Viruses / Vaccines 2

mickeyrat

https://news.utexas.edu/2024/09/03/newly-discovered-antibody-protects-against-all-covid-19-variants/

Newly Discovered Antibody Protects Against All COVID-19 Variants

Researchers have discovered an antibody able to neutralize all known variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as distantly related SARS-like coronaviruses that infect other animals.

As part of a new study on hybrid immunity to the virus, the large, multi-institution research team led by The University of Texas at Austin discovered and isolated a broadly neutralizing plasma antibody, called SC27, from a single patient. Using technology developed over several years of research into antibody response, the team led by UT engineers and scientists obtained the exact molecular sequence of the antibody, opening the possibility of manufacturing it on a larger scale for future treatments.

“The discovery of SC27, and other antibodies like it in the future, will help us better protect the population against current and future COVID variants,” said Jason Lavinder, a research assistant professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering’s McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering and one of the leaders of the new research, which was recently published in Cell Reports Medicine.

During the more than four years since the discovery of COVID-19, the virus that causes it has rapidly evolved. Each new variant has displayed different characteristics, many of which made them more resistant to vaccines and other treatments.

Protective antibodies bind to a part of the virus called the spike protein that acts as an anchor point for the virus to attach to and infect the cells in the body. By blocking the spike protein, the antibodies prevent this interaction and, therefore, also prevent infection.

SC27 recognized the different characteristics of the spike proteins in the many COVID variants. Fellow UT researchers, who were the first to decode the structure of the original spike protein and paved the way for vaccines and other treatments, verified SC27’s capabilities.

The technology used to isolate the antibody, termed Ig-Seq, gives researchers a closer look at the antibody response to infection and vaccination using a combination of single-cell DNA sequencing and proteomics.

continues.....

Poncier

curmudgeoness said:

. When my husband gave me Covid for Valentine's Day last year, 

  

Next year tell him to opt for chocolates or flowers.

brianlux

curmudgeoness said:

I don't even know where to begin with these threads anymore.

Husband and I are getting the updated Covid vaccine this week; it won't do much to protect us during the Philly shows, so I'll still be masking, but here we are.

The Covid vaccine, like the flu vaccine, is not meant to prevent everyone -- or anyone -- from being infected. These vaccines are intended to protect from SEVERE illness -- you know, the kind that leaves you hospitalized or dead. These vaccines make one *less likely* to be infected, which reduces the spread of illness to people who are immunocompromised, very old, very young, etc. [And a big "f-- you" to all the people devoid of empathy who say "Sure, people will die, but it's mostly old people." One day, if you're lucky, you, too, will be an old person.]

It's already shocking that we decided that losing tens of thousands of people to the flu each year is an acceptable loss of life.

The victim blaming is gross. Eat right, lose weight, and exercise, huh? That's all it takes? Interesting.

I train -- and look -- like an elite athlete (despite having no visible athletic ability whatsoever). I train an average of three hours per day, have less than 15% body fat (I'm female), eat clean, don't smoke or do drugs, drink in moderation. I also had to get the pneumonia vaccine when I was ~45 because a simple cold can leave me sick for months. When my husband gave me Covid for Valentine's Day last year, I lost three weeks and half of my hair to it.

Oh! And this year was the year I got cancer, despite doing all the right things. As it turns out, cancer doesn't give a rat's ass how many miles I ran last year.

Eating right and staying active are smart things for everyone to do. They stack the odds in your favor. But they don't guarantee a damn thing.

Why on earth would you make a bunch of other smart lifestyle choices and then turn around, when a free vaccine is offered to boost your odds, and say, "nah, I'm good"?!?

  

"I don't even know where to begin with these threads anymore."

You are not alone, C! 

I think the place to begin is to try to ignore people who come on here with the sole purpose to bate and troll those of us who would prefer to engage in adult conversations.  Of course, that doesn't mean we have to be clinical and humorless all the time.  Good hearted jesting and having a little fun is not the same as bating and trolling, but apparently some people do not understand or appreciate nuance.  Once we reach a point where we're able to ignore the nonsense that is sometimes spewed on these threads, we can move on to both having useful discussion and enjoy ourselves here now and then as well.  I know it's not always easy to not get suckered in by the bating.  God knows I have been plenty of times.  I mean, after all, a lot of time and effort goes into be good at badgering other people on the internet.  It must be part of the curriculum of some strange School of Baiting.

Moving on from that, and more importantly, I'm very sorry to hear about you struggle with health issues. You're a good soul and I hope so very much that you are on the mend soon! 

curmudgeoness

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I'm doing well and my prognosis is excellent.

We got our Covid shots and my husband, at last, got his first shingles shot. I had warned him that "Shingrix doesn't care" about ruining your weekend, and I think he didn't quite believe me until he himself spent the weekend in bed feeling like garbage. The Moderna vaccine was rough, but Shingrix is downright ugly. I definitely recommend getting that one on a Friday afternoon and planning on sleeping it off all weekend.

jwhjr17

curmudgeoness said:

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I'm doing well and my prognosis is excellent.

We got our Covid shots and my husband, at last, got his first shingles shot. I had warned him that "Shingrix doesn't care" about ruining your weekend, and I think he didn't quite believe me until he himself spent the weekend in bed feeling like garbage. The Moderna vaccine was rough, but Shingrix is downright ugly. I definitely recommend getting that one on a Friday afternoon and planning on sleeping it off all weekend.

I had the first dose of the shingles vaccine in late April, and you're not kidding it made it rough for a couple of days lol.  Had the 2nd one mid August and no ill effects afterwards.

mrussel1

curmudgeoness said:

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I'm doing well and my prognosis is excellent.

We got our Covid shots and my husband, at last, got his first shingles shot. I had warned him that "Shingrix doesn't care" about ruining your weekend, and I think he didn't quite believe me until he himself spent the weekend in bed feeling like garbage. The Moderna vaccine was rough, but Shingrix is downright ugly. I definitely recommend getting that one on a Friday afternoon and planning on sleeping it off all weekend.

Ugh. My primary is pushing for me to do it now that I'm 50.  I'll probably wait until after our beautiful fall weather ends. 

Merkin Baller

After seeing what some people I know went through w/ shingles, I can't get that vaccine fast enough. 

My friend's mom had internal shingles, including one on her brain. No thanks. 

mickeyrat

Merkin Baller said:

After seeing what some people I know went through w/ shingles, I can't get that vaccine fast enough. 

My friend's mom had internal shingles, including one on her brain. No thanks. 

yep. heard a horror story about my SiL... I got the vax not long after.

OnWis97

mrussel1 said:

curmudgeoness said:

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I'm doing well and my prognosis is excellent.

We got our Covid shots and my husband, at last, got his first shingles shot. I had warned him that "Shingrix doesn't care" about ruining your weekend, and I think he didn't quite believe me until he himself spent the weekend in bed feeling like garbage. The Moderna vaccine was rough, but Shingrix is downright ugly. I definitely recommend getting that one on a Friday afternoon and planning on sleeping it off all weekend.

Ugh. My primary is pushing for me to do it now that I'm 50.  I'll probably wait until after our beautiful fall weather ends. 

This came up for the first time yesterday when I got my Covid and Flu vaxes. Probably because it was my first time in a clinic since turning 50. I don't know much about the shingles vax, but I figured two in one day was enough...
...hopefully I don't procrastinate until I regret it...

Halifax2TheMax

Imagine that! And like the interest rate cut, just before an election!

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/19/health/huanan-animal-market-analysis-covid-19/index.html

23scidoo

One of the experts..
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13869835/nyc-covid-dr-jay-varma-lockdown-rules-video.html

mickeyrat

huh ...

https://www.threads.net/@nytimes/post/DAJtuOqym7b/?xmt=AQGzrpWC7oQ5LxqwGSO8sElKuDDBJOjMyWkIV2ZB9SLxkQ

GlowGirl

curmudgeoness said:

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I'm doing well and my prognosis is excellent.

We got our Covid shots and my husband, at last, got his first shingles shot. I had warned him that "Shingrix doesn't care" about ruining your weekend, and I think he didn't quite believe me until he himself spent the weekend in bed feeling like garbage. The Moderna vaccine was rough, but Shingrix is downright ugly. I definitely recommend getting that one on a Friday afternoon and planning on sleeping it off all weekend.

I am glad you are doing well. It is interesting how people have different reactions to vaccines. I got the Shingrix vaccine a few years ago - both doses - and all I got was a slightly sore arm. 

vmfury

GlowGirl said:

curmudgeoness said:

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I'm doing well and my prognosis is excellent.

We got our Covid shots and my husband, at last, got his first shingles shot. I had warned him that "Shingrix doesn't care" about ruining your weekend, and I think he didn't quite believe me until he himself spent the weekend in bed feeling like garbage. The Moderna vaccine was rough, but Shingrix is downright ugly. I definitely recommend getting that one on a Friday afternoon and planning on sleeping it off all weekend.

I am glad you are doing well. It is interesting how people have different reactions to vaccines. I got the Shingrix vaccine a few years ago - both doses - and all I got was a slightly sore arm. 

Super interesting how differently people react to vaccines. I was vomiting after both COVID shots but only had sore legs for a few hours with the booster. It’s great you only had a sore arm, thank goodness. 😊

BF25394

I got my annual flu shot and 2024 COVID booster at the same time (in the same arm) last week and had no side effects other than mild  soreness at the injection site.

gimmesometruth27

BF25394 said:

I got my annual flu shot and 2024 COVID booster at the same time (in the same arm) last week and had no side effects other than mild  soreness at the injection site.

i got the flu shot in my right deltoid and the new covid moderna booster in the left one last friday. no injection site pain but i did have extreme fatigue and some body aches. went to bed early friday night and by noon saturday i felt great again.

brianlux

Glad y'all reminded me about getting a flue shot.  Going to get it Monday!

BF25394

gimmesometruth27 said:

BF25394 said:

I got my annual flu shot and 2024 COVID booster at the same time (in the same arm) last week and had no side effects other than mild  soreness at the injection site.

i got the flu shot in my right deltoid and the new covid moderna booster in the left one last friday. no injection site pain but i did have extreme fatigue and some body aches. went to bed early friday night and by noon saturday i felt great again.

Pfizer for the win!

BF25394

brianlux said:

Glad y'all reminded me about getting a flue shot.  Going to get it Monday!

My post served its purpose!

teskeinc

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-WJU4dOeCw/?igsh=dXE3YTY0cHQ3OW95