New study reveals insights into COVID-19 antibody response durability


University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2024 Researchers at the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have published a new study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases investigating the antibody response following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Long-lived plasma cells are responsible for durable antibody responses that persist for decades after immunization or infection. For example, infection […]

Site of vulnerability on SARS-CoV-2 spike induces broadly protective antibody against antigenically distinct Omicron subvariants


Siriruk Changrob,1 Peter J. Halfmann,2 Hejun Liu,3 Jonathan L. Torres,3 Joshua J.C. McGrath,1 Gabriel Ozorowski,3 Lei Li,1 G. Dewey Wilbanks,1 Makoto Kuroda,2 Tadashi Maemura,2 Min Huang,1 Nai-Ying Zheng,1 Hannah L. Turner,3 Steven A. Erickson,4 Yanbin Fu,1 Atsuhiro Yasuhara,1 Gagandeep Singh,5,6 Brian Monahan,6,7 Jacob Mauldin,6,7 Komal Srivastava,6,7 Viviana Simon,5,6,7,8,9 Florian Krammer,5,6,7 D. Noah Sather,10,11,12 Andrew B. Ward,3 Ian A. Wilson,3,13 Yoshihiro Kawaoka,2,14,15,16 and Patrick C. Wilson1,Published 2023 – 10.1172/JCI166844 Abstract The rapid evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variants […]

Cutting Edge: Circulating Exosomes with COVID Spike Protein Are Induced by BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech) Vaccination prior to Development of Antibodies: A Novel Mechanism for Immune Activation by mRNA Vaccines 


Sandhya Bansal; Sudhir Perincheri; Timothy Fleming; Christin Poulson;Brian Tiffany;Ross M. Bremner; Thalachallour Mohanakumar  J Immunol (2021) 207 (10): 2405–2410.https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2100637 Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes severe acute respiratory syndrome. mRNA vaccines directed at the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein resulted in development of Abs and protective immunity. To determine the mechanism, we analyzed the kinetics […]

Adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines and measures to prevent them


Authors: Kenji Yamamoto Virol J. 2022; 19: 100. Published online 2022 Jun 5. doi: 10.1186/s12985-022-01831-0 PMCID: PMC9167431PMID: 35659687 Abstract Recently, The Lancet published a study on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and the waning of immunity with time. The study showed that immune function among vaccinated individuals 8 months after the administration of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine was lower than that among the […]

Consequences of COVID-19 for the Pancreas


Authors: Urszula Abramczyk,1,*Maciej Nowaczyński,2Adam Słomczyński,2Piotr Wojnicz,2Piotr Zatyka,2 and Aleksandra Kuzan1 Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan; 23(2): 864.Published online 2022 Jan 13. doi: 10.3390/ijms23020864 Abstract Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related major health consequences involve the lungs, a growing body of evidence indicates that COVID-19 is not inert to the pancreas either. This review presents a summary of the molecular mechanisms […]

Link between fever, diarrhea, severe COVID-19, and persistent anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies


Authors: By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD Jan 7 2021 Ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began, there have been many attempts to understand the nature and duration of immunity against the causative agent, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A new preprint research paper appearing on the medRxiv* server describes a link between the […]

Coronavirus (Covid-19)


A collection of articles and other resources on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, including clinical reports, management guidelines, and commentary. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)     VACCINE RESOURCES     VACCINE FAQ https://www.nejm.org/coronavirus All Journal content related to the Covid-19 pandemic is freely available. ORIGINAL ARTICLEConvalescent Plasma for High-Risk Covid-19F.K. Korley and OthersPatients who were seen in emergency departments within 7 days after the onset of Covid-19 symptoms […]

Lack of antibodies against seasonal coronavirus OC43 nucleocapsid protein identifies patients at risk of critical COVID-19


Authors: MartinDugasa1TanjaGrote-Westrickb1UtaMerledMichaelaFontenaylmAndreas E.KremerhFrankHansesijRichardVollenbergcEvaLorentzenbShilpaTiwari-BecklerdJérômeDucheminlSyrineEllouzelMarcelVetterhJuliaFürsthPhilippSchusterkTobiasBrixaClaudia M.DenkingerfgCarstenMüller-TidoweHartmutSchmidtc…JoachimKühnb1 Highlights Does prior infection with seasonal human coronavirus OC43 protect against critical COVID-19?• Findings: In an international multi-center study inpatients without anti-HCoV OC43 NP antibodies had an increased risk of critical disease.• Meaning: Prior infections with seasonal HCoV OC43 have a protective effect against critical COVID-19. Abstract Background The vast majority of COVID-19 patients experience […]

Lack of antibodies against seasonal coronavirus OC43 nucleocapsid protein identifies patients at risk of critical COVID-19


Authors: Martin Dugas 1, Tanja Grote-Westrick 2, Uta Merle 3, Michaela Fontenay 4, Andreas E Kremer 5, Frank Hanses 6, Richard Vollenberg 7, Eva Lorentzen 8, Shilpa Tiwari-Heckler 9, Jérôme Duchemin 10, Syrine Ellouze 11, Marcel Vetter 12, Julia Fürst 13, Philipp Schuster 14, Tobias Brix 15, Claudia M Denkinger 16, Carsten Müller-Tidow 17, Hartmut Schmidt 18, Phil-Robin Tepasse 19, Joachim Kühn 20 Abstract Background: The vast majority of COVID-19 patients experience a mild disease. However, a minority suffers from critical disease with substantial morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To identify individuals at risk of critical COVID-19, […]

Trained Innate Immunity, Epigenetics, and Covid-19


Authors: Alberto Mantovani, M.D., and Mihai G. Netea, M.D. Innate immunity is mediated by different cell types and cell-associated or fluid-phase pattern-recognition molecules and plays a key role in tissue repair and resistance against pathogens.1 Exposure to selected vaccines, such as bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) or microbial components, can increase the baseline tone of innate immunity and trigger […]