MOSTLY MICROBES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Welcome to Mostly Microbes and Infectious Diseases. David Ojcius posts newspaper and journal articles in the broad field of microbiology.

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Development of T cell antigen-based human coronavirus vaccines against nAb-escaping SARS-CoV-2 variants

David Ojcius

Jun 13, 20242 min read

Development of T cell antigen-based human coronavirus vaccines against nAb-escaping SARS-CoV-2 variants

Currently approved vaccines have been successful in preventing the severity of #COVID19 and hospitalization. These vaccines primarily...

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Clinical development of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants

David Ojcius

Mar 3, 20242 min read

Clinical development of antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants

Abstract The unceasing global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome #coronavirus 2 (#SARSCoV2) calls for the development of novel...

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A GWAS in the pandemic epicenter highlights severe COVID-19 risk locus introgressed by Neanderthals

David Ojcius

Sep 3, 20231 min read

A GWAS in the pandemic epicenter highlights severe COVID-19 risk locus introgressed by Neanderthals

Large GWAS indicated that genetic factors influence the response to #SARSCoV2. However, sex, age, concomitant diseases, differences in...

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David Ojcius

Jul 7, 20234 min read

Senolytics combat COVID-19 in aging

#aging increases vulnerability to respiratory viral infections, including by #SARSCoV2. Delval et al. established a causal role for...

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3D culture models to study SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and antiviral candidates: From spheroids to biopri

David Ojcius

Mar 12, 20231 min read

3D culture models to study SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and antiviral candidates: From spheroids to biopri

The pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (#SARSCoV2) is receiving worldwide attention, due to the severity...

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Infection of the oral cavity with SARS-CoV-2 variants: Scope of salivary diagnostics

David Ojcius

Nov 2, 20229 min read

Infection of the oral cavity with SARS-CoV-2 variants: Scope of salivary diagnostics

Coronaviruses, including #SARSCoV2, have caused pandemics in the past two decades. The most prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern can...

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David Ojcius

Oct 1, 20226 min read

Fasting as key tone for COVID immunity

#SARSCoV2-induced #anorexia triggers systemic metabolic alterations. A new study shows that the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)...

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Your first brush with coronavirus could affect how a fall booster works

David Ojcius

Aug 23, 20224 min read

Your first brush with coronavirus could affect how a fall booster works

As #omicron-specific boosters near, scientists debate how ‘original antigenic sin’ will influence immune responses. In the beginning,...

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Operation Nasal Vaccine—Lightning speed to counter COVID-19

David Ojcius

Jul 23, 20226 min read

Operation Nasal Vaccine—Lightning speed to counter COVID-19

Just 10 months after the initial genome sequencing of the #SARSCoV2 virus, two mRNA vaccines were demonstrated to provide 95% efficacy...

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Think All Viruses Get Milder With Time? Not This Rabbit-Killer

David Ojcius

Jun 20, 20225 min read

Think All Viruses Get Milder With Time? Not This Rabbit-Killer

As #COVID19 death rate globally has fallen, it may be tempting to conclude that #coronavirus is becoming milder. But this not a given. A...

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How long is your COVID vaccine good for? You can soon find out, thanks to a new test

David Ojcius

Jun 17, 20223 min read

How long is your COVID vaccine good for? You can soon find out, thanks to a new test

Researchers have developed a rapid T-cell test (the dqTACT assay) that measures the activation of T cells in response to #COVID19. The...

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COVID and smell loss: answers begin to emerge

David Ojcius

Jun 11, 20223 min read

COVID and smell loss: answers begin to emerge

Smell disruption from #COVID19 is becoming less-common, but millions of people still have problems with their sense of #smell. The...

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Haven't had COVID yet? It could be more than just luck

David Ojcius

May 29, 20222 min read

Haven't had COVID yet? It could be more than just luck

Haven't had #COVID19 yet? It could be more than just luck. Simplest explanation: you have never come into contact with the virus....

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US sexually transmitted infections surged to record high in 2020

David Ojcius

Apr 13, 20223 min read

US sexually transmitted infections surged to record high in 2020

After briefly dropping in early months of the #COVID19 pandemic in 2020, rates of sexually transmitted infections in US then resurged...

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What triggers severe COVID? Infected immune cells hold clues

David Ojcius

Apr 6, 20224 min read

What triggers severe COVID? Infected immune cells hold clues

Two studies show that immune cells infected with #SARSCoV2 can stimulate a large inflammatory response via #inflammasome activation. In...

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Outbreak at Shanghai Hospital Exposes Covid’s Risks to China’s Seniors

David Ojcius

Apr 2, 20223 min read

Outbreak at Shanghai Hospital Exposes Covid’s Risks to China’s Seniors

A #COVID19 outbreak is ravaging a hospital for older adults in Shanghai, China. Workers said that deaths are increasing & resources are...

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Are ‘COVID toes’ actually caused by the coronavirus?

David Ojcius

Mar 17, 20224 min read

Are ‘COVID toes’ actually caused by the coronavirus?

A surge in people with discolored toes does not seem to be linked to #COVID19. New report suggests that #COVID toe could have been caused...

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China, pummeled by an outbreak, adds Pfizer’s antiviral pills to its treatment protocol

David Ojcius

Mar 17, 20222 min read

China, pummeled by an outbreak, adds Pfizer’s antiviral pills to its treatment protocol

China has revised the country’s pandemic guidelines to include the use of antiviral pills made by Pfizer, #Paxlovid, as the country...

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Europe thought it was done with Covid-19. But the virus isn't done with Europe

David Ojcius

Mar 16, 20223 min read

Europe thought it was done with Covid-19. But the virus isn't done with Europe

Europe thought it was done with #COVID19. The UK's daily case rate is still < 1/3 of what it was during the #Omicron peak, but cases are...

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Covid Cases Linked to Brain Shrinkage, Cognitive Decline Months Later

David Ojcius

Mar 12, 20221 min read

Covid Cases Linked to Brain Shrinkage, Cognitive Decline Months Later

Even a mild case of #COVID19 can damage the brain, leading to shrinkage equivalent to up to a decade of #aging, according to a new study....

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