Please note the diagram only presents an outline, not the whole thing.
Neutralising antibodies form only a tiny fraction of our TOTAL antibody response. Most antibodies are produced AFTER the attack occurs, helping eliminate virus.
(Labs measure Ab’s ALREADY in circulation)
2/
In other words, neutralising antibodies aren’t everything.
And, importantly, a “loss of neutralisation” (‼️🔴alarmist language that lab researchers love to use while describing their work to a clueless public) doesn’t mean “we have lost against the virus”.
3/
A high % vaccination coverage does not stop waves. The pandemic has a cyclical pattern. The sooner we acknowledge that, the more realistic our approach will be. Vaccination will help reduce risk of severe disease & death by a big margin, and also lower the risk of infection.
2/
In any country there will be large numbers of people who are not previously exposed to virus or vaccine. They will be more represented in future waves, along with some reinfections and breakthrough infections.
Reinfections are almost invariably mild or asymptomatic.
3/
Theoretical prediction of the effect omicron mutations on monoclonal antibodies by @jbloom_lab
Authors believe that this combination of mutations located on the RBD could potentially reduce the effect of monoclonal antibodies targeting that area of the virus.
This study is based on the apparent individual & additive effect of mutations based on a computer model of the RBD.
They did a computational method called “deep mutational scanning” which is used to study multiple mutations at once.
It is however not a biophysical model.
2/
Authors conclude
“Sites 484, 446 & 417 are the biggest drivers of this antigenic change, although other mutations also contribute. Mutations at sites 346, 378, 444 & 504 could make it worse”
3/