SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to Virginia Tech research published today in Nature Communications. The virus was detected in six common backyard species and antibodies indicating prior exposure to the virus were found in five species with rates of exposure ranging from 40 to 60 percent depending on the species.

Substituting amines with phosphonium-based cations could greatly improve the performance of mRNA-loaded polymeric micelles, report scientists from Tokyo Tech. By adopting this innovative strategy, they managed to enhance the stability and mRNA-delivery capabilities of micelle nanocarriers into tumor tissue in vivo. Their results hint at the importance of exploring other cations besides amines in mRNA drug delivery and could pave the way to effective treatment for challenging diseases.