.
What Could Cause the Next Pandemic?
What Could Cause the Next Pandemic?
The Scientist | 2 min read
Scientists prepare for the future by filling in the research gaps between zoonotic viral reservoirs, emerging viruses, and human immune defenses.
A brown and gray Daubenton&rsquo;s bat in midair, flying in the general direction of the camera with wings outstretched and mouth open.
Duplicated Gene Helps Bats Survive “Arms Race” With Viruses
Dan Robitzski | Nov 23, 2022 | 5 min read
Bats are known for staying healthy even while harboring viral infections. Now, research sheds light on how their unusual immune system evolved.
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