This story from the Texas Medical Center focuses on Pei-Yong Shi’s work with the enzyme luciferase, which give lightning bugs their distinctive glow. Shi and his team are using the enzyme to develop faster and more accurate diagnostic tests for COVID-19. “The great thing about luciferase, and the one that we specifically use which is nanoluciferase, is that it’s really bright,” said fourth-year graduate student Coleman Baker.

The local newspaper interviewed students and educators about changes that incoming students will encounter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. UTMB’s Scott Boeh explains Medical Branch students will take classes primarily online, except for labs or clinical work.

A new national study concludes there is a clear need for more funding and coordination among tick surveillance programs across the country. The study cites UTMB’s Western Gulf Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases as a good program. The center performs research to expand surveillance for ticks and tick-borne pathogens. The center also trains future scientists and public health practitioners.

It is being reported that patients recovering from COVID-19 often experience after-effects such as fatigue, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, numbness, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems and more. Victor Sierpina explains this is not unheard of, noting that post-viral conditions have puzzled scientists and physicians for years.

Research conducted at UTMB has uncovered a new mechanism for designing antiviral drugs for dengue virus. Dengue virus is a mosquito-transmitted viral pathogen, causing 390 million human infections each year. “The World Health Organization lists dengue virus as one of the top ten public health threats and as such requires the urgent development of effective vaccine and therapeutics,” said Hongjie Xia, UTMB postdoctoral fellow and lead author of the study.

This story from the Texas Medical Center examines the efforts undertaken to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. UTMB’s Alan Barret provides details on the many steps needed before a vaccine is determined effective and safe.

UTMB’s Scott Weaver and Susan McLellan recently participated in a COVID-19 virtual update hosted by The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. The two experts discussed UTMB efforts to create antibody therapies and conduct clinical trials in the effort to develop a vaccine and mitigating the spread of the virus.

UTMB’s Tim Harlin was interviewed by the local newspaper to provide information on patient transfers from other hospitals in the region. Harlin explained that UTMB has signed off on transfers when there is room to handle them as well as Galveston County residents who may require hospitalization.