Bacterial lysate OM-85 blocked SARS-CoV-2 infection by decreasing the coronavirus's ability to bind to the lung cell surface receptor ACE2, research found.

A key contingent at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, basic scientists are undaunted by setbacks, a critical trait for making discoveries.

Pregnant women across the U.S. are fighting severe cases of COVID-19, putting both mother and baby at risk. "Pregnant people who have been infected with COVID-19, compared with pregnant people who haven’t, are 18 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU.

"Run to Be Visible," a documentary released last month by Patagonia, follows Lydia Jennings, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, as she completes a 50-mile run honoring Indigenous scientists of the past, present and future.

Identifying "warning signs" is often discussed to prevent school shootings, but focusing too much on warning signs may be an imperfect strategy. "When you say 'what's the profile of a school shooter?' you're talking about somebody that feels despondent, is angry, maybe they're depressed. But you've just described half of Americans," said Joel A. Dvoskin, PhD, a clinical assistant professor of psyciatry at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

COVID-19 cases are surging statewide in the midst of flu season, which means Arizonans are at elevated risk to get sick. Shad Marvasti, MD, associate professor of family and community medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix, says it’s not likely, but not impossible, to have both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time.

Kat Kennedy, a PhD student and researcher in the Sleep and Health Research Program at the College of Medicine – Tucson, published research that foundmenstruating women who sleep less than six hours a night were 44% more likely to have an irregular period and 70% more likely to have heavy bleeding during a period than healthy sleepers who got seven to nine hours.

As 16- and 17-year-olds become eligible for the Pfizer booster, some are wondering if it will be enough against the Omicron variant. Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, a professor of immunology with the College of Medicine – Tucson, said the early data suggests after two shots, antibodies are not blocking Omicron well but after three shots, they are blocking better.

A research team will study how to better control severe asthma and determine why sufferers are less likely to contract COVID-19, influenza and rhinovirus.