Cells can both survive and multiply under more stress than previously thought, shows research from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

This was found by inhibiting the essential gene DNA polymerase alpha, or POLA1, which initiates DNA replication during cell division.

The discovery gives researchers new insights into DNA replication and may potentially be used for a new type of cancer treatment. Research Leader and Associate Professor Luis Toledo of the Center for Chromosome Stability at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine states as follows:

Since the new coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 7, companies and academic groups around the world have been working at breakneck pace to develop new therapies for the virus, now called SARS-CoV-2. This week, two US biotech firms, Moderna and Gilead Sciences, positioned themselves as frontrunners.

The world’s first clinical trial of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus will soon begin in the US. On Feb. 25, Moderna announced that it has shipped its experimental vaccine to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which will conduct the trial. The entire process—from vaccine design to manufacturing to shipment—took only 7 weeks.

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Gilead has a head start on an antiviral, while Moderna is pursuing a novel mRNA vaccine.

Wuhan Coronavirus Pandemic — Washington state: 1 death and 1 community spread case and 1 travel case.

“One case involves a teenager in Everett with no travel history. He is a presumptive positive, meaning tests have come back positive for the virus, while pending confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is currently in home isolation. Health officials don’t know how or where the teenager was infected, and are working on identifying anyone the teen may have come into contact with. The student attends Jackson High School in the Everett School District.

The second case involves a King County woman in her 50s who recently traveled to Daegu, South Korea. Her status is also presumptive positive and she is in home isolation.”

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The first U.S. coronavirus-related death was reported in King County on Saturday, according to the Washington Department of Health.

Public Health – Seattle & King County will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. with more details. KIRO Radio will stream the news conference LIVE.

Person connected to Bothell H.S. tests negative for coronavirus

A spokesperson for EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland, Kayse Dahl, said the person died in the facility, but gave no other details.

Read updates in Chinese: 新冠病毒疫情最新消息汇总

Fears take hold that a global pandemic is inevitable.

From eastern Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa, a steady stream of new cases on Friday fueled the sense that the new coronavirus epidemic may be turning into a global pandemic, with some health officials saying it may be inevitable.

Wuhan Coronavirus Pandemic — Mexico’s first cases.

“Mexico’s health secretary confirmed the country’s first and second case of the coronavirus. Hugo Lopez-Gatell said one of the patients is in Mexico City and the other in the northern state of Sinaloa”

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As of Friday, more than 83,700 cases of coronavirus have been reported, resulting in at least 2,859 deaths.