Allergy & Immunology
Milder disease with Omicron: is it the virus or the pre-existing immunity?
20 Jan, 2022 | 09:28h | UTC
How does Omicron spread so fast? A high viral load isn’t the answer – “Data on viral levels point to immune evasion as a cause of the variant’s transmissibility”.
20 Jan, 2022 | 09:27h | UTCHow does Omicron spread so fast? A high viral load isn’t the answer – Nature
A large observational study showed people with immune disfunction (HIV, solid organ transplant, rheumatoid arthritis) were at increased risk of breakthrough Covid-19 infection after vaccination.
20 Jan, 2022 | 09:24h | UTC
Study provides evidence of causality between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis.
14 Jan, 2022 | 08:23h | UTCLongitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis – Science (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries:
Strong new evidence suggests a virus triggers multiple sclerosis – STAT
An observational study in South Africa estimates the Pfizer vaccine had an effectiveness of 70% against hospitalization for Covid-19 caused by the omicron variant.
13 Jan, 2022 | 08:56h | UTCCommentary: BNT162b2 still effective, but less so, against Omicron – HealthDay
Another study showed neutralizing monoclonal antibody therapies are not effective when given after the patient is already hospitalized.
13 Jan, 2022 | 08:48h | UTCInvited Commentary: Time to knock monoclonal antibodies off the platform for patients hospitalised with COVID-19
‘Killer’ immune cells still recognize Omicron variant.
13 Jan, 2022 | 08:51h | UTC‘Killer’ immune cells still recognize Omicron variant – Nature
See also: T-cells: the superheroes in the battle against omicron – The Conversation
[Preprint] Lab study shows Omicron infection enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta variant.
11 Jan, 2022 | 01:29h | UTCOmicron infection enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta variant – medRxiv
Omicron’s feeble attack on the lungs could make it less dangerous.
11 Jan, 2022 | 01:23h | UTCOmicron’s feeble attack on the lungs could make it less dangerous – Nature
WHO issues interim recommendations for heterologous COVID-19 vaccine schedules.
17 Dec, 2021 | 10:01h | UTCInterim recommendations for heterologous COVID-19 vaccine schedules – World Health Organization
Commentary: Coronavirus: WHO gives the nod for mix-and-match vaccine schedules – South China Morning Post
Breakthrough infections generate ‘super immunity’ to COVID-19, study suggests.
17 Dec, 2021 | 09:47h | UTCNews Release: Breakthrough infections generate ‘super immunity’ to COVID-19, study suggests – Oregon Health & Science University
Original Study: Antibody Response and Variant Cross-Neutralization After SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infection – JAMA
T Cells might be our bodies’ best shot against Omicron.
16 Dec, 2021 | 09:45h | UTCT Cells Might Be Our Bodies’ Best Shot Against Omicron – The Atlantic
SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals: measurement, causes and impact.
10 Dec, 2021 | 10:23h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals: measurement, causes and impact https://t.co/dd91AkYmu4 pic.twitter.com/1ByzLeTdlh
— Nature Rev Immunol (@NatRevImmunol) December 7, 2021
[Press release – not published yet] Lab study suggests a third dose (booster) of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine may be necessary to provide an adequate immune response to the Omicron variant.
9 Dec, 2021 | 10:29h | UTCPress release: Pfizer and Biontech provide update on Omicron variant
Commentaries:
Omicron likely to weaken COVID vaccine protection – Nature
Pfizer-BioNTech says COVID booster should protect against Omicron – CIDRAP
Covid: Pfizer says booster shot promising against Omicron – BBC
Multiple early studies find notable Omicron vaccine evasion.
9 Dec, 2021 | 10:26h | UTCMultiple early studies find notable Omicron vaccine evasion – CIDRAP
Related: A first, small study suggests Omicron is a larger threat to Covid-19 immunity than other variants.
RCT: Among children between the ages of 6 and 11 years with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma, add-on Dupilumab reduced exacerbations and improved lung function.
9 Dec, 2021 | 10:21h | UTCDupilumab in Children with Uncontrolled Moderate-to-Severe Asthma – New England Journal of Medicine
A first, small study suggests Omicron is a larger threat to Covid-19 immunity than other variants.
8 Dec, 2021 | 10:22h | UTCOriginal Study: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron has extensive but incomplete escape of Pfizer BNT162b2 elicited neutralization and requires ACE2 for infection – medRxiv
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
We have completed our first experiments on neutralization of Omicron by Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccination elicited immunity
Manuscript available at https://t.co/rGaEB9GdmS
and should be available on medRxiv in the coming days
— Alex Sigal (@sigallab) December 7, 2021
See also (thread – click for more)
New work from AHRI's @sigallab strongly suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 #Omicron variant escapes antibody immunity induced by the Pfizer vaccine, but that considerable immunity is retained in people who were both vaccinated & previously infected. https://t.co/AZWi3qexin pic.twitter.com/3phPFyKEPh
— Africa Health Research Institute (@AHRI_News) December 7, 2021
Beyond Omicron: what’s next for COVID’s viral evolution.
8 Dec, 2021 | 10:06h | UTCBeyond Omicron: what’s next for COVID’s viral evolution – Nature
Study shows increased immunogenicity of extended mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dosing intervals.
7 Dec, 2021 | 10:21h | UTCImmunogenicity of Extended mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Dosing Intervals – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
1/ Not surprisingly, a longer delay between 1st & 2nd doses of mRNA COVID vaccines (i.e. 6-7 weeks rather than 3-4 weeks) results in better immune responses.https://t.co/XhiU6u0hYb
— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (@celinegounder) December 3, 2021
Six different COVID-19 boosters are safe and increase immunity when given after two doses of AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech, with significant variations in immune responses, UK trial shows.
5 Dec, 2021 | 23:57h | UTCCommentaries:
Six different COVID-19 boosters induce variable immune response – CIDRAP
Covid booster shots significantly strengthen immunity, trial finds – The Guardian
Commentary on Twitter
NEW—Six different COVID-19 boosters are safe and increase immunity when given after two doses of #AstraZeneca or #Pfizer-BioNTech, with large variations in immune responses, UK trial shows. https://t.co/ktUp1m2Rsb pic.twitter.com/wlwxcLYDm1
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) December 2, 2021
Omicron is supercharging the COVID vaccine booster debate – “The data are growing that booster jabs enhance protection — but their durability, impact and ability to quash the new variant are unknown”.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:19h | UTCOmicron is supercharging the COVID vaccine booster debate – Nature
Systematic Review: Phototherapy for atopic eczema.
3 Dec, 2021 | 10:03h | UTCPhototherapy for atopic eczema – Cochrane Library
Commentary on Twitter
New @CochraneSkin systematic review casts some light on the topic of visible #LightTherapy for treating atopic eczema – ( #eczema or #atopicdermatitis ) https://t.co/JsrQwdqMHr 32 studies, involving 1219 people included. pic.twitter.com/6SfmlA2kWZ
— Cochrane UK (@CochraneUK) November 6, 2021
Cohort study: Allergic conditions linked to lower COVID-19 infection risk.
1 Dec, 2021 | 08:52h | UTCNews Release: Allergic conditions linked to lower COVID-19 infection risk – BMJ
Original Study: Risk factors for developing COVID-19: a population-based longitudinal study (COVIDENCE UK) – Thorax
Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert – “Researchers are racing to determine whether a fast-spreading variant in South Africa poses a threat to COVID vaccines’ effectiveness”.
26 Nov, 2021 | 08:42h | UTCHeavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert – Nature
See also:
Covid: New heavily mutated variant B.1.1.529 in South Africa raises concern – BBC
Scientists warn of new Covid variant with high number of mutations – The Guardian
South Africa detects new COVID variant with many mutations – MedicalXpress
Related commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
THREAD on the new variant B.1.1.529 summarising what is known from the excellent South African Ministry of Health meeting earlier today
TLDR: So much uncertain but what *is* known is extremely worrying & (in my opinion) we should revise red list immediately.
This is why: 1/16
— Prof. Christina Pagel (@chrischirp) November 25, 2021
[Preprint] Serological responses to COVID-19 booster vaccine in England.
26 Nov, 2021 | 08:34h | UTCSerological responses to COVID-19 booster vaccine in England – medRxiv
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
1/ Our preprint on #SARSCoV2 antibody responses in UK adults receiving a #COVID19 vaccine booster with the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months after primary immunisation with Pfizer or AZ vaccine, which was given at an extended interval (8-12 wks) … ?
— Shamez Ladhani (@ShamezLadhani) November 25, 2021