George "Ladykiller" Gao thread
1/105+
BECAUSE YOU GOT THE FEVER
@BillyBostickson @uacjess @WhereIsYanLing
1/105+
BECAUSE YOU GOT THE FEVER
@BillyBostickson @uacjess @WhereIsYanLing
2/
I'VE GOT THE FEVER BABY
I'VE GOT THE FEVER BABY
3/
THREAD THEME
Get down! It's Saturday night!
THREAD THEME
Get down! It's Saturday night!
5/
Was this the meeting?
"Let's copy everything the Chinese are doing"
"Yes"
"But the coof camps damage the HERD"
"OK let's build them but not use them"
Was this the meeting?
"Let's copy everything the Chinese are doing"
"Yes"
"But the coof camps damage the HERD"
"OK let's build them but not use them"
6/
31 December 2020
We can’t rule out risks with Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, top Chinese health official says
scmp.com/news/china/sci…
31 December 2020
We can’t rule out risks with Covid-19 mRNA vaccines, top Chinese health official says
scmp.com/news/china/sci…
7/
“Western countries adopted the mRNA technology, which was developed for cancer patients,” state news agency Xinhua quoted Gao as saying on Tuesday. “I don’t know whether it will have side effects in the future, but the risk cannot be ruled out.
“Western countries adopted the mRNA technology, which was developed for cancer patients,” state news agency Xinhua quoted Gao as saying on Tuesday. “I don’t know whether it will have side effects in the future, but the risk cannot be ruled out.
8/
China is betting on old and new technologies by developing Covid-19 vaccines in five categories – inactivated vaccines, recombinant (subunit) protein vaccines, live attenuated influenza vaccines, adenovirus vaccines, and nucleic acid-based vaccines.
China is betting on old and new technologies by developing Covid-19 vaccines in five categories – inactivated vaccines, recombinant (subunit) protein vaccines, live attenuated influenza vaccines, adenovirus vaccines, and nucleic acid-based vaccines.
9/
Safety issues that would affect significant numbers of vaccines mostly appear within two months, according to Michel Goldman, professor of immunology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.
Safety issues that would affect significant numbers of vaccines mostly appear within two months, according to Michel Goldman, professor of immunology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.
10/
Gao said China’s three inactivated vaccines were nearing the end of clinical trials and showing good results. Another vaccine – a subunit vaccine, composed of protein or glycoprotein components of a pathogen – had also entered the final phase of clinical trials, he said.
Gao said China’s three inactivated vaccines were nearing the end of clinical trials and showing good results. Another vaccine – a subunit vaccine, composed of protein or glycoprotein components of a pathogen – had also entered the final phase of clinical trials, he said.
12/
“I’ve been to Wuhan to look for the origin in animals and failed to find [the same virus],” Gao said. “It may take a long time to find the virus. It’s also possible that the virus will disappear before we find the origin.”
“I’ve been to Wuhan to look for the origin in animals and failed to find [the same virus],” Gao said. “It may take a long time to find the virus. It’s also possible that the virus will disappear before we find the origin.”
15/
Gao said that he believed the situation would be relatively relieved by mid-2022. “In my opinion, we can never be as normal as before,” he said, adding that “we can get ‘approximately’ normal by the summer next year”.
scmp.com/news/china/sci…
Gao said that he believed the situation would be relatively relieved by mid-2022. “In my opinion, we can never be as normal as before,” he said, adding that “we can get ‘approximately’ normal by the summer next year”.
scmp.com/news/china/sci…
17/
Recently, MAb114 has been designated a breakthrough therapy for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. The neutralizing activity in vitro, and protection efficacy in vivo, of CB6 against SARS-CoV-2 is good and is likely to be comparable to that of MAb114 against Ebola virus
Recently, MAb114 has been designated a breakthrough therapy for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. The neutralizing activity in vitro, and protection efficacy in vivo, of CB6 against SARS-CoV-2 is good and is likely to be comparable to that of MAb114 against Ebola virus
18/
In conclusion, our data indicate that CB6—a neutralizing mAb isolated from a patient convalescing from COVID-19—could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of COVID-19 and that it deserves further translational development.
In conclusion, our data indicate that CB6—a neutralizing mAb isolated from a patient convalescing from COVID-19—could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of COVID-19 and that it deserves further translational development.
20/
There are three moments in the yearlong catastrophe of the covid-19 pandemic when events might have turned out differently. The first occurred on January 3, 2020, when Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke with George Fu Gao
There are three moments in the yearlong catastrophe of the covid-19 pandemic when events might have turned out differently. The first occurred on January 3, 2020, when Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke with George Fu Gao
21/
NICE ONE GEORGE
"Gao, when pressed, assured him that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission."
NICE ONE GEORGE
"Gao, when pressed, assured him that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission."
22/
When Redfield learned that, among twenty-seven reported cases, there were several family clusters, he observed that it was unlikely that each person had been infected, simultaneously, by a caged civet cat or a raccoon dog.
When Redfield learned that, among twenty-seven reported cases, there were several family clusters, he observed that it was unlikely that each person had been infected, simultaneously, by a caged civet cat or a raccoon dog.
23/
He offered to send a C.D.C. team to Wuhan to investigate, but Gao said that he wasn’t authorized to accept such assistance. Redfield made a formal request to the Chinese government and assembled two dozen specialists, but no invitation arrived.
He offered to send a C.D.C. team to Wuhan to investigate, but Gao said that he wasn’t authorized to accept such assistance. Redfield made a formal request to the Chinese government and assembled two dozen specialists, but no invitation arrived.
24/
A few days later, in another conversation with Redfield, Gao started to cry and said, “I think we’re too late.”
A few days later, in another conversation with Redfield, Gao started to cry and said, “I think we’re too late.”
25/
🎶 You don't know how to ease my pain you don't knoo-ooow 🎶
🎶 You don't know how to ease my pain you don't knoo-ooow 🎶
26/
Chain of command is Xi Jinping > Ma Xiaowei > George Fu Gao, no?
Chain of command is Xi Jinping > Ma Xiaowei > George Fu Gao, no?
27/
Perhaps Gao had just been made aware that the virus had been circulating in China at least since November.
Perhaps Gao had just been made aware that the virus had been circulating in China at least since November.
28/
The virus in Wuhan turned out to be far more infectious, and it spread largely by asymptomatic transmission
“That whole idea that you were going to diagnose cases based on symptoms, isolate them, and contact-trace around them was not going to work” Redfield told me recently
The virus in Wuhan turned out to be far more infectious, and it spread largely by asymptomatic transmission
“That whole idea that you were going to diagnose cases based on symptoms, isolate them, and contact-trace around them was not going to work” Redfield told me recently
29/
On January 14th, the N.S.C. convened an interagency meeting to discuss the virus. Early that morning, the W.H.O.—relying on China’s assurances—tweeted that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
On January 14th, the N.S.C. convened an interagency meeting to discuss the virus. Early that morning, the W.H.O.—relying on China’s assurances—tweeted that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
31/
About twenty senators showed up to hear Anthony Fauci and Robert Redfield speak at an hour-long briefing. The health authorities were reassuring. Redfield said, “We are prepared for this.”
About twenty senators showed up to hear Anthony Fauci and Robert Redfield speak at an hour-long briefing. The health authorities were reassuring. Redfield said, “We are prepared for this.”
32/
Pottinger attended a Chinese New Year party on Capitol Hill. Old diplomatic hands, émigrés, and Chinese dissidents relayed stories about the outbreak from friends and family members. People were frightened. It sounded like sars all over again.
Pottinger attended a Chinese New Year party on Capitol Hill. Old diplomatic hands, émigrés, and Chinese dissidents relayed stories about the outbreak from friends and family members. People were frightened. It sounded like sars all over again.
33/
No one realized how widely the disease had already seeded itself. Fauci told a radio interviewer that covid wasn’t something Americans needed to “be worried or frightened by,” but he added that it was “an evolving situation.”
No one realized how widely the disease had already seeded itself. Fauci told a radio interviewer that covid wasn’t something Americans needed to “be worried or frightened by,” but he added that it was “an evolving situation.”
34/
A German study of a hundred recovered covid patients with the average age of forty-nine found that twenty-two had lasting cardiac problems, including scarring of the heart muscle.
A German study of a hundred recovered covid patients with the average age of forty-nine found that twenty-two had lasting cardiac problems, including scarring of the heart muscle.
35/
RSV causes wheezing pneumonia in children, and sends more kids under five years old to the hospital than any other disease. One of the last childhood infectious diseases without a vaccine, RSV also kills about as many of the elderly as seasonal influenza.
RSV causes wheezing pneumonia in children, and sends more kids under five years old to the hospital than any other disease. One of the last childhood infectious diseases without a vaccine, RSV also kills about as many of the elderly as seasonal influenza.
36/
In the nineteen-sixties, a clinical trial of a potential RSV vaccine made children sicker and led to two deaths—a syndrome called vaccine-enhanced disease.
In the nineteen-sixties, a clinical trial of a potential RSV vaccine made children sicker and led to two deaths—a syndrome called vaccine-enhanced disease.
37/
But something extraordinary happens when the virus invades a cell. The F protein swells like an erection, burying the epitope and effectively hiding it from antibodies. Somehow, McLellan had to keep the F protein from getting an erection.
But something extraordinary happens when the virus invades a cell. The F protein swells like an erection, burying the epitope and effectively hiding it from antibodies. Somehow, McLellan had to keep the F protein from getting an erection.
38/
In mice, Graham had proved the effectiveness of a structure-based vaccine for mers and also for Nipah. In 2017, Graham arranged a demonstration project for pandemic preparedness, with mers and Nipah serving as prototypes for a vaccine using Moderna’s messenger-RNA platform.
In mice, Graham had proved the effectiveness of a structure-based vaccine for mers and also for Nipah. In 2017, Graham arranged a demonstration project for pandemic preparedness, with mers and Nipah serving as prototypes for a vaccine using Moderna’s messenger-RNA platform.
39/
Almost three years later, as he was preparing to begin human trials for the Nipah vaccine, he heard the news from Wuhan.
McLellan had become a star in structural biology, and was recruited to the University of Texas at Austin
Almost three years later, as he was preparing to begin human trials for the Nipah vaccine, he heard the news from Wuhan.
McLellan had become a star in structural biology, and was recruited to the University of Texas at Austin
40/
For three weeks, the U.S. had been trying unsuccessfully to send medical experts to China. The public-health contingent didn’t want to make decisions about quarantines or travel bans without definitive intelligence, but the Chinese wouldn’t supply it.
For three weeks, the U.S. had been trying unsuccessfully to send medical experts to China. The public-health contingent didn’t want to make decisions about quarantines or travel bans without definitive intelligence, but the Chinese wouldn’t supply it.
41/
When Pottinger presented a proposal to curtail travel from China, the economic advisers derided it as overkill.
In part to placate the Chinese, the 747s that were sent to collect Americans were filled with eighteen tons of P.P.E., including masks, gowns, and gauze.
When Pottinger presented a proposal to curtail travel from China, the economic advisers derided it as overkill.
In part to placate the Chinese, the 747s that were sent to collect Americans were filled with eighteen tons of P.P.E., including masks, gowns, and gauze.
42/
“It would be unusual for an asymptomatic person to drive the epidemic in a respiratory disorder,” Fauci said.
He still wanted U.S. scientists to report from China, in order to get more data.
Redfield, of the C.D.C., considered it too early for disruptive actions.
“It would be unusual for an asymptomatic person to drive the epidemic in a respiratory disorder,” Fauci said.
He still wanted U.S. scientists to report from China, in order to get more data.
Redfield, of the C.D.C., considered it too early for disruptive actions.
43/
The public-health contingent was united. “Let the data guide us,” they advised.
The public-health contingent was united. “Let the data guide us,” they advised.
44/
Larry Kudlow, the President’s chief economic adviser, had been questioning the seriousness of the situation. He couldn’t square the apocalyptic forecasts with the stock market. “Is all the money dumb?” he wondered.
@RudyHavenstein
Larry Kudlow, the President’s chief economic adviser, had been questioning the seriousness of the situation. He couldn’t square the apocalyptic forecasts with the stock market. “Is all the money dumb?” he wondered.
@RudyHavenstein
45/
Navarro warned the group, “We have got to seal the borders now. This is a black-swan event, and you’re rolling the dice with your gradualist approach.”
Navarro warned the group, “We have got to seal the borders now. This is a black-swan event, and you’re rolling the dice with your gradualist approach.”
46/
In the early two-thousands, Markel studied “escape” communities that had essentially closed their doors during the 1918 flu pandemic—among them Gunnison, Colorado, and a school for the blind in Pittsburgh. All had survived the contagion virtually unscathed.
In the early two-thousands, Markel studied “escape” communities that had essentially closed their doors during the 1918 flu pandemic—among them Gunnison, Colorado, and a school for the blind in Pittsburgh. All had survived the contagion virtually unscathed.
47/
When their dinner arrived, Markel opened his Styrofoam container: instead of a fluffy mound of noodles, he gazed on a level, gelatinous mass. “Look,” Markel said. “They’ve flattened the curve, just like we’re trying to do.” A slogan was born.
fastcompany.com/90476143/the-s…
When their dinner arrived, Markel opened his Styrofoam container: instead of a fluffy mound of noodles, he gazed on a level, gelatinous mass. “Look,” Markel said. “They’ve flattened the curve, just like we’re trying to do.” A slogan was born.
fastcompany.com/90476143/the-s…
48/
Microbiologists are acutely aware of the danger of contamination. Viral DNA can linger for hours or days on surfaces, adulterating testing materials.
@BillyBostickson
Microbiologists are acutely aware of the danger of contamination. Viral DNA can linger for hours or days on surfaces, adulterating testing materials.
@BillyBostickson
49/
C.D.C. scientists wipe down their instruments every day. Chin-Yih Ou, a Taiwanese microbiologist who retired from the C.D.C. in 2014, told me that while he was creating a test for H.I.V. in infants he refused to let janitors into his lab, mopping the floor himself.
C.D.C. scientists wipe down their instruments every day. Chin-Yih Ou, a Taiwanese microbiologist who retired from the C.D.C. in 2014, told me that while he was creating a test for H.I.V. in infants he refused to let janitors into his lab, mopping the floor himself.
50/
In some labs, the last person to leave at night turns on ultraviolet lamps, to kill DNA that might be on the floor or a lab bench.
In some labs, the last person to leave at night turns on ultraviolet lamps, to kill DNA that might be on the floor or a lab bench.
51/
A new pathogen is like an improvised bomb: one wrong decision can be fatal.
A new pathogen is like an improvised bomb: one wrong decision can be fatal.
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