In our quest to stop the COVID-19 pandemic by vaccination, we have been myopically focussed on inducing antibodies against the spike protein. As variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged that reduce the ability of such antibodies to block infection, concern has arisen that we will not be able to halt the disease. Such concerns appear to …
Daniel Griffin provides a clinical report on COVID-19, and Shane Crotty explains a study of antibodies, B cells and T cells in patients which suggests that immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 might be long-lived. Click arrow to playDownload TWiV 684 (110 MB .mp3, 184 min)Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Show notes at microbe.tv/twiv
by Gertrud U. Rey Antibodies are large proteins that are made by B cells of the adaptive immune system. Most people think that antibodies function only as a whole molecule, but some of the individual fragments of an antibody can also bind and neutralize antigens. An antibody consists of two heavy chains and two light …
Daniel Griffin provides a clinical report on COVID-19, including vaccines, Alan summarizes a vaccine webinar on the most advanced US trials, a nidovirus from snapping turtles, longevity of memory B cells in recovered patients, and listener email. The British people can face any misfortune with fortitude & buoyancy as long as they are convinced that …
Immunity conferred by influenza virus vaccine is short-lived. After immunization with inactivated influenza virus vaccine, serum antibody levels peak within a few months and then decline rapidly. This decline was recently shown to be caused by loss of bone marrow plasma cells, a major source of serum antibodies. Results of a recent study partially address …
Not only the popular press but even some of my distinguished science colleagues are claiming that the recent report of reinfection of a COVID-19 patient is the end of the world. Nothing could be farther from the truth. First, the facts. The patient is a healthy Hong Kong male who was diagnosed by PCR with …
