TWiV Episode 631 is one of their more important episodes.
Brianne Barker (immunology), Rich Condit and Vincent Raccaniello discuss papers which actually, this week, are very relevant to what our thinking and behavior should be, at least this week.
As always, they could use an editor, but if you have time walking the dog or on the bicycle, it's rewarding.
Key points:
1/ There is a saliva test from Rutgers available at some CVS's for the virus PCR, i.e. you can tell if you are shedding virus particles, which would suggest you are actively infected.
2/ An Italian study of 20,000 people suggest that in people below 30 years old as many as 70% infected with SARS CoV-2 (Covid19) are asymptomatic, i.e., could be silent spreaders--although previous episodes note more than 80% of infections were spread by 10% of infected people, "super spreaders."
3/ Some people who were infected no longer have the antibodies to the virus, made by B cells, but may retain immunity through their T cells.
Tests for T cell immunity are not clinically available.
4/ Vaccines now being rushed to production overwhelmingly are designed to attack the T spike of the virus. But other components may be more important. In fact, in order to be well protected vaccines might have to use more parts of the virus to achieve really adequate protection against the virus.
This is really worth listening to.
https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-631/
Mad Dog,
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more- TWIV illuminates in ways other information venues do not and cannot. This morning I listened to the latest episode, #632 and was happy to hear Daniel Griffin back with his news from the front. He began with the very fitting quote by Dickens--"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...." From there he provided updates on the medical diagnosis and treatment of Covid, during which he mentioned potential upcoming shortages of testing material, as well as the steroid dexamethasone, which has shown promise in treatment. It's infuriating to think we might once again face setbacks due to shortages. Begs the question what exactly is the administration doing to avoid this situation? Are they even aware of it?
Maud
Ms. Maud,
ReplyDeleteYou are one of the few people I've been able to hook on TWiV. Most of my doctor friends, neighbors, social media friends all say it's too long; they say they don't have the time. Of course, when you think of how much more time most of us have nowadays, you figure, what they are really saying is they don't have the capacity or discipline to listen for 2 hours to anyone.
The crew does ramble and banter, and do not stay on point, and they are limited, often saying things which reveal their ignorance of things beyond their narrow fields of expertise, but they are still very much worth the time.
As for Trump and his ilk: Safe to say they will never listen.