We’ve talked about the flu vaccine here before but we focused much more on vaccine design! In this post I talk more about flu vaccine coverage – what can you expect your annual shot to cover, how the coverage is determined, and why! I also go over the history of flu vaccine efficacy and whatContinue reading “Flu Vaccine Coverage”
Category Archives: Virology
Monkeypox 101
📚Monkeypox 101 A cheat-sheet to our current Monkeypox situation. Along the left-hand side you have a very simplified lineage of orthopoxviruses (the genus of virus that both Monkeypox and Smallpox derive from). I wanted to make it easier to understand how closely related these two diseases are. The lineage also highlights another orthopoxvirus – vacciniaContinue reading “Monkeypox 101”
Viral Evolution and the Trap of Mildness
A look at viral evolution shows us why a more “mild” virus is an evolutionary trap. Viruses evolve faster than any other organism on earth and knowing why and how helps us better prepare for current and future outbreaks. I have been wanting to tackle this concept of “mildness” and Omicron for quite some timeContinue reading “Viral Evolution and the Trap of Mildness”
Paxlovid Treatment
Collaborative post with @sciencewithanni and @sciencewhizliz. This week Pfizer released via press release some really fantastic news. They have been running clinical trials with Paxlovid and have had such amazing results that they are pausing trial early to seek FDA approval! First let’s briefly talk about what Paxlovid is. It is a new combination oral therapyContinue reading “Paxlovid Treatment”
Virus Ingredient List
Look at this ingredient list. ➡️ I see a LOT of talk around the safety profile of each of the components of vaccines but I see hardly any talk of what will be introduced into your body when infected. “Knowing what you put in your body” should include a critical evaluation of any circulating viruses.Continue reading “Virus Ingredient List”
Molnupiravir
What is Molnupiravir, how does it work, and what does the data say? I teamed up with @sciencewhizliz to summarize what we know today! Yesterday Merck announced (by Press Release) that data from their Phase 3 MOVe-OUT trial evaluating the COVID-19 antiviral, Molnupiravir, showed great promise. In fact, data from the study showed it reducedContinue reading “Molnupiravir”
All Things Flu
All things Flu! I teamed up with Ed at @deplatformdisease to bring you a thorough summary of influenza virus, vaccine design, types of vaccines, recommendations, and treatment. The more you know, the better, right?? As flu season is upon us it is important to get your seasonal vaccine. With an extra respiratory virus in ourContinue reading “All Things Flu”
Germ vs. Terrain Theory
Germ Theory vs. Terrain Theory I recently debunked a few comments in my stories and many of them were misinformed viewpoints that are centered around terrain theory. Let’s go over what each of these theories are, where they came from, and what we can take from each. 🦠Germ Theory (scientifically proven correct): pathogens lead toContinue reading “Germ vs. Terrain Theory”
SARS-CoV-2 Taxonomy
Let’s talk virus taxonomy! While this may feel a bit irrelevant this far out from discovery, it never hurts to remember (or learn for the first time) that SARS-CoV-2, while a new virus, is closely related to several other already discovered ones. This information is incredibly useful for our research toward developing a vaccine andContinue reading “SARS-CoV-2 Taxonomy”
Parosmia
Have you, or someone you know, experienced things smelling or tasting distorted after having a viral infection? Turns out this is a pretty common phenomena after having a viral infection and it’s known as PAROSMIA! This last year we saw a huge increase in the number of long-term cases of parosmia which makes us allContinue reading “Parosmia”