COVID-19 Round-up: New variant, chiropractic telehealth, more

Coronavirus Makes Cells Grow Tentacles, Microscopic Images Reveal

Microscopic images released by scientists show how the coronavirus which causes COVID-19 appears to make cells which it has invaded grow tentacle-like protrusions.

Researchers used special equipment to capture images of SARS-CoV-2, the name of the virus which causes COVID-19, after it infected monkey kidney cells in a lab. Among their findings published in the journal Cell was that the virus seemed to trigger the growth of what are known as filopodia. These are thin protrusions rich in a protein which is important for actions including the movement and division of cells. They act as an antenna for cells to probe their surroundings.

Chiropractic Telehealth in Action: This Doctor’s Experience

This free on-demand webinar for ACA members looks at the nation practicing social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 while DCs leverage telehealth to continue to serve patients and provide patient-centered care.

Daniel Bockmann, DC, outlines his smooth transition from hands-on treatment to telemedicine, shares simple tricks he’s learned and talks about how appreciative his patients are for this service.

For more info go to learn.acatoday.org/products/chiro-telehealth-in-action-this-doctors-experience#tab-product_tab_speaker_s.

Newer variant of COVID-19–causing virus dominates global infections

Research out today in the journal Cell shows that a specific change in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus virus genome, previously associated with increased viral transmission and the spread of COVID-19, is more infectious in cell culture. The variant in question, D614G, makes a small but effective change in the virus’s ‘spike’ protein, which the virus uses to enter human cells.

Bette Korber, a theoretical biologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and lead author of the study, noted, “The D614G variant first came to our attention in early April, as we had observed a strikingly repetitive pattern. All over the world, even when local epidemics had many cases of the original form circulating, soon after the D614G variant was introduced into a region it became the prevalent form.”

For the latest COVID-9 info for doctors of chiropractic, including upcoming webinars, updates, resources and articles from Chiropractic Economics, go to chiroeco.com/coronavirus-covid-19.