Covid-19, SARS-Cov-2, vaccines, Remdesivir, Chloroquine...and all that Jazz

We found that the stability of SARS-CoV-2 was similar to that of SARS-CoV-1 under the experimental circumstances tested. This indicates that differences in the epidemiologic characteristics of these viruses probably arise from other factors, including high viral loads in the upper respiratory tract and the potential for persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 to shed and transmit the virus while asymptomatic. Our results indicate that aerosol and fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is plausible, since the virus can remain viable and infectious in aerosols for hours and on surfaces up to days (depending on the inoculum shed). These findings echo those with SARS-CoV-1, in which these forms of transmission were associated with nosocomial spread and super-spreading events,5 and they provide information for pandemic mitigation efforts.

Several airborne viruses adversely affect the ability to smell. Indeed, the most frequent causes of permanent smell loss are virus-induced acute upper respiratory infections, including those caused by respiratory syncytial viruses, rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and influenza viruses. Aside from the initial inflammation-related nasal blockage that accompanies most upper respiratory infections, incomplete damage to the olfactory neuroepithelium is common. Such damage is cumulative and can lead to greater pathogenic epithelial vulnerability later in life.

The spike protein is the main structure the virus uses to infect cells and a primary target of binding and neutralizing antibodies following natural infection or vaccination. While variants of concern such as B.1.1.7 (alpha), B.1.351 (beta), P.1 (gamma), and B.1.617.2 (delta) have all been shown to exhibit increased transmissibility, the B.1.1.7 and B.1.617.2 strains have also been associated with increased disease severity and hospitalization.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a letter detailing a case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in an immunocompromised patient who did not respond well to monoclonal antibody treatment. The resistance to treatment stemmed from an escape mutation on the spike protein known as Q4923R.

Significant gaps remain in our understanding of Covid-19, and in many ways the coming period is going to be one of trial and error for nations. In particular, the asymptomatic nature of the virus in its early phase means that there is always a risk of unknown transmission. Governments will need effective trigger mechanisms – using novel data sources – and agile and responsive systems that enable them to act quickly if the reproduction number creeps up. Individuals may also want to take on greater responsibility for their health and disease detection, given the near universal failure of countries to price in risk and prepare for a pandemic, despite numerous warnings. With the power to both aggregate data and empower individuals, wearables could form part of a solution.

Delta tricks human cells into making way more copies of itself compared to previous variants. One study revealed that the viral load (number of viral copies) is 1,000 times higher for delta compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. Viral load plays a big role in whether or not a person gets sick: if a person is exposed to higher levels of the virus, they are more likely to become infected.

Intergovernmental cooperation between the United States and China was an important part of the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003. Yet serious collaboration to combat COVID-19 is yet to materialise. The state of US–China bilateral relations and the failure to cooperate has arguably worsened the pandemic.

Sending targeted emails, patient portal messages, or text messages designed with behavioral science is inexpensive, scalable, and easily implemented and could be an effective way to encourage vaccination by HCWs and the general public.

The University of Texas Hexapro vaccine candidate—delivered via the UQ-developed and Vaxxas-commercialized high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) – provided protection against COVID-19 disease with a single, pain-free 'click' from a pocket-sized applicator.

Alors que le Pass sanitaire sera demandé dans la plupart des lieux publics et commerces dès cet été, voici une méthode pour le dégainer plus vite que la lumière.

Noting that they're working on an update against the delta variant, the company says that a booster dose is necessary in 6 months.

The Pfizer/ BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be less effective against the Delta variant, suggested data released by Israel's Health Ministry. The country has seen an increase in infections after social distancing restrictions were eased at the beginning of June. The Delta variant, which emerged in India, is more infectious and has been rapidly spreading globally, forcing governments to delay the lifting of lockdown restrictions and use new technologies to scan people for infections.

Researchers and biotechnology company Vaxxas are studying if the new delivery technology, called a high-density microarray patch, can protect participants from diseases including measles and rubella. If successful, the needle-less technology could be used for a number of other vaccinations including influenza and COVID-19.

Amongst other variants, the woman was reported to have had the E484K mutation, which is part of the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7, which was first seen in the UK) and the N510Y mutation, which is part of the Beta variant (B.1.351, which was first seen in South Africa). In total, the virus was reported to have undergone 13 mutations to the spike protein and 19 others that could change its behavior.

According to results of a new JAMA Network Open study, 8 in 10 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 developed neurologic complications, with a subsequent sixfold risk of increased mortality. Patients with neurological complications were more likely to die in the hospital compared to patients with no evidence of neurologic involvement, the study also found.

Dans moins de dix ans, cette nouvelle génération de vaccins, dont certains seront universels et efficaces contre toutes les formes du pathogène ciblé, vont permettre à l’Humanité d’accomplir un nouveau pas de géant en matière de prévention et de lutte contre les maladies les plus répandues et plus mortelles. Dans un tel contexte, il est évidemment capital pour notre avenir que la France, pays de Pasteur et de Yercin, jette sans tarder les bases d’un nouveau et puissant pacte de recherche entre sa recherche fondamentale, qui reste au plus niveau, et doit garder un horizon à long terme, et son industrie pharmaceutique, afin de rester dans cette course scientifique et technologique planétaire qui va bouleverser nos vies et nos sociétés.

Upon execution of the deal, tech transfer will start immediately and Samsung Biologics will perform aseptic fill-finish, labeling, and packaging services from its Incheon, South Korea site, to support the production of hundreds of millions of doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, intended for the supply of markets outside of the US starting in the third quarter of 2021.

In granting China's Sinopharm emergency use authorization, the vaccine can be included in Covax — which is the WHO's global initiative that aims to realize equitable vaccine distribution worldwide. Several well-off countries aren't sharing as many vaccines as they otherwise might. India is a major developer of vaccines, but has halted exports to better confront its exacerbated coronavirus crisis. Additionally, concerns surrounding the safety of using the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines — in light of extremely rare but dangerous side effects observed in some countries — and this has led to temporary halts of both vaccines pending additional guidance.

New variants of the COVID-19 – including a fourth blamed for a surge of infections in India – have raised concerns worldwide that vaccines may be rendered ineffective, restoring lockdowns. The World Health Organization's lead coronavirus adviser, Maria Van Kerkhove, has warned of evidence suggesting variants first identified in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil display "increased transmissibility."
But a prominent virologist cited in an article published by MIT Technology Review affirms the conclusion of other researchers that "the virus hasn't fundamentally changed," reports PJ Media's Stephen Kruiser.

The COVID-19 pandemic was and remains a horrible disaster, but it may also have been a preventable one, potentially sparing millions of lives globally, if everyone had reacted more quickly, according to an independent and high-level panel of the World Health Organization initially reported by The Guardian.
We're not here to point fingers, but global leaders could do better to ensure that there is no next time for something like the coronavirus crisis. But we also must be wary of overcorrections, where fundamental losses are forced on the quality of human life for the average citizen.

With the Centre decentralising and liberalising their vaccination policy, more than 10 states have decided to float global tenders for foreign Covid jabs to vaccinate its population in the 18-44 age group. That is the category the policy says the Centre will not cover under its free vaccination programme, so the burden of inoculating them for free is on the states. Global shopping began because domestic manufacturers Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech are struggling to meet even the needs of the 45+ group that the Centre is committed to funding for vaccination. The 45+ is the priority group since 85% of all Covid deaths during the first wave happened in that section of the population. But the question is which foreign manufacturer other than Russia’s Sputnik V is prepared to sell at short notice, given the huge back orders they already have from the global North.

Despite numerous warnings, people fail to understand the gravity of the situation and choose to stay out of their homes for no valid reason. Our country is undoubtedly in the midst of a crisis. The number of people that are getting affected by the virus is increasing with every passing day. And, yet, we find people roaming carelessly on streets and not abiding by the basic rules.