T cells are the other arm of the adaptive immune response (in addition to B cells) that are essential for clearing virus infections. Most studies of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection have focused on antibodies and their ability to neutralize virus infection. The observation that variants of concern are less effectively neutralized by antibodies against ancestral …
Recently isolated coronaviruses from humans in Haiti and Malaysia appear to have originated in pigs and dogs.
Eradication of poliomyelitis appears to be on track: types 2 and 3 polioviruses have been declared eradicated, and in the past 12 months there have been just 338 cases of type 1 polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But there have also been 491 cases of polio caused by the type 2 Sabin vaccine. The development …
A genetically stable attenuated poliovirus vaccine Read More »
It is well past the time to stop blaming a laboratory in China for the release of SARS-CoV-2. Such fallacies reflect an ignorance of scientific facts, including the recent finding of closely related coronaviruses in bats in Thailand. The bat CoV RatG13, sampled in 2013 in Yunnan province, shares 96% whole genome identity with SARS-CoV-2, …
SARS-like bat coronaviruses are not only in China Read More »
In recent months variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected that are unusual in that they have many more genome mutations than previously found. These have been called ‘variants of concern’ (VOC) as it has been suggested that the genome mutations might impact transmission, immune control, and virulence. Below I cover each of these issues separately. …
The Biden-Harris administration has released a document describing its plans to bring the United States out of the ‘worst public health crisis in a century’. It is a roadmap for not only ending the pandemic in the US, but to re-establish leadership in the global health care community and provide assistance to other countries. I …
