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Superantigenic character of an insert unique to SARS-CoV-2 spike supported by skewed TCR repertoire in patients with hyperinflammation | PNAS
Superantigenic character of an insert unique to SARS-CoV-2 spike supported by skewed TCR repertoire in patients with hyperinflammation | PNAS
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 is a newly recognized condition in children with recent severe acute...
·pnas.org·
Superantigenic character of an insert unique to SARS-CoV-2 spike supported by skewed TCR repertoire in patients with hyperinflammation | PNAS
Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses as a function of multiple COVID-19 boosters
Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses as a function of multiple COVID-19 boosters
The long-term effects of repeated COVID-19 vaccinations on adaptive immunity remain incompletely understood. Here, we conducted a comprehensive three-year longitudinal study examining T cell and antibody responses in 78 vaccinated individuals without reported symptomatic infections. We observed distinct dynamics in Spike-specific humoral and cellular immune responses across multiple vaccine doses. While antibody titers incrementally increased and stabilized with each booster, T cell responses rapidly plateaued, maintaining remarkable stability across CD4+ and CD8+ subsets. Notably, approximately 30% of participants showed CD4+ T cell reactivity to non-Spike antigens, consistent with asymptomatic infections. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a diverse landscape of Spike-specific T cell phenotypes, with no evidence of increased exhaustion or significant functional impairment. However, qualitative changes were observed in individuals with evidence of asymptomatic infection, exhibiting unique immunological characteristics, including increased frequencies of Th17-like CD4+ T cells and GZMKhi/IFNR CD8+ T cell subsets. Remarkably, repeated vaccinations in this group were associated with a progressive increase in regulatory T cells, potentially indicating a balanced immune response that may mitigate immunopathology. By regularly stimulating T cell memory, boosters contribute to a stable and enhanced immune response, which may provide better protection against symptomatic infections. ### Competing Interest Statement A.S. is a consultant for Darwin Health, EmerVax, Gilead Sciences, Guggenheim Securities, RiverVest Venture Partners, and Arcturus. D.W. is a consultant for Moderna. S.C. has consulted for GSK, JP Morgan, Citi, Morgan Stanley, Avalia NZ, Nutcracker Therapeutics, University of California, California State Universities, United Airlines, Adagio, and Roche. LJI has filed for patent protection for various aspects of T cell epitope and vaccine design work.
·biorxiv.org·
Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses as a function of multiple COVID-19 boosters
Genome analysis of SARS-CoV-2 haplotypes: separation and parallel evolution of the major haplotypes occurred considerably earlier than their emergence in China
Genome analysis of SARS-CoV-2 haplotypes: separation and parallel evolution of the major haplotypes occurred considerably earlier than their emergence in China
More than 3 years have passed since the outbreak of COVID-19 and yet, the origin of the causal virus SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown. We examined the evolu…
·sciencedirect.com·
Genome analysis of SARS-CoV-2 haplotypes: separation and parallel evolution of the major haplotypes occurred considerably earlier than their emergence in China
SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit produces a protracted priming of the neuroinflammatory, physiological, and behavioral responses to a remote immune challenge: A role for corticosteroids
SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit produces a protracted priming of the neuroinflammatory, physiological, and behavioral responses to a remote immune challenge: A role for corticosteroids
Long COVID is a major public health consequence of COVID-19 and is characterized by multiple neurological and neuropsychatric symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 ant…
·sciencedirect.com·
SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit produces a protracted priming of the neuroinflammatory, physiological, and behavioral responses to a remote immune challenge: A role for corticosteroids
Phenotypic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 spike during the COVID-19 pandemic
Phenotypic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 spike during the COVID-19 pandemic
SARS-CoV-2 variants are mainly defined by mutations in their spike. It is therefore critical to understand how the evolutionary trajectories of spike affect virus phenotypes. So far, it has been challenging to comprehensively compare the many spikes that emerged during the pandemic in a single experimental platform. Here we generated a panel of recombinant viruses carrying different spike proteins from 27 variants circulating between 2020 and 2024 in the same genomic background. We then assessed several of their phenotypic traits both in vitro and in vivo. We found distinct phenotypic trajectories of spike among and between variants circulating before and after the emergence of Omicron variants. Spike of post-Omicron variants maintained enhanced tropism for the nasal epithelium and large airways but displayed, over time, several phenotypic traits typical of the pre-Omicron variants. Hence, spike with phenotypic features of both pre- and post-Omicron variants may continue to emerge in the future.
·nature.com·
Phenotypic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 spike during the COVID-19 pandemic
Driving Under the Cognitive Influence of COVID-19: Exploring the Impact of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Road Safety
Driving Under the Cognitive Influence of COVID-19: Exploring the Impact of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Road Safety
This study evaluated the association between acute COVID-19 cases and the number of car crashes with varying COVID-19 vaccination rates, Long COVID rates, and COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Background The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to significant concern over long-term post-infection sequelae, especially in the Neurologic domain. Long COVID symptoms, including cognitive impairments, could potentially impact activities requiring high cognitive function, such as driving. Despite various potential impacts on driving skills and the general prevalence of Long COVID, the specific effects on driving capabilities remain understudied. Design/Methods This study utilized a Poisson regression model to analyze data from 2020-2022, comparing aggregate car crash records and COVID-19 statistics. This model adjusted for population and included binary variables for specific months to account for stay-at-home orders. The correlation between acute COVID-19 cases and car crashes was investigated across seven states, considering vaccination rates and COVID-19 mitigation measures as potential confounders. Results Findings indicate an association between acute COVID-19 rates and increased car crashes with an OR of 1.5 (1.23-1.26 95%CI). The analysis did not find a protective effect of vaccination against increased crash risks, contrary to previous assumptions. The OR of car crashes associated with COVID-19 was comparable to driving under the influence of alcohol at legal limits or driving with a seizure disorder. Conclusions The study suggests that acute COVID-19, regardless of Long COVID status, is linked to an increased risk of car crashes presumably due to neurologic changes caused by SARS-CoV-2. These findings underscore the need for further research into the neuropsychological impacts of COVID-19. Further studies are recommended to explore the causality and mechanisms behind these findings and to evaluate the implications for public safety in other critical operational tasks. Finally, neurologists dealing with post-COVID patients, should remember that they may have an obligation to report medically impaired drivers.
·neurology.org·
Driving Under the Cognitive Influence of COVID-19: Exploring the Impact of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Road Safety
Immune system damage from COVID-19 is different from HIV/AIDS — but the advocacy has parallels - The Sick Times
Immune system damage from COVID-19 is different from HIV/AIDS — but the advocacy has parallels - The Sick Times
Lymphopenia is a health condition in which people have low white blood cell count in their blood. Without these cells, the body is unable to defend itself effectively against pathogens. Lymphopenia is one type of way your body can be immunocompromised; it can be caused by many things, including infections, inherited conditions, autoimmune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies. Earlier in the pandemic, scientists learned that some patients can develop lymphopenia from SARS-CoV-2 infection — but there’s been little research into it since. Although this condition is more rarely seen in COVID-19 as compared to HIV/AIDS, some advocates have suggested the two diseases are similar in their damage to the immune system.
·thesicktimes.org·
Immune system damage from COVID-19 is different from HIV/AIDS — but the advocacy has parallels - The Sick Times
Nucleocapsid Antibodies as an Optimal Serological Marker of SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection: A Longitudinal Study at the Thomayer University Hospital
Nucleocapsid Antibodies as an Optimal Serological Marker of SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection: A Longitudinal Study at the Thomayer University Hospital
The study reveals the diagnostic significance of nucleocapsid antibodies and the strategy for testing past COVID-19 infection in the posvaccination era. The results demonstrate that hybrid immunity a...
·onlinelibrary.wiley.com·
Nucleocapsid Antibodies as an Optimal Serological Marker of SARS‐CoV‐2 Infection: A Longitudinal Study at the Thomayer University Hospital
SARS-CoV-2 infection causes dopaminergic neuron senescence
SARS-CoV-2 infection causes dopaminergic neuron senescence
• hPSC-derived DA neurons are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection • SARS-CoV-2 infection of DA neurons triggers cellular senescence response • Several FDA-approved drugs were identified to rescue senescence of DA neurons • Cellular senescence was found in substantia nigra tissues of COVID-19 patients Summary COVID-19 patients commonly present with signs of central nervous system and/or peripheral nervous system dysfunction. Here, we show that midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are selectively susceptible and permissive to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection of DA neurons triggers an inflammatory and cellular senescence response. High-throughput screening in hPSC-derived DA neurons identified several FDA-approved drugs that can rescue the cellular senescence phenotype by preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also identified the inflammatory and cellular senescence signature and low levels of SARS-CoV-2 transcripts in human substantia nigra tissue of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we observed reduced numbers of neuromelanin+ and tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH)+ DA neurons and fibers in a cohort of severe COVID-19 patients. Our findings demonstrate that hPSC-derived DA neurons are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, identify candidate neuroprotective drugs for COVID-19 patients, and suggest the need for careful, long-term monitoring of neurological problems in COVID-19 patients.
·cell.com·
SARS-CoV-2 infection causes dopaminergic neuron senescence