It is known that coronavirus infection can cause various, including neurological, chronic conditions. In recent years, more and more studies have been published showing an increased risk of Parkinson's disease in people who have recovered from COVID-19. An important factor in neurodegenerative processes in the brain are NLRP3 microglial inflammasomes, multiprotein complexes that are responsible for the production of cytokines that promote inflammatory reactions.

To test whether COVID-19 could promote NLRP3 activation, the scientists used a preclinical model: transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2). ACE2 is a membrane protein located on the cell surface and is the entry point for SARS-CoV-2. ACE2 is produced by many cell types, including not only respiratory tract cells, but also brain neurons and microglia (macrophages of the central nervous system), making them potentially vulnerable to infection. SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 of human cells via the viral spike protein S.

It turned out that the virus actually penetrated the rodent brain, where it promoted the activation of pro-inflammatory pathways involving NLRP3. A laboratory model of microglia additionally grown from human monocytes demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 viral particles are able to bind to and enter cells, which directly causes strong inflammatory responses. Even a purified S-protein, interacting with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, activated the NLRP3 inflammasome in microglial cells.

Children will be fed insects as part of a plan to encourage the next generation to switch from meat to insects and convince their parents to follow suit. Pupils at four primary schools in Wales will be offered insects as food as part of a project to measure children's appetite for “alternative protein” such as crickets, grasshoppers, silkworms, locusts and mealworms The researchers hope their findings provide clues on how best to educate children about the environmental and nutritional benefits of edible insects across the UK and possibly beyond abroad – and, in turn, their parents as the world seeks to help the environment by reducing meat consumption.

In 2019, about 9 million Europeans ate insects. By 2030, their number is planned to be increased to 390 million

Among the 1.2 billion people who inhabit the world’s liberal democracies, three-quarters (75%) now hold a negative view of China, and 87% a negative view of Russia, according to the report, published today by the University’s Centre for the Future of Democracy (CFD).

Yet among the 6.3 billion who live in the world’s remaining 136 countries, the opposite is the case – with 70% of people feeling positively towards China and 66% towards Russia.

https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/worlddivided

This only means that average people are production of local mass media and don't have any opinions of their own on such subjects.

US researchers have developed a new lethal Covid strain in a laboratory – echoing the type of experiments many fear started the pandemic.

The mutant variant — which is a hybrid of Omicron and the original Wuhan virus — killed 80 percent of mice infected with it at Boston University.

When a similar group of rodents were exposed to the standard Omicron strain, however, they all survived and only experienced 'mild' symptoms.

The scientists also infected human cells with the hybrid variant and found it was five times more infectious than Omicron.

This suggests the man-made virus might be the most contagious form yet.

It will no doubt surprise many Americans that such experiments continue to go on in the US despite concerns similar studies may have led to the global Covid outbreak.