Coronavirus News Explained

Distinct Antibody Responses in Children vs. Adults              Research has found that children react much differently to the coronavirus than adults. Not only do children tend to recover faster from the virus than adults, but children are also more likely to be asymptomatic to the virus (See Are Schools Ready to Reopen ). Despite exhibiting fewer symptoms, studies show that children carry a higher viral load than adults ( See Children Carry More Coronavirus than Adults ). Research on COVID-19 Immune Responses also finds that while adults have higher levels of immunity building cells and proteins, children have increased levels of IL-17A, an immune signaling receptor associated with T-cells. A study published this month in Nature Immunology takes a deeper look into the antibody responses of COVID-19 in children vs. adults. Antibodies     Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that bind to and destroy disease-causing antigens such as the coronavirus. They typically dev

COVID-19 Transmission between humans and minks           While it's clear that the coronavirus has a high transmission rate between humans, little is known about coronavirus transmission within animals and between animals and humans. Previous research has shown evidence of COVID-19 in dogs, cats, hamsters, and ferrets through experimental infection. However, during this process, the virus was found to be unable to infect pigs and poultry. Although scientists have concluded that the public health risk for exposure to infected animals is low, it is important that people are aware of the possible involvement of animals in the coronavirus pandemic. A study  published in the journal Science on November 19, 2020, uses genome sequencing to investigate COVID-19 outbreaks on 16 mink farms in the Netherlands. The results provide details about transmission rates and evidence of animal to human transmission of COVID-19.      Study Overview     After signs of respiratory issues and an increased

Pfizer Vaccine: A Successful Vaccine Candidate for COVID-19           As the last few months of 2020 come to an end, many individuals are hoping to leave behind the misfortunes of the COVID-19 pandemic as they enter the new year. This of course, is only possible with an effective vaccine that can prevent coronavirus infection. While many vaccines, drugs and treatments are undergoing clinical trials and various tests, there is currently no available vaccine for public use. (See Drugs/Vaccines/Treatment for more information). But things are starting to look up. On November 9, 2020, a drug company by the name of Pfizer, released promising results from a coronavirus vaccine phase III study . While it's likely that this vaccine may not be approved for public use within the next few months, the positive outcomes from the Pfizer trials provide people with good news and hope in the midst of these troubling times.     Before continuing to read this post, I would suggest taking a look at Wh

 How Long do Antibodies Last After Infection     As of November 2020, there have been over 47 million COVID-19 cases worldwide. Many of these 47 million individuals may be wondering if it's possible to be infected with COVID-19 more than once. The answer is yes (see First COVID-19 Reinfection in US ). However, a recent study published on October 28, 2020 in the journal  Science,  provides information about a possible period of COVID-19 immunity in infected patients. This study answers some of the most pressing questions surrounding the coronavirus infection: Do antibodies remain active and create immunity to the virus after initial infection?  If so, how long does this immunity last? Background    Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria. This study focuses specifically on the anti-spike antibody which targets the 'spike' protein on the surface of the coronavirus, known to be critical for virus entry. Scientists hypothesize t