Heard news that the COVID-19 vaccines may last “forever”? It’s because a study came out yesterday (accelerated preview) taking the first look at directly measuring markers of long-term immunity (from the Pfizer mRNA vaccine) in the form of Germinal Center B-cells (GCB-cells). Ultimately, they found promising levels of GCB-cells all the way out at 12Continue reading “Evidence of Memory”
Author Archives: annickae
Delta Variant
Δδ My take on the Delta Variant δΔ ✌🏼 doses provides strong protection against hospitalization and 👆🏼 dose leaves you vulnerable to symptomatic disease. Finish your dosing schedules! The Delta Variant (previously known as B.1.617.2) is relatively new, so data assessing transmissibility, disease severity, and vaccine escape will continue to be refined in the comingContinue reading “Delta Variant”
Spike Protein won’t cause disease.
A deeper dive into the spike protein and its many conformations. We try to explain in more detail how dynamic the spike protein is, how it interacts with your cells, and how the vaccine-induced spike is different than the spike on the surface of the virus. There are 2 major points that drive my thoughtContinue reading “Spike Protein won’t cause disease.”
Spike Protein Engineering
Spike protein conformations! Prefusion and postfusion. Proteins have the ability to change shape in response to the environment or interactions with other proteins. The spike protein is no different. 🔸The vast majority of spike proteins found in the SARS-CoV-2 membrane prior to infecting a cell are in the PREFUSION conformation. It is therefore advantageous toContinue reading “Spike Protein Engineering”
No Gene Editing in Vaccines
Can the vaccines edit your DNA? The answer is no! Ultimately, 2 minimum conditions must be met in order for genome editing to occur. 1. The necessary “equipment” must be introduced into your cell. These are enzymes (proteins) that have the special ability to unwind, cut, build, and glue the DNA of your genome.2. TheContinue reading “No Gene Editing in Vaccines”
NovaVax COVID-19 Vaccine
Let’s talk NovaVax! Teamed up with @jesseosheamd to put together a summary of the technology, efficacy, and safety of this vaccine. NovaVax is a protein nanoparticle-based vaccine that also contains a saponin adjuvant (plant-based). The phase 3 US/Mexico data was released this morning and it looks fantastic! Posted on Instagram on June 14, 2021.
29 Proteins vs. 1 Protein
29 proteins vs. 1 protein. When you are infected with SARS-CoV-2 you are introducing innumerable copies of 29 different proteins into your body. 1 of those 29 proteins is the spike protein, which is the ONLY protein that your body is introduced to after vaccination. The entire RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes for 4 structuralContinue reading “29 Proteins vs. 1 Protein”
Changing Minds
“Watch for people who don’t change their minds more than you watch for people who do.” I said this in a story a few days ago when addressing recent current events and it resonated with so many of you! Scientists are trained to take in information, process that information, and make reasonable and unbiased claims.Continue reading “Changing Minds”
Immunity Graphic Dictionary
In collaboration with @sciencwhizliz! Posted in 3 parts on Instagram on June 6th, 9th, and 12th, 2021.
We are all human.
💙💚💛🧡♥️ We are all human ♥️🧡💛💚💙 Let’s all take this Pride month as a firm reminder to be an advocate for our LGBTQ+ friends and family members. Encourage discussion, support programs aimed at providing help, and cultivate a community of inclusion around you at all times. Science detail – each color of the rainbow hasContinue reading “We are all human.”