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

mango said:
Has anyone found any recently updated data on surface transmission, and/or if delta is different in this regard?
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My review of googled publications suggests that delta is not dramatically mutated from past covid-19 (so reasonable to assume it will behave much the same until proven otherwise),
the main differences (identifed and verified so far ETA I mean just that there’s limited delta variant specific published info that I could find due to timescale) being that
significantly more of the virus is produced in the lungs
(so the odds of transmission go way up, making fleeting indoor contact more likely to result in exposure and transmission)
and the time from exposure to being contagious yourself is significantly shorter (more likely to transmit in the early stages when you don’t realise it’s important).

This greater density of virus means that some of the earlier predictions about surface transmission are more reasonable (remember those trials where they sprayed heaps of virus on surfaces and tested them later? - but then reviewers pointed out that the concentration of virus in the spray was greater than a realworld sneeze was likely to provide - now it’s a better model for delta perhaps).
At this stage it seems unlikely to be more than that, just more (ETA: density, not necessarily more durability than statisitics gives it) than the lower level governments have since grown accustomed to.

Just my gleaning of research findings plus supposition, not authoritative.
 
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mango said:
Has anyone found any recently updated data on surface transmission, and/or if delta is different in this regard?
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I don't have a reference, sorry, but a few days ago I read a news article about one of the UK train companies who did a comprehensive survey of surfaces like handrails in stations and carriages and also 1 hour air collections at different times of day.

They found no trace of virus.

That is not an argument for no mask wearing as you could be standing next to someone who is excreting virus but it made them confident in their cleaning systems.

I also read that there is not much evidence for surface transmission when following patient contacts. Not to say it can't happen but the virus is so widespread it would be apparent by now if it was common.

Handwashing and disinfecting has probably been the best defence.
 


Most identified cases are mild. Hard to tell what policies will be derived from this. If the assumption is that mild cases are acceptable, there may be growing incentives to stamp down hard on denying Long Covid as it would be the main argument against simply pretending it's all over.
 
Neurochemical signs of astrocytic and neuronal injury in acute COVID-19 normalizes during long-term follow-up
Kanberg et al
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(21)00305-4/fulltext

Press release by University of Gothenburg
https://www.gu.se/en/news/no-signs-of-brain-injury-post-acute-covid-19

"No signs of brain injury post-acute COVID-19
Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden

In a recent study from University of Gothenburg, it has been shown that all participants achieve normalization of CNS injury biomarkers, regardless of previous disease severity or persistent neurological symptoms. Indicating that post-COVID-19 neurological sequalae are not due to active brain injury."
Press release said:
Central nervous system involvement and signs of brain injury have been described since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A previous study from the same group showed that hospitalized patients receiving oxygen therapy or ICU care often had signs of brain damage by measuring blood-based biomarker of brain injury.

In addition, in recent months it has been increasingly evident that after the acute phase of COVID-19, many patients still suffer from persisting neurologic disability. This often includes lethargy, fatigue, or impaired cognitive function. This consequence is now termed post COVID condition.

The mechanism behind how COVID-19 causes persisting neurological symptoms is still not fully understood. In a follow-up study, the researchers aimed to investigate the longitudinal trajectories of the same plasma biomarkers in patients who have recovered from COVID-19, with and without persisting neurological symptoms.
Normalization of markers

The study presented in EBioMedicine, recruited 100 COVID-19 patients from the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. The study population was divided into groups according to disease severity; mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19. Blood samples were collected at an interval of acute phase of the disease, 3- and 6-months post-infection. At the acute phase, patients who required hospitalization and were receiving oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation showed an increase of NfL (neurofilament light chain protein), a biomarker that increases with neuronal injury, and GFAp (glial fibrillary acidic protein), a biomarker that indicates astrocytic injury or overactivation. At follow-up, all biomarkers returned to their normal baseline values.

In addition, at 3- and 6-months clinical follow-up, 50 patients out of the 100 recruited individuals reported one or more neurological symptoms, the most common symptoms were fatigue, “brain-fog”, and cognitive impairment, such as memory loss and lack of concentration. Remarkably, there were no difference in frequency of any symptoms among the disease severity groups. [...]
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Press release in Swedish.
 
rvallee said:


Most identified cases are mild. Hard to tell what policies will be derived from this. If the assumption is that mild cases are acceptable, there may be growing incentives to stamp down hard on denying Long Covid as it would be the main argument against simply pretending it's all over.
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The Tweeter is simply incorrect. 77% of the population with one dose means they have not reached "herd immunity" for R0>5.
The current numbers in Iceland are similar to those predicted (in a previous post) by the Grattan institute.
 
Does anyone know when Novavax plans to apply for approval in UK?

Will it be in time for autumn boosters? Has UK bought any Novavax?
 
Binkie4 said:
Does anyone know when Novavax plans to apply for approval in UK?
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Likely in a few months when they actually have some supply.

This is speculation, but I expect Novavax to pivot at some stage to suggest that it is safer for young adults and children, compared to the other vaccines. If it is genuinely safer, it is likely to be the option used for under 12s.
 
Amw66 said:
I'm reading "How We Could Turn COVID Against Itself" on Scribd.

Check it out: https://www.scribd.com/article/519984203
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That link is paywalled for me...

https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/how-we-could-turn-covid-against-itself/

The team at Penn State designed a synthetic version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that interferes with the real virus’s growth. They say that it could potentially wipe out both the ‘real’ virus and the synthetic version.
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To carry out the study, the team took a SARS-CoV-2 genome and used it to engineer synthetic DI genomes. They then introduced these DI genomes to monkey cells that had been infected with wild-type SARS-CoV-2.

After 24 hours, they found that the DI genome replicated three times faster than wild-type SARS-CoV-2, and viral load was reduced by half.

Archetti says that while a reduction of half in 24 hours is not enough for therapeutic purposes, further experiments need to be carried out. In unpublished research, the scientists have tried using nanoparticles as a delivery vector, and saw the virus decline by more than 95 per cent in 12 hours.
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In vitro research is a long way from clinical application...
 
Not sure where to post this. Could be helpful to use, if needing to.

I wouldn't share the link though. The introduction to ME/CFS is watered down.
(Highlighting is mine.)

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) | CDC

ME/CFS and COVID-19: What we know
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CDC is working with partners and stakeholders to better understand post-COVID conditions and how they affect people with ME/CFS. Currently, there are limited data and information about the long-term effects of COVID-19. A recent report found that COVID-19 can result in prolonged illness, even among adults without underlying chronic medical conditions. Future studies will help identify whether some people with delayed recovery develop an ME/CFS-like illness.
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It is especially important for people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to protect themselves. Currently, ME/CFS is not included in the list of medical conditions that increase risk of severe illness from COVID-19. However, people with ME/CFS might consider taking extra precautions to reduce their risk of getting COVID-19. We are learning more about COVID-19 every day. As new information becomes available, CDC will continue to update our recommendations and guidance.
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Don't know if we are more at risk of getting COVID or having worse outcomes. But common sense precaution would suggest that, at the least, we can't afford to lose any more function than we already have. So taking extra preventative steps seems wise.
 
Sean said:
Don't know if we are more at risk of getting COVID or having worse outcomes. But common sense precaution would suggest that, at the least, we can't afford to lose any more function than we already have. So taking extra preventative steps seems wise.
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I find it extraordinary that we're not on the risk list of having worse outcomes. Most of us got ME from a viral illness. It seems likely that we have a genetic propensity for that. So we can surely expect to do badly with Covid - and indeed, to lose more function than we already have, as you say, Sean.
 
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