Oct 16th, 2021 - The receptor-binding domain (RBD) variants of SARS-CoV-2 could impair antibody-mediated neutralization of the virus by host immunity; thus, prospective surveillance of antibody escape mutants and understanding the evolution of RBD are urgently needed. Using the single B cell cloning technology, we isolated and characterized 93 RBD-specific antibodies from the memory B cells of four COVID-19 con...

Oct 16th, 2021 - Mass vaccination campaigns have been used effectively to limit the impact of communicable disease on public health. However, the scale of the COVID19 vaccination campaign is unprecedented. Mass vaccination sites consolidate resources and experience into a single entity and are essential to achieving community ("herd") immunity rapidly, efficiently, and equitably. Healthcare systems, local and r...

Oct 16th, 2021 - The effectiveness of the BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 vaccines against new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections requires continuous re-evaluation, given the increasingly dominant B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of these vaccines in a large, community-based survey of randomly selected households across the United Kingdom. We ...

Oct 16th, 2021 - The incidence of COVID-19 vaccine-associated hypermetabolic lymphadenopathy (VAHL) is high following the administration of the first and second BNT162b2 vaccine doses. The impact of this finding on [18F]FDG PET-CT interpretation and its correlation with the induced humoral immunity have been reported. Assuming the amnestic immune response is different following the third vaccine dose, we aimed ...

Oct 16th, 2021 - Multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) are chronic conditions that result from dysfunction of the immune system. Their common root in autoimmunity stimulates interest in the exploration of similarities and differences between the two diseases. Genetic susceptibility is relevant, creating a substrate, on which environmental factors act as a trigger of an aberrant immune response. Desp...

Oct 15th, 2021 - Despite limited available data, an FDA advisory panel recommended a booster dose of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine for all individuals who received the single-dose vaccine, to be given at least 2 months after the initial dose. The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted 19-0 that the booster dose at this interval was safe and effective for individu...

Oct 15th, 2021 - Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center. A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee on Friday voted 19-0 to authorize second doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to boost immunity. It was the second vote in as many days to back a change to a COVID vaccine timeline. In its vote, the committee said...

Oct 15th, 2021 - Virus entry, consisting of attachment to and penetration into the host target cell, is the first step of the virus life cycle and is a critical 'do or die' event that governs virus emergence in host populations. Most antiviral vaccines induce neutralizing antibodies that prevent virus entry into cells. However, while the prevention of virus invasion by humoral immunity is well appreciated, cons...

Oct 15th, 2021 - As vaccine supply and access remain limited in many parts of the world, understanding the duration of protection from reinfection after natural infection is important. Distinct individuals testing positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2 between March 6, 2020, and August 31, 2020, in Kentucky, USA, were identified using the Kentucky National Electronic Disease Surveillance System. Individuals were ...

Oct 15th, 2021 - Adaptive immunity is a fundamental component in controlling COVID-19. In this process, follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are a subset of CD4+ T cells that mediate the production of protective antibodies; however, the SARS-CoV-2 epitopes activating Tfh cells are not well characterized. Here, we identified and crystallized TCRs of public circulating Tfh (cTfh) clonotypes that are expanded in patien...

Oct 14th, 2021 - Note that some links may require registration or subscription. The WHO released its proposed roster of scientific advisors who have the "last chance" to conduct an official inquiry into the origin of how SARS-CoV-2 came to infect humans. (Reuters) Black Americans are catching up in COVID vaccination rates. (New York Times) Apple seeks to make AirPods a wearable health device. (Wall Street Journ...

Oct 14th, 2021 - Editor's note: This story was updated Thursday October 14, 6:45 PM A panel of experts that advises the FDA on vaccine decisions voted unanimously Thursday to approve booster doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. The 19 members of the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted to authorize a 50-milligram dose — half the dose used in the primary series of shots — to bo...

Oct 14th, 2021 - A new US government study shows it isn't risky and may even be a good idea to mix, rather than match, COVID-19 vaccines when getting a booster dose. The study also shows mixing different kinds of vaccines appears to spur the body to make higher levels of virus-blocking antibodies than they would have gotten by boosting with a dose of the vaccine the person already had. If regulators endorse the...

Oct 14th, 2021 - Vaccination against COVID-19 is essential against the pandemic. There are broad discussions on adopting certificates for vaccination and the immunity obtained after infection. Based on a national sample of over 2000 participants administered in April 2021, the current study examines the Chinese public's attitudes to the so-called COVID-19 vaccination passport and factors contributing to their v...

Oct 14th, 2021 - The lack of knowledge about the specific preventive measures and limited scientific information on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to an excruciating onset and progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Swift development of various successful vaccines around the globe is striving to contain the exponential surges of COVID-19 cases. However, the ongoing ...

Oct 14th, 2021 - Vaccines against COVID-19 are likely to be approved for children under 12 years in the near future. Understanding vaccine hesitancy in parents is essential for reaching herd immunity. A cross-sectional survey of caregivers in 12 emergency departments (ED) was undertaken in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. We compared reported willingness to vaccinate children against COVID-19 with an initial surve...

Oct 13th, 2021 - Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center. The chances that unvaccinated family members will be infected or hospitalized with COVID-19 drop sharply if even one family member is vaccinated. The chances are reduced even further with each additional vaccinated or otherwise immune family member, according to new data. Dr Peter Nordström Lead...

Oct 13th, 2021 - Editor's note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape's Coronavirus Resource Center. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Johnson & Johnson may have to put its thumb on the scale when making its case to an advisory panel on Friday to market boosters for its single-dose vaccine. Johnson & Johnson, together with its partner Janssen, has asked the FDA to authorize a secon...

Oct 12th, 2021 - Effective and safe COVID-19 vaccines have been developed and have resulted in decreased incidence and severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and can decrease secondary transmission. However, there are concerns about dampened immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination among immunocompromised patients, including people living with HIV (PLWH), which may bl...

Oct 12th, 2021 - The association between COVID-19 immunity within families and the risk of infection in nonimmune family members is unknown. To investigate the association between risk of COVID-19 in nonimmune individuals and the number of their family members with known immunity acquired from a previous COVID-19 infection or full vaccination (2 vaccine doses). In this cohort study of data from nationwide regis...