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❄️ Mac n’ Chise ❄️ Profile picture
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1 Feb, 4 tweets, 2 min read
It’s #BlackHistoryMonth
This month is a time for highlighting and celebrating the many accomplishments and contributions made to the scientific, educational, and social justice fabric of this country by those in the Black community as these contributions often go unnoticed.
Read their stories. Uplift their voices. Share and comprehend their accomplishments, their struggles, their persistence, and their innovations. It is vital to recognize Black history because to truly understand our nation’s history, we all need to better understand Black history.
As a Black biracial person myself, this month is very important to me. To kick off the first day of Black History Month, I’d like to share this timeline created by the ASBMB highlighting important achievements in the life sciences made by Black scientists. asbmb.org/diversity/a-hi…
I know the image is a little blurry but if you click the link it allows access to the entire PDF. ✨

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❄️ Mac n’ Chise ❄️ Profile picture
2 Feb
Concerning the SARS-CoV-2 variants that were first identified in the UK (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351), and Brazil (P.1), their specific mutations focus on altering the fitness of the virus by improving its rate of transmission but with mild signs of immune evasion. A thread.
From what we have seen, it is evident that B.1.1.7 (UK strain) is inherently more transmissible when compared to the original strain ( by ~50%), and it may be right to assume when populations are exposed to this variant, it’ll likely become the dominant strain relatively quickly.
While B.1.351 and P.1 are independent lineages, they have several key mutations in common being (see my screens for descriptions of the mutations of concern we targeted with our vaccines) D416G, K417N/T, E484K, and N501Y (whereas N501Y, D416G, and E484K are shared with B.1.1.7). ImageImageImage
Read 13 tweets
❄️ Mac n’ Chise ❄️ Profile picture
1 Feb
Okay, while this sounds alarming, I am here to tell you this is to be expected. Viruses undergo evolution and natural selection, just like cell-based life, and most of them evolve rapidly. The E484K mutation was already identified in the SA and Brazil variant, now the UK variant.
When two viruses infect a cell at the same time, they may swap genetic material to make new, "mixed" viruses with unique properties. For example, influenza strains can arise this way. Natural selection can only happen when it has the right starting material: genetic variation.
Genetic variation means there are some genetic (heritable) differences in a population. In viruses, variation comes from either recombination where viruses swap chunks of genetic material (DNA or RNA) or random mutation where a change occurs in the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus.
Read 7 tweets
❄️ Mac n’ Chise ❄️ Profile picture
1 Feb
Some good news that can’t help but be shared! Preliminary data from a study done (from none other than my alma mater) at the University of Maryland shows that those who had previously been infected with SARS-CoV2 may only need one dose of our mRNA vaccines to be fully protected!
Firstly, make sure you’re following Andrew- they’re pretty amazing. ✨ Secondly, from what this study shows, prior infection with SARS-CoV2 almost serves as a primer of sorts and therefore one dose of the vaccine serves as your booster.
Study participants who were previously infected responded extremely well to a single dose of these vaccines. Symptomatic or asymptomatic made no difference apparently. This is monumental for vaccine allocation and for being able to ramp up mass vaccination efforts.
Read 5 tweets
❄️ Mac n’ Chise ❄️ Profile picture
26 Jan
Johnson & Johnson’s Coronavirus vaccine is likely to be the next in line available in the United States. With potential results to be expected next week per their CFO, I thought it might be helpful to explain how this vaccine works. The preliminary findings are promising. 🧬🦠🧫
Read 4 tweets
❄️ Mac n’ Chise ❄️ Profile picture
25 Jan
Good morning! 🦠🧫🧬
May I give you some good news?
Our Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Retains Neutralizing Activity Against Emerging Variants First Identified in the U.K. and the Republic of South Africa (B.1.1.7 and 501.V2)!
investors.modernatx.com/node/10841/pdf
Sorry for the wait guys. Patience has been appreciated! Vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine produced neutralizing titers against all key emerging variants tested, including B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, first identified in the UK and Republic of South Africa, respectively.
The study showed no significant impact on neutralizing titers against the B.1.1.7 variant relative to prior variants. A six-fold reduction in neutralizing titers was observed with the B.1.351 variant relative to prior variants.
Read 7 tweets
❄️ Mac n’ Chise ❄️ Profile picture
21 Jan
Undoubtedly there is going to be a lot of conversation surrounding the new viral variants. This is me being completely transparent when I say this: please don’t panic. The most important thing we can do is prevent the virus from spreading. Let me elaborate.
It will take a large amount of genetic diversity to completely render these vaccines useless. These mutations have not been able to alter the S protein’s shape to the extent that the vaccine-induced antibodies provided by these vaccines are not able to bind at all.
Remember these vaccines (especially these using the whole spike protein) make polyclonal antibody responses. This means that the antibodies created will be able to bind the Coronavirus’ spike in multiple places not just one. Hence a broader range of protection even with changes.
Read 14 tweets

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