Category: Mutations

Therapeutic potential of convalescent plasma and hyperimmune immunoglobulins against SARS-CoV-2 BQ.1, BQ.1.1, and XBB variants

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Lorenza Bellusci, Hana Golding, and Surender Khurana Journal of Clinical Investigation Published 2023 – More infoView PDF  Convalescent plasma (CP) and hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) are routinely used to treat patients with COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants continue to evolve, generating multiple sublineages with increased transmissibility and antibody-escape mutations (1, 2). Several Omicron lineages that are currently circulating (BA.4, BA.5, […]

Warning as popular Covid antiviral drug is driving unexpected mutations

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Molnupiravir was one of the first antivirals available on the market during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was employed by many countries, including the US, particularly against chronic infections. By IAN RANDALL Daily Express Mon, Sep 25, 2023 A drug widely used against COVID-19 is driving an unintended pattern of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 (Image: Getty Images) An antiviral […]

Detection of recombinant Spike protein in the blood of individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2: Possible molecular mechanisms

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Carlo Brogna, Simone Cristoni, Giuliano Marino, Luigi Montano, Valentina Viduto, Mark Fabrowski, Gennaro Lettieri, Marina Piscopo, 31 August 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/prca.202300048 Abstract Purpose The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic prompted the development and use of next-generation vaccines. Among these, mRNA-based vaccines consist of injectable solutions of mRNA encoding for a recombinant Spike, which is distinguishable from the wild-type protein due to specific amino acid variations introduced […]

Will BA.2.86 (‘Pirola’), the New Coronavirus Variant, Increase COVID-19 Cases?

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BY CARRIE MACMILLAN AUGUST 31, 2023 A new coronavirus variant is raising alarm, but much about it remains unknown Note: Information in this article was accurate at the time of original publication. Because information about COVID-19 changes rapidly, we encourage you to visit the websites of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization […]

Vaccine Makers “Deceptive” Booster Campaign

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Wall Street Journal January 23, 2023 Wall Street Journal editorial board member Allysia Finley has taken a flamethrower to vaccine makers over their “deceptive” campaign for bivalent Covid boosters, and slams several federal agencies for taking “the unprecedented step of ordering vaccine makers to produce them and recommending them without data supporting their safety or […]

Yet Another Curveball in the COVID Mutation Nightmare

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Authors: David Axe September 6, 2022 The Daily Beast When the pharmaceutical industry scrambled to develop the first COVID vaccines back in 2020, it made sense that developers focused on the part of the virus that allows it to grab onto and infect our cells: the spike proteins. The best vaccines contain a piece of the spike, or […]

Omicron’s Mutations Impaired Vaccine Effectiveness, CDC Says

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Authors: Madison Muller  August 25, 2022 Bloomberg Almost 40% of people hospitalized in the US with the Covid subvariant that circulated this spring were vaccinated and boosted, highlighting how new strains have mutated to more readily escape the immunity offered by current shots. The findings from scientists at the US Centers for Disease Control and […]

The summer of subvariants

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Authors: Tina Reed, July 9, 2022 Axios Vitals As this summer heats up, so has the spread of the hot new version of COVID-19. Why it matters: This subvariant of Omicron called BA.5 — the most transmissible subvariant yet — quickly overtook previous strains to become the dominant version circulating the U.S. and much of the world. BA.5 is […]

This New ‘Ninja’ COVID Variant Is the Most Dangerous One Yet, Says Who?

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Authors: David Axe Fri, July 8, 2022 Yahoo News When Will People Realize That COVID is Here To Stay? Live With It! The latest subvariant of the novel coronavirus to become dominant in Europe, the United States, and other places is also, in many ways, the worst so far. The BA.5 subvariant of the basic Omicron variant appears to […]

Why Are So Many People Getting COVID a Second and Third Time?

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Doctors say if you got infected with the Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 variants, your antibodies might not fully protect you against the newer BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants now spreading through Southern California Authors: Joel Grover and Josh Davis  June 16, 2022 NBC News A sign encouraging mask use hangs on a fence before the local school council […]