The biology of coronavirus COVID-19 - including research and treatments

MAIT cell activation and dynamics associated with COVID-19 disease severity

https://immunology.sciencemag.org/content/5/51/eabe1670.full

 

Possible concerns reported about remdesivir:

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknew...w-of-coronavirus-drug/ar-BB19E6AR?ocid=ASUDHP

 

The following is a science article (not political) about Trump's treatments being administered for Covid 19.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/heres-what-known-about-president-trump-s-covid-19-treatment

 

One treatment of high dose experimental Regeneron IV cocktail saved 90% of Ebola patients.

 

I'm speaking as a novice here(I mostly do ) . But weren't some phase 3-trials in their finishing stages these months and shouldn't results come out for a few of them? Obviously Russia is number one, but are any serious studies underway too?

 

Phase 3 studies of what? Vaccines? Monoclonal antibodies? Antiviral drugs?

 

Mysterious inflammatory syndrome tied to COVID-19 strikes adults as well as kids

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/med...dults-as-well-as-kids/ar-BB19EtG3?ocid=ASUDHP

 

CSF leak in a women's brain from a COVID test. Could this be caused from a pre existing condition? Encephalocele?

 

Vaccines.

 

Hilda Bastian follows the progress the closest out of anyone I know

https://twitter.com/hildabast
https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/?post_tag=101

She maintains a public Zotero collection:
https://www.zotero.org/groups/2528572/covid-19_vaccine_results/library

 

Neuropathology of patients with COVID-19 in Germany: a post-mortem case series

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(20)30308-2/fulltext

https://twitter.com/user/status/1313267365954560001


https://twitter.com/user/status/1313352391589269504


https://twitter.com/user/status/1313252531795943424

 

Some interesting speculation there in a very long twitter thread. Some of the things he says I agree with (platelet activation and vasoconstriction in lung microvasculature, leading to a feedback loop), but I think the scenario he described is still incomplete. The activation itself is due to fast build up of immune complexes that is unable to be cleared, leading to the platelet activation in the first place. The fast build up occurs as the pendulum swings from interferon suppression early in the infection to the point which viral load is so high, leading to a rapid increase in immune activity.

The hypothesis about 5-HT build up due to lack of clearance is curious. (if it manages to clear the lung into regular circulation the 5-HT will no longer have much effect)
I suggest this is a local effect, I don't believe there is any evidence of organ failure related to ARDS due to excess platelet derived 5-HT spill over into central circulation.

Farid also believes that longcovid is due to MCAS, but I find this hypothesis unconvincing, due to the lack of overlap of symptoms - (histamine related symptoms for example, and the lack of evidence for a "cytokine storm", even in severe patients)
http://farid.jalali.one/MCAS_COVID.pdf
edit - and this more fleshed out hypothesis that he cites: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220307323

 

The brain stem is one of the systems they felt was wrong in ME. This sounds relevant to us. I had to look up myoclonus but it describes one of my most disabling symptoms.

 

The virus can apparently survive on skin for up to 9 hours (but is deactivated by sanitiser):

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/med...or-9-hours/ar-BB19MIkd?li=AAnZ9Ug&ocid=ASUDHP

 

This link may indicate a source of future difficulties for some, arising out of the treatment given to a notable personage.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...g-developed-using-cells-derived-from-abortion

 

Professor Stephen Holgate is to give Southampton University's Distinguished Lecture on Thursday 15th October from 18.00 to 19.00(BST). The subject is "Understanding and living with COVID-19 -- past, present and future?".

'He said "COVID-19 has caught us all by surprise. From the experience being gained both personally and professionally and in the wider environment, there are important lessons to be learnt - not only about this virus, but about how society ensures we are best prepared to cope now and into the future".'

It seems that the lecture is already oversubscribed but I have registered and am able to email a question to Professor Holgate for the question and answer session. What shall I ask and would it be from me personally or on behalf of the members of Science4ME?

 

This sounds good. I may go with that.

 

Not sure how to do this!