Preprint Long-term serum spike protein persistence but no correlation with post-COVID syndrome, 2024, Fehrer, Scheibenbogen+

Interesting that they mention no relationship between spike protein concentration to time since last exposure. Could of course be very difficult to quantify as the correct description is likely "time since last known exposure", but I do think it contradicts some other results previously seen.

 

This paper might be important by making the viral persistence hypothesis more difficult to support. If the authors are right, then some people have remnants of the spike protein but it has little to no influence on the disease.

 

Viral persistence is probably not very significant in circulating blood. Lots of other viruses are for life, can be found in organs and some cells, how many of them are found circulating in the blood? Even their proteins?

It limits the potential for easy identification, but I don't think it means much in terms of viral persistence.

 

I think the crucial point may be that it is precisely such circumstantial evidence that lead people down the viral persistence route in the first place and thus far none of this evidence has stood the test of time (Simoa, Paxlovid etc were all the initial motivators and subsequent studies have not yielded any meaningful results).

That doesn't mean it can't be viral persistence but perhaps instead of continuously going down the same path, initially motivated by evidence that has since been found to be noise, one ought to asks oneself is there any evidence left that makes following this path meaningful and especially what one can learn from all of the past mistakes where evidence for viral persistence was presumably based on qualitatively bad research.

 

2025
LINK

 

Original conclusion in abstract:

New conclusion in abstract:

They went from the broad ‘pathogensis of PCS’ to a more narrow ‘association with ME/CFS’.

Why?

 

This is a very odd finding. If anything I think it casts doubt on the validity of the assays. It is hard to think of a theoretical model in which there is no decline in spike protein after exposure.

The removal of spike protein with immunoadsorption is also peculiar.

 

Whole blood samples from participants were allowed to clot at room temperature for at least 30 min and then centrifuged at 2000× g for 10 min at room temperature.

@Jonathan Edwards could different clotting durations lead to different measurements?

Room temp is also not very specific, could that affect things if the samples are processed over multiple days or periods?

 

Answer: they did not assess the non-ME/CFS-PCS. The pre-print seemingly went beyond the evidence.

 

The results look very peculiar. There seem to be two grades of positivity.
I have no idea how to interpret but it doesn't seem to be the secret to Long Covid.

 

New title for published version is "Serum Spike Protein Persistence Post COVID Is Not Associated with ME/CFS".