Can an infection with #herpes simplex virus predispose you to #Alzheimer's Disease later in life?

A 🧵, also at virology blog.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia. 1/ Although its exact cause is unclear, an increasing body of evidence suggests that an infection with herpes simplex virus (#HSV) may contribute to onset of AD later in life. 2/

This virology story absolutely floored me. Did you know that the retroviruses inside us can actually protect us from infections by other viruses?

Also at virology blog. 1/

virology.ws/2023/09/07/how… Did you know that 8 % of the human genome consists of DNA sequences that are derived from retroviruses? These “endogenous retroviruses” (ERVs) represent concrete evidence for retroviral infections that occurred in our ancestors. 2/

Have you ever wondered why some #viruses circulate primarily in the winter and others are more prevalent in the summer? Although we don’t have a clear answer to this question, a combination of factors is likely responsible.

A 🧵, also at virology blog. 1/ Work done in the field of respiratory viruses suggests that these viruses can be transmitted in four ways: 1) through direct contact with an infected person; 2) through indirect contact by touching an inanimate object contaminated by an infected person;... 2/

Let's talk about #H5N1 ! What is the risk for us humans and should we be worried?

Also at virology blog. 1/

virology.ws/2023/03/02/its… Recent news headlines have been highlighting the global spread of #H5N1, the strain of influenza virus that is typically associated with “bird flu.” 2/

Why do some people develop long COVID while others do not? While we still don't know for sure, some answers are beginning to emerge.

In this 🧵 I describe some groundbreaking work done by @VirusesImmunity at Yale in an attempt to answer this question. 1/ Also at virology blog.

virology.ws/2022/10/06/wha…

Long COVID is a chronic manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and it is most commonly characterized by lingering fatigue, brain fog, memory impairment, and confusion. 2/

What causes multiple sclerosis? We don't know for sure. But it's probably a virus - the same one that causes mono.

A 🧵,also at virology blog. 1/

virology.ws/2022/04/07/a-v… Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a prevalent human herpesvirus that is most commonly transmitted through saliva and is well known for causing infectious mononucleosis (i.e., “mono”). 2/

Quick post about the two new antiviral drugs molnupiravir (Merck) and paxlovid (Pfizer).

Molnupiravir acts by introducing lethal errors into viral RNA during replication, ultimately preventing the formation of new viable viruses. 1/ One downside of this mechanism of action is that the errors are not always only introduced into the viral genome, but one cannot rule out the possibility that mutations may also be introduced into our own genome. 2/

Omicron. Should we be worried?

Scientists have sounded the alarm bell because the mutations in this variant seem to be present in areas of the genome that induce the majority of neutralizing (virus-inactivating) antibodies. 1/ However, it is early, and that is all we know at this point.

It is very likely that genomic regions that induce non-neutralizing antibodies and T cells are still intact. 2/

There is an Israeli study currently making the rounds through various news media sources with variations of the misleading title "natural SARS-CoV-2 infection confers much greater immunity than vaccination." Thread. 1/ I think this is a prime example of irresponsible reporting and I want to explain why.

1) The study is a pre-print, meaning that it was not peer-reviewed. 2/

Why are children less susceptible to severe COVID-19? This question has interested me from day one. Long thread. 1/ In follow-up to my very first article about this pandemic (1.5 years ago) where I speculated on this topic based on what we knew back then, I describe new data suggesting that children are less susceptible because they have a stronger innate immune response than adults. 2/

Why does viral RNA not always reflect infectious virus? I can see how this can be confusing, so I drew a graphic. Thread. 1/ On the left we have an infected person with lots of viral replication happening, and hence lots of infectious virus (virus going into nasal cavity and new virus coming out – see arrows). 2/

In this thread, I describe a study that compares SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induced antibody immunity to that induced by COVID-19. Also at #virologyblog. (1/n)

virology.ws/2021/07/01/dyn… Vaccination against the vaccine-preventable diseases is preferable to natural infection because it prevents illness and the long-term effects associated with many infections; and in most cases, it also leads to better immunity. (2/n)

Questions about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? In this post, I describe the composition of the vaccine, the clinical trial results, and how it compares to the other vaccines in use. Also at #virologyblog. (1/n)

virology.ws/2021/03/04/one… On February 27, 2021, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for a third SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The vaccine was developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica, a Belgium-based division of Johnson & Johnson, in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. (2/n)

There is currently a resurgence of COVID-19 in Manaus, Brazil, despite the fact that about 76% of the population had been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, which would normally lead to herd immunity. What is the cause of this resurgence? Short Thread. (1/n) The truth is, nobody knows, but there are at least four mutually exclusive possibilities: (2/n)

As more and more people are vaccinated, one of the major questions is whether or not the vaccines protect only from disease, or both from disease and infection. Short thread. (1/n) Even if they completely prevent disease in a vaccinated person, there is a chance that that person can still become infected, replicate virus to a certain extent, possibly to a sufficient level to infect another (unvaccinated) person. 2/n)

Vaccines, convalescent plasma, and monoclonal antibodies.

What is the difference between these three things and what do they have in common? A thread. (1/n) The major shared feature is that they all involve the action of antibodies, but the source of the antibodies and their durability is vastly different. (2/n)

What is in your mRNA vaccines and why could they be made so quickly? A thread, also at virology blog. (1/n)

virology.ws/2021/01/07/rna… It is now a little more than a year since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, and we already have several highly effective vaccines against this virus. (2/n)

What are bioRxiv and medRxiv? They are servers where anybody can self-publish a scientific article. Legitimate journals put a submitted research paper through pretty rigorous peer review, but the publications on these "preprint" servers are not peer reviewed. Thread. (1/n) As you might imagine there can be quite a bit of junk on there, including the paper that has been making headlines, allegedly showing that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be reverse transcribed and integrated into the human genome. (2/n)

What happens to the mRNA vaccine particle (Pfizer/Moderna) once it gets injected into your muscle? Short thread based on #TWiV 687. Thanks to @BioProfBarker for the explanation! (1/n)

microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-687/ There are two or three places where it can end up.

1. It can enter some local muscle cells. The vaccine mRNA is translated into protein inside those cells and that protein is recognized by immune cells are foreign, ultimately leading to production of antibodies and T cells. (2/

Several people have expressed concern over the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines because of their mRNA composition and the alleged possibility that this mRNA could integrate into our DNA and remain in our DNA forever (kind of like HIV does). Short threat about why this can't happen. (1/n) I attach a graphic that illustrates the central genetic dogma. Generally, our human DNA is transcribed into RNA (red arrow), which is then translated into protein (green arrow). (2/n)

Most people think of clinical trials as consisting of Phases I-III, but did you know that there is also a Phase IV trial? Short thread. (1/4) Phase IV of a clinical trial is also known as a postmarketing surveillance trial and involves the continued surveillance of a drug or vaccine's safety. (2/4)