College virus outbreak

We found that high levels of pre-existing T cells, created by the body when infected with other human coronaviruses like the common cold, can protect against COVID infection. Instead, the best way to protect yourself against COVID is to be fully vaccinated, including getting your booster dose.

The participants did PCR tests at the outset and 4 and 7 days later, to determine if they developed an infection. Blood samples from the 52 participants were taken within days of them being exposed to the virus. This enabled the researchers to analyse the levels of pre-existing T cells induced by previous common cold coronavirus infections that also cross-recognise proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus [1]. The researchers found that there were significantly higher levels of these cross-reactive T cells in the 26 people who did not become infected, compared to the 26 people who did become infected.

These T cells targeted internal proteins within the SARS-CoV-2 virus, rather than the spike protein on the surface of the virus, to protect against infection [2]. Current vaccines do not induce an immune response to these internal proteins. The researchers say that — alongside our existing effective spike protein-targeting vaccines — these internal proteins offer a new vaccine target that could provide long-lasting protection because T cell responses persist longer than antibody responses which wane within a few months of vaccination.

These T cells provide protection by attacking proteins within the virus, rather than the spike protein on its surface. In contrast, the internal proteins targeted by the protective T cells we identified mutate much less. New vaccines that include these conserved, internal proteins would therefore induce broadly protective T cell responses that should protect against current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants. Omicron: Resistant to most monoclonal antibodies but neutralized by a booster dose. Antibodies identified that can neutralize omicron.

South Africa Omicron study: Early analyses suggest a reduced risk of hospitalization. Risk of severe disease and hospitalization significantly lower in Omicron infection compared to prior variants: Discovery Health. Supreme Court ruling a reprieve for millions of American employees: Harmeet Dhillon.

Biden administration shifting to aggressive politics because it's failing on policy: Pavlich. The last time H3N2 was the dominant strain was the flu season, when the U.

The flu season also began in early November and was one of the longest flu seasons in recent years. Ho also noted that the H3N2 tends to mutate faster than other strains of influenza. At the University of Michigan, 77 percent of cases so far have been in unvaccinated students, a factor that Ho said is contributing to the outbreak. While many people are getting vaccinated against Covid this year, fewer people are getting their flu shots, he said. Neha Vyas, a family medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic.

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