COVID-19 News and Discussions

[weatheriscool]

Novel monoclonal antibody therapy for SARS-CoV-2
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10- ... -cov-.html
by Marla Paul, Northwestern University

An entirely new approach to monoclonal antibody therapy shows that targeting the more genetically stable internal protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus rather than the surface spike protein can also clear SARS-CoV-2, reports a study from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Some monoclonal antibody treatments have stopped working because the spike viral protein undergoes high rates of mutation, rendering some viral variants resistant to current antibody therapies. The novel approach could provide a new armament in treatments that could preserve effectiveness as the spike protein mutates.

This is the first time that therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have targeted an internal rather than a surface protein.

"These results may also contribute to the development of combined antibody therapies for SARS-CoV-2 as well as other viral diseases such as HIV by targeting unconventional viral proteins that are not typically targeted by monoclonal antibody therapies," said co-corresponding author Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster, Ph.D., assistant professor of Microbiology-Immunology.

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

If you had COVID, several of your organs could be aging 3-4 years faster: Study

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 5:01PM

SAN FRANCISCO -- After over two and a half years of COVID research, scientists are seeing the first data points that prove a dramatic change in human organs after a COVID infection.

"You can start thinking about getting COVID as almost as an accelerant to aging. The viral infection accelerates the aging process in people," said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, director of the Clinical Epidemiology Center at Washington University in St. Louis and the chief of research and education service at Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System.

Dr. Al-Aly gathered data from millions of people across the country. Their studies on kidney outcomes in long COVID, long COVID in the brain and long COVID in the heart had similar patterns.

All pointing to multiple human organs aging faster after COVID. The majority happening among people who were hospitalized but also some with mild COVID symptoms.

"Almost by three to four years in the span of just one," said Dr. Al-Aly and added, "What we have seen is that people are losing about three to four percent kidney function in the year that follows that infection. That usually happens with aging. Three to four years of aging."

https://abc7news.com/covid-long-haul-st ... /12340213/

[Cyber_Rebel]

Hope that it accelerates 3D printing of organs as well then. The only way to get society back and people fully healthy again is by investing (heavily) into anti-aging research and 3D printing not just replicated organs, but overall superior ones.

[Ken_J]

If you had COVID, several of your organs could be aging 3-4 years faster: Study

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 5:01PM

SAN FRANCISCO -- After over two and a half years of COVID research, scientists are seeing the first data points that prove a dramatic change in human organs after a COVID infection.

"You can start thinking about getting COVID as almost as an accelerant to aging. The viral infection accelerates the aging process in people," said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, director of the Clinical Epidemiology Center at Washington University in St. Louis and the chief of research and education service at Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System.

Dr. Al-Aly gathered data from millions of people across the country. Their studies on kidney outcomes in long COVID, long COVID in the brain and long COVID in the heart had similar patterns.

All pointing to multiple human organs aging faster after COVID. The majority happening among people who were hospitalized but also some with mild COVID symptoms.

"Almost by three to four years in the span of just one," said Dr. Al-Aly and added, "What we have seen is that people are losing about three to four percent kidney function in the year that follows that infection. That usually happens with aging. Three to four years of aging."

https://abc7news.com/covid-long-haul-st ... /12340213/

it seems that the situation is specific to hospitalized and long covid sufferers, not literally everyone who had it. and they are seeing evidence that what signs of it they have seen are not persistent but 'levels off' after a while. and given that most of the sample they are using for the assessment were infected within the last year and a half... this comes across as just fear mongering.

How much does a standard viral infection risk in aging the body and for what length of time does the effect persist in the patient? Flu, Mono, the common cold. They all add wear and tear to the system and for those who get a case that lasts longer or get more severe , requiring hospitalization, the deteriorization of the body can be severe and take a great deal of time to recover from.

I've an uncle who as a child got a fever. He's been deaf in one ear ever since, and has some kidney issues likely due in part to that sickness. he's a doctor and has always taken good care of his health. he's in his early seventies now and likely to make it to his eighties at least.

[weatheriscool]

CDC director tests positive for Covid-19
Source: CNN

CNN — Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. Walensky is experiencing mild symptoms and is up to date on her Covid-19 vaccines, according to a statement released by the agency. Walensky received an updated Covid-19 booster in September.

“Consistent with CDC guidelines, she is isolating at home and will participate in her planned meetings virtually,” the agency said. “CDC senior staff and close contacts have been informed of her positive test and are taking appropriate action to monitor their health.” Covid-19 cases have been falling as the United States moves into fall. However, experts say cases may begin to climb as they have during the past two pandemic winters – especially as several new coronavirus variants begin to gain traction.

The CDC recommends that people who have recently recovered from a Covid-19 infection wait to get boosted at least until the illness has passed and a person is no longer contagious. The CDC says a person “may consider delaying your vaccine by 3 months from when your symptoms started.”

Getting infected can act like a booster, and studies have shown that people have a relatively low risk of getting sick again for about three months after they recover. People may not want to wait as long as three months if Covid-19 levels are high in the community or they have a reduced immune function, CNN has reported.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/22/health/c ... index.html

[raklian]

We may have a flying HIV in our midst.

[wjfox]

^ Old study from July 2020, before vaccines and boosters.

[raklian]

^ Old study from July 2020, before vaccines and boosters.

Yes, it's just a reminder that Covid is not the flu or a cold. People are becoming too complacent again.

Besides, there's talk that vaccines or boosters may not entirely stop the immunocompromising effects of Covid. I do not know if there is any merit to it, but I hope there is an ongoing research to see if it holds any water.

[caltrek]

How Severe is the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 Subvariant Compared with Earlier Variants?
October 26, 2022

Introduction:

(EurekAlert) Investigators determined that the BA.2 subvariant is less severe than the previous Delta variant and less severe to an even greater extent than the original Omicron variant

Key Takeaways

• In an analysis of COVID-19 cases from Mass General Brigham’s electronic health record system, mortality rates were 0.7% for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, 0.4% for the original Omicron variant, and 0.3% for the Omicron BA.2 subvariant

• After adjustments, the odds of death were more than 2-times higher for the Delta and original Omicron variants compared with Omicron BA.2

• Patients with Delta and original Omicron variants were also more likely to need hospitalizations, invasive ventilation, and intensive care admissions

• The comprehensive digital surveillance system can continue to be used to measure SARS-CoV-2’s intrinsic severity over time

Read more of the EurekAlert[/] article here: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/969273
The results of the study as presented in an article of the JAMA Network Open can be read here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman ... e/2797625

[caltrek]

Among Other Cities In China Wuhan Is Back In Lockdown – Here's What We Know
by Dr Alfredo Carpineti, PhD.
October 28, 2022

Introduction:

(IFL Science) Wuhan and many other cities across China have gone back into lockdown as the Asian country continues its zero-COVID policy. China has reported 42,419 cases of COVID cases just in the last 24 hours, and to stop another wave becoming more serious, over 200 million people are back in lockdown.

Under different degrees of lockdown, there are major manufacturing centers such as Guangzhou, Zhengzhou, Datong and Xian. Reuters reports that 28 major cities were dealing with local outbreaks. The Universal Resort in Beijing was shut down after a guest tested positive for COVID-19, but the country's capital remain open for now.

Eighty-seven percent of people in China have been vaccinated against COVID-19, as reported in summer, although it appears that elderly people – one of the most at-risk populations – are lagging behind in terms of vaccine uptake.

While the zero-COVID policy continues to be seen as controversial, China has so far reported 28,061 deaths due to COVID-19. The United States registered over 68,700 cases yesterday.

Read more here: https://www.iflscience.com/wuhan-is-ba ... now-65965

[caltrek]

Authorities in Shanghai Start Administering an Oral Version of a Covid-19 Vaccine
October 26, 2022

Introduction:

(AP via SCMP) In what appeared to be a world first, Shanghai on Wednesday started administering an inhalable Covid-19 vaccine.

The vaccine, a mist that is sucked in through the mouth, is being offered for free as a booster dose for previously vaccinated people, according to an announcement on an official city social media account.

Scientists hope that such needle-free vaccines will make vaccination more accessible in countries with fragile health systems because they are easier to administer. They also may persuade people who do not like needles to get inoculated.

China wants more people to get booster shots before it relaxes strict pandemic restrictions that are holding back the economy and are increasingly out of sync with the rest of the world. As of mid-October, about 90 per cent of Chinese were fully vaccinated and 57 per cent had received a booster shot.

Read more here: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/scienc ... culations

[wjfox]

How do Britons feel about COVID-19 as we head into winter 2022?

November 01, 2022

As the latest data from the ONS suggests that the number of people in the UK with COVID-19 is on the rise again, YouGov research looks at people’s concerns for the winter, and public attitudes towards restrictive measures and further vaccines.

Around half of Britons are worried about both the number of people catching COVID-19 (49%), and the number of people being hospitalised with the illness (53%) increasing this winter. People are less worried about catching it themselves, with just over one in three (37%) saying so.

[...]

When it comes to wearing masks, just a quarter of Britons (27%) are still wearing a face covering at least sometimes when travelling on public transport, while 39% at least occasionally opt to wear a mask in public spaces such as shops. However, only 6-7% are wearing a face mask every time they go on public transport or visit a public space.

For those who wear a mask most or some of the time, but not all of the time, the main motivation for that decision is how busy the transport space is – six in ten (59%) say that they only don a mask if it is busy. For a further 17% the issue seems to be organisation, with respondents suggesting they would wear them more frequently were it not for forgetfulness.

[...]

Thinking about the situation as it is at the moment, there is strong support for both self-isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19 (75%), and for mandatory testing for those who have symptoms (65%). Three in five (61%) would also back measures to enforce mask wearing on public transport. There is less support for the same measure being applied to indoor public spaces, although the figure is by no means insignificant – half (49%) would support masks being worn in places like shops and theatres right now, with 43% opposed. Older people (64% of those aged 65 and above) are particularly supportive of such a move.

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/arti ... ad-winter-

[wjfox]

[Xyls]

I’ve still never had Covid lol. Not that I am being particularly vigilant either lol.

[raklian]

I’ve still never had Covid lol. Not that I am being particularly vigilant either lol.

You still might've gotten it but didn't show any symptoms. That has happened to a lot of people with Covid.

[raklian]

A must read.

What If COVID Reinfections Wear Down Our Immunity?

Dr. Anthony Leonardi is a lightning rod for debate. If he’s right, this pandemic poses a greater threat than widely assumed.

Nearly three years into the pandemic, it’s clear early expectations about the behaviour of the coronavirus and its toll on our bodies have proven overly optimistic.

Recall those early days when experts broadly assumed that once we’d withstood an infection our immune systems would adjust and fully resist another reinfection.

And then hopes rose that mass vaccination would provide the path out of the pandemic. Although vaccines did reduce deaths and hospitalizations, the effort failed to produce herd immunity.

But researchers saw further promise in what they called hybrid immunity: people who had been infected with COVID and then received mRNA vaccines would, it was assumed, develop a formidable protection through raised levels of antibodies (proteins made by the immune system to battle infection).

However variants emerged, capable of evading those antibodies. Many people who had been vaccinated or already had endured a bout of COVID were experiencing “breakthrough infections.” What could put the brakes on this ever-evolving virus, which can kill, damage organs and linger for months?

The answer from many scientists has been T cells — our bodies’ line of immune defence after antibodies. T cells can spot and attack viruses and even remember previous invaders. As virologist Vincent Racaniello titled one of his articles: “T cells will save us from COVID-19.”

But what if COVID wears down T cells in people who get it, and does so increasingly with each reinfection?

That concern lies at the heart of a rolling, rancorous scientific debate, a lot of it conducted on Twitter. A person at the centre of the storm, sounding alarms about T cell “dysregulation” since the early days of the pandemic, has been a U.S. immunologist named Anthony Leonardi.

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/11/07/ ... ign=071122

[Xyls]

I’ve still never had Covid lol. Not that I am being particularly vigilant either lol.

You still might've gotten it but didn't show any symptoms. That has happened to a lot of people with Covid.

I think I had it in June-July time period but I never tested positive for whatever reason.

Lol.

[wjfox]

[raklian]

Read the thread for your sakes.