#Moderna says its vaccine shows durable 93% efficacy through 6 months.
Final analysis (median follow-up 5.3 mo):
-Against COVID19: 93.2%
-Against severe COVID19: 98.2%
-Against death: 100%
(Note: All data prior delta) 1/
Further break down of #Moderna efficacy by 2-month segments post 2nd dose; at month 4+, efficacy is 92.4%
#Pfizer vax (by months 4-6) efficacy is 84% - though against severe disease maintains 97%. 2/
Yet it expects antibody levels will start to wane, and with #delta there will be an increase in #breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated; it sees need for #boosters 3/
#Moderna says lab studies show a booster with half the dose of its #covid19 vaccine increases antibody levels against #delta by 42-fold. 4
#Moderna reports top-line findings from phase 2 study of #booster shot, noting neutralizing antibody titers had waned significantly by 6 months; Safety profile of dose 3 was similar to that of dose 2. 5/
The @WHO yesterday called for a moratorium on #boosters until September to enable countries that haven't had vaccine access to be able to administer first shots. 6/
Researchers found that #longCOVID doesn't elicit Alzheimer's-type changes. Instead, they found that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immune cells in persistent brain fog from longCOVID bears a closer resemblance to viral infections than to Alzheimer or post-infectious processes. 1/
Natural history and mechanisms for persistent cognitive symptoms (“brain fog”) following acute and often mild COVID-19 are unknown.
Scientists previously had proposed that long COVID may display molecular features of Alzheimer's disease. 2/
In a large prospective cohort of people who underwent testing a median of 9 months after acute COVID-19, researchers found that cognitive dysfunction is common; is not influenced by mood, fatigue, or sleepiness; and is correlated with MRI changes in very few people. 3/
A NEW study shows that cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 downregulate important immune signals known as NKG2D ligands. These ligands play a crucial role in activating the immune system, particularly natural killer (NK) cells, which are central to fighting viral infections. 1/
In addition, the researchers identified the mechanism by which the virus achieves the downregulation of these immune signals. It was found that a viral protein called ORF6 is significantly involved in this process. 2/
An antibody, 76C, that is already being tested in preclinical studies in cancer research, prevents this downregulation & makes infected cells more vulnerable to natural killer cells. This discovery could open up new approaches for the development of therapies against COVID19 3/
Measles vaccine more effective in those born naturally!
A NEW study has found that a single dose of the measles vaccine is up to 2.6 times more likely to be completely ineffective in children born by caesarean section, compared to those born naturally! 1/
A potential reason for this effect is linked to the development of infant's gut microbiome. Vaginal birth transfers a greater variety of microbes from mother to baby, which can boost the immune system. 2/
With a C-section birth, children aren't exposed to mother's microbiome in the same way as with a vaginal birth. This means they take longer to catch up in developing their gut microbiome, & with it, the ability of the immune system to be primed by vaccines against diseases 3/
A single, relatively simple vaccine can protect against a range of coronaviruses—even ones that are yet to be identified. A step towards the goal of what is known as "proactive vaccinology," where vaccines are developed against pandemic threats before they can infect humans 1/
Conventional vaccines use a single antigen (part of a virus that triggers an immune response) that typically protects against that virus and that virus alone. They tend not to protect against diverse known viruses, or viruses that have not yet been discovered. 2/
In previous research, researchers have shown the success of "mosaic nanoparticles" at raising immune responses to different coronaviruses. These mosaic nanoparticles use a type of protein superglue technology that irreversibly links two different proteins together. 3/
➡️ A distinct pattern of deadly MDA5-autoimmunity cases surged contemporaneously with circulation of the SARS-COV-2 virus during COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. 1/
Researchers were seeing mild COVID cases in highly vaccinated Yorkshire population, but now they were seeing this very rare autoimmune disease called MDA5—autoantibody associated dermatomyositis (DM) in patients who may or may not have contracted COVID. 2/
Some of these patients were progressing rapidly to death. The researchers put together a team to probe what they found was indeed an entirely new syndrome. 3/
A NEW study shows intermittent fasting protects against liver inflammation & liver cancer
Fatty liver disease often leads to chronic liver inflammation & can even result in liver cancer. Researchers have now shown that intermittent fasting on can halt this development. 1/
The fasting regime reduces the development of liver cancer in mice with pre-existing liver inflammation. Researchers identified two proteins (PPARα & PCK1) in liver cells jointly responsible for protective effect of fasting. An approved drug can partially mimic this effect 2/
Non-alcoholic fatty liver dis can have serious consequences, if left untreated, can lead to liver inflammation (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, MASH), liver cirrhosis & liver cancer. Fatty liver is largely considered to be a direct consequence of obesity 3/