Thread by @fitterhappierAJ

I've not seen so much power and simplicity in data for a long time.

Cov2 is generating T cell escape epitopes, and there may be a dominant selection for a nucleocapsid site for B*27:05
biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
🧵 1/

2/ The authors show a number of mutated peptides/variants that cause partial or complete loss of T cell reactivity for certain HLAs

3/ In my opinion, there can be a degree of selection against T cell epitopes when T cells are being used to react to virus- the situation where one has T cell memory but no sera. I think I mentioned this exact scenario before @MonicaGandhi9?

https://twitter.com/fitterhappierAJ/status/1281282872746352640

4/ Finally, the authors found data to suggest a positive selection pressure at a nucleocapsid site and in the same HLA type as seen in another virus😈

If t cells are exerting control in some cases, there will be mutational challenges against the filter.

5/5 However one must remember-

These factors represent a filter, not a generator. The mutations must occur, and they will occur randomly. Best to stop them early.

This is why it is best to have sterilizing immunity, it cuts the rate of mutations.

@ThreadReaderApp unroll