4 hours ago, we_gotta_believe said:

FDA Advisory Panel votes in favor of pediatric vaccines for ages 5-11. Near unanimously, with one cultist abstaining. Score another one for the good guys!

Good guys? You? 😂😂😂

More like a Fing goon squad.

Anyone willing to shake Brandon's hand?

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41423-021-00779-5

Quote

The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variant A.30 is heavily mutated and evades vaccine-induced antibodies with high efficiency

• Prerna Arora,
• Cheila Rocha,
• Amy Kempf,
• Inga Nehlmeier,
• Luise Graichen,
• Martin S. Winkler,
• Martin Lier,
• Sebastian Schulz,
• Hans-Martin Jäck,
• Anne Cossmann,
• Metodi V. Stankov,
• Georg M. N. Behrens,
• Stefan Pöhlmann &
• Markus Hoffmann 

Cellular & Molecular Immunology (2021)Cite this article

• Metrics details

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to rage in many countries, straining health systems and economies. Vaccines protect against severe disease and death and are considered central to ending the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccines (and SARS-CoV-2 infection) elicit antibodies that are directed against the viral spike (S) protein and neutralize the virus. However, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with S protein mutations that confer resistance to neutralization might compromise vaccine efficacy [1]. Furthermore, emerging viral variants with enhanced transmissibility, likely due to altered virus-host cell interactions, might rapidly spread globally. Therefore, it is important to investigate whether emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants exhibit altered host cell interactions and resistance against antibody-mediated neutralization.

We investigated host cell entry and antibody-mediated neutralization of the variant A.30 (also termed A.VOI.V2), which was detected in several patients in Angola and Sweden in spring 2021 and likely originated in Tanzania [2]. For comparison, we analyzed the Beta (B.1.351) and Eta (B.1.525) variants. These two variants were first detected in Africa, and the Beta variant, which is considered a variant of concern (VOC), shows the highest level of neutralization resistance among SARS-CoV-2 VOCs [3, 4]. Compared to the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 B.1, which circulated in the early phase of the pandemic, the S protein of the A.30 variant contains 10 amino acid substitutions and five deletions (Fig. 1a and Supplementary information, Fig. S1a). All deletions along with four substitutions are found in the N-terminal domain of the surface unit S1, which harbors an antigenic supersite that is targeted by most neutralizing antibodies not directed against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) [5]. In addition, three mutations are located inside the RBD, which binds to the cellular receptor ACE2 and constitutes the main target of neutralizing antibodies (Fig. 1a). Two of these mutations, T478R and E484K, are located close to the ACE2 binding site (Supplementary information, Fig. S1a), and E484K is known to reduce susceptibility to antibody-mediated neutralization. Finally, two mutations are located close to the S1/S2 cleavage site, and one mutation is found in the transmembrane unit S2, which facilitates fusion of the viral envelope with cellular membranes (Fig. 1a).

Fig. 1

SARS-CoV-2 A.30 enters certain cell lines with increased efficiency and evades antibody-mediated neutralization. a Schematic overview and domain organization of the SARS-CoV-2 S proteins studied. Abbreviations: RBD, receptor-binding domain; TD, transmembrane domain. b Pseudotyped particles bearing the indicated S proteins were inoculated onto different cell lines, and transduction efficiency was quantified by measuring virus-encoded luciferase activity in cell lysates at 16–18 h postinoculation. Presented are the average (mean) data from six to 12 biological replicates (each conducted with technical quadruplicates) for which transduction was normalized against SARS-CoV-2 S B.1 (= 1). Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean (SEM). The statistical significance of differences between B.1 and A.30, B.1.525, or B.1.351 was analyzed by two-tailed Student’s t-test with Welch correction (p > 0.05, not significant [ns]; p ≤ 0.05, *; p ≤ 0.01, **; p ≤ 0.001, ***). See also Supplemental information, Fig. S1b. c Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1, A.30, B.1.525, and B.1.351 by monoclonal antibodies used for COVID-19 therapy or an unrelated control antibody (Supplemental information, Fig. S1d). Pseudotyped particles were incubated for 30 min at 37 °C in the presence of increasing concentrations (0.00002, 0.0002, 0.002, 0.02, 0.2, 2 µg/ml) of the indicated monoclonal antibodies or an unrelated control antibody before being inoculated onto Vero cells. Infection efficiency was quantified by measuring virus-encoded luciferase activity in cell lysates at 16–18 h postinoculation. Presented are average (mean) data from a single biological replicate (conducted with technical quadruplicates) for which infection was normalized against samples that did not contain antibody (= 0% inhibition). The data were confirmed in a separate independent experiment. Error bars indicate the standard deviation. d Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1, A.30, B.1.525, and B.1.351 by antibodies in convalescent plasma. Pseudotyped particles bearing the indicated S proteins were incubated for 30 min in the presence of different dilutions of convalescent plasma (n = 9). Infection efficiency was determined as described for Fig. 1b and used to calculate the plasma dilution factor leading to a 50% reduction in S protein-driven cell entry (neutralizing titer 50, NT50). Data from a total of nine convalescent plasma samples are presented (black lines and numerical values indicate the median NT50). In addition, for each plasma, the fold reduction in NT50 between SARS-CoV-2 B.1 (set as 1) and the indicated variants was calculated (gray bars indicate the median). The statistical significance of differences between the indicated groups was analyzed by a two-tailed Mann–Whitney test with a 95% confidence level (p > 0.05, ns; p ≤ 0.05, *; p ≤ 0.01, **; p ≤ 0.001, ***). e The experiment was performed as described in Panel d, but serum from ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZ/AZ; n = 23), BNT162b2/BNT162b2 (BNT/BNT; n = 12) or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 (AZ/BNT; n = 6)-vaccinated individuals was investigated. Numbers in the bar graphs "B.1 vs. A.30” and "B.1 vs. B.1.525” indicate the number of overlapping data points (dots)

Full size image

For the analysis of viral entry into cells and its inhibition by antibodies, we employed rhabdoviral pseudotypes bearing the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, an adequate model for studying SARS-CoV-2 entry and neutralization [6]. As targets, we used the Vero and 293T (both kidney-derived), Huh-7 (liver), A549 (lung), Calu-3 (lung), and Caco-2 (colon) cell lines. B.1 entered all cell lines efficiently, and the entry efficiency of B.1.525 was comparable (Fig. 1b and Supplementary information, Fig. S1b). The entry of B.1.351 into several cell lines was slightly but significantly increased, and this phenotype was particularly robust for Calu-3 lung cells, in keeping with published results [3]. Finally, A.30 showed markedly increased efficiency regarding entry into Vero, 293 T, Huh-7, and A549 cells compared to B.1, though entry into Calu-3 and Caco-2 cells was not augmented (Fig. 1b). Testing of monoclonal antibodies directed against the S protein and used for COVID-19 therapy revealed that B.1.351 was resistant to both bamlanivimab and etesevimab, as expected [3] and that B.1.525 was resistant to bamlanivimab (Fig. 1c). A.30 was also bamlanivimab resistant but susceptible to inhibition by a cocktail of bamlanivimab and etesevimab (Fig. 1c). Furthermore, B.1.351 showed markedly reduced neutralization by antibodies induced upon infection, as expected; [3] neutralization evasion by A.30 and B.1.525 was slightly (A.30) to moderately (B.1.525) less efficient (Fig. 1d and Supplementary information, Fig. S2). Conversely, A.30 was more resistant to neutralization by antibodies induced upon homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Vaxzevria) or BNT162b2 (Comirnaty) vaccination compared to B.1.351, but the neutralization sensitivity of B.1.525 was approximately in the same range as that of B.1.351 (Fig. 1e and Supplementary information, Fig. S2 and Table S1). Finally, all variants tested exhibited reduced and comparable evasion of antibodies induced by heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 vaccination, in keeping with findings published for the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant [7].

In summary, A.30 exhibits a cell line preference not observed for other viral variants and efficiently evades neutralization by antibodies elicited by ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BNT162b2 vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 entry into cell lines depends on S protein activation by the cellular proteases cathepsin L or TMPRSS2 [8], and activation by the latter is thought to support viral spread in the lung. Therefore, it is noteworthy that enhanced A.30 entry was observed for cell lines with cathepsin L (Vero, 293 T, Huh-7, A549 cells)—but not TMPRSS2 (Calu-3, Caco-2)-dependent entry [8]. Thus, one could speculate that A.30 might use cathepsin L with increased efficiency and slight (but not statistically significant) resistance of A.30 against the cathepsin L inhibitor MDL 28170 supports this possibility (Supplemental information, Fig. S1c). Notably, robust entry into cell lines was combined with high resistance against antibodies induced upon ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BNT162b2 vaccination. Neutralization resistance exceeded that of the Beta (B.1.351) variant, which is markedly neutralization resistant in cell culture and, in comparison with the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant, is less well inhibited by the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine [9]. Nevertheless, heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 vaccination, which was previously shown to augment neutralizing antibody responses against VOCs compared to corresponding homologous vaccinations [7, 10], might offer robust protection against the A.30 variant. Collectively, our results suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 variant A.30 can evade control by vaccine-induced antibodies and might show an increased capacity to enter cells in a cathepsin L-dependent manner, which might particularly aid in the extrapulmonary spread. As a consequence, the potential spread of the A.30 variant warrants close monitoring and rapid installment of countermeasures.

 

42 minutes ago, Procus said:

 

Replace "Americans" with "congressmen" and yeah pretty much sums up this tweet

41 minutes ago, Procus said:

 

  Media silent

10 hours ago, jsdarkstar said:

In Chicago, More cops have died from Covid in 2020 than were killed in the line of duty. If they won't get vaccinated let them find another job.

This stat is true.  Looks like 4 Chicago Police Department members died in 2020, all were of Covid.  Three were in April, one in November.  This is out of the 12,000+ members. 
 

Looking at 2021, 1 member of that department died so far, from gunfire.  None died of Covid.

8 minutes ago, Procus said:

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, 

Wrong. It was caused by NIH funding questionable research overseas

5 hours ago, mr_hunt said:

https://www.newsweek.com/birx-estimates-trump-admin-could-have-prevented-30-40-percent-covid-deaths-1642753

The Trump administration's former coronavirus advisor, Dr. Deborah Birx, estimated that 30 to 40 percent of the 738,000 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. could have been prevented had the White House taken necessary steps to curb the spread of the virus.

In a closed-door testimony conducted by the House Select Coronavirus Subcommittee on October 12 and 13, Birx testified that more than 130,000 American lives could have been saved if the administration promoted mask-wearing and social distancing in the early days of the pandemic.

"I believe if we had fully implemented the mask mandates, the reduction in indoor dining, the getting friends and family to understand the risk of gathering in private homes, and we had increased testing, that we probably could have decreased fatalities into the 30 percent less to 40 percent less range," Birx said, according to excerpts shared by the committee.

Problem is people were not  going to stop gathering, people were not going to social distance or wear masks forever so eventually the same people would have died. Thinking fatalities would be down 40% less is nonsense. Vaccines came out at the end of the year, no one was doing all those things for that long a period of time. And many of those people that were no going to listen to the government, no matter what administration are anti vaxxers so they would still die

 

21 minutes ago, Procus said:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41423-021-00779-5

 

Not even a variant of concern, move along

23 minutes ago, RPeeteRules said:

This stat is true.  Looks like 4 Chicago Police Department members died in 2020, all were of Covid.  Three were in April, one in November.  This is out of the 12,000+ members. 
 

Looking at 2021, 1 member of that department died so far, from gunfire.  None died of Covid.

It's also true nationally. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-police-officers-leading-cause-death/

8 hours ago, we_gotta_believe said:

It's also true nationally. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-police-officers-leading-cause-death/

Maybe we could put COVID in a hoodie and blackface?

This is reassuring.  

 

Kind of reminds me of the "we have to pass the bill to see what's in it" line. 

11 hours ago, Joe Shades 73 said:

Problem is people were not  going to stop gathering, people were not going to social distance or wear masks forever so eventually the same people would have died. Thinking fatalities would be down 40% less is nonsense. Vaccines came out at the end of the year, no one was doing all those things for that long a period of time. And many of those people that were no going to listen to the government, no matter what administration are anti vaxxers so they would still die

 

If Trump had told his people to do it, they would have done it.  Period.

12 hours ago, Procus said:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41423-021-00779-5

 

If variant A.30 spreads, this means we go back to preventive measures we used before vaccination: facemasks, physical distancing, hygiene, shutdowns, etc.

49 minutes ago, dawkins4prez said:

If Trump had told his people to do it, they would have done it.  Period.

To some degree, but there's one rule that supersedes even Trump: if liberals are doing it, the cult can't do it.  In the past, someone would have made a meme saying that if Democrats took a life-saving vaccine, Republicans would decline it as a hyperbolic example of how insanely stupid and anti-left (even at the expense of common sense and their own lives) the right is, but now that meme's a reality.

4 minutes ago, VanHammersly said:

To some degree, but there's one rule that supersedes even Trump: if liberals are doing it, the cult can't do it.  In the past, someone would have made a meme saying that if Democrats took a life-saving vaccine, Republicans would decline it as a hyperbolic example of how insanely stupid and anti-left (even at the expense of common sense and their own lives) the right is, but now that meme's a reality.

The other cat let out of the bag, is that by supporting Alex Jones, et al, Trump made bat-crap crazy, tin-foil hat wearing, foaming the mouth, dipshittery, mainstream.

Those people are out now. They like the attention. They like being heard and recognized.

 

Look at Kz!

12 hours ago, RPeeteRules said:

This stat is true.  Looks like 4 Chicago Police Department members died in 2020, all were of Covid.  Three were in April, one in November.  This is out of the 12,000+ members. 
 

Looking at 2021, 1 member of that department died so far, from gunfire.  None died of Covid.

That always seemed like a really strange own on police in the first place. Uh yeah, less cops are dying from gunshot wounds than Covid/heart attacks/cancer/etc. That's kind of to be expected, right? But ishlibs got a hold of the stat and freaked out with giddiness. Very strange. 

1 minute ago, Toastrel said:

The other cat let out of the bag, is that by supporting Alex Jones, et al, Trump made bat-crap crazy, tin-foil hat wearing, foaming the mouth, dipshittery, mainstream.

Those people are out now. They like the attention. They like being heard and recognized.

 

Look at Kz!

Would you say they crave attention more than dudes who post bikini pictures of their daughter online or less?  

1 minute ago, Kz! said:

That always seemed like a really strange own on police in the first place. Uh yeah, less cops are dying from gunshot wounds than Covid/heart attacks/cancer/etc. That's kind of to be expected, right? But ishlibs got a hold of the stat and freaked out with giddiness. Very strange. 

What a weird interpretation of a pretty straight forward issue.  No one was trying to "own" the police.  They were trying to get cops to take a life-saving vaccine.  Cops take great steps to protect themselves in the line of duty.  Vaccination is obviously an extension of that.

2 minutes ago, VanHammersly said:

What a weird interpretation of a pretty straight forward issue.  No one was trying to "own" the police.  They were trying to get cops to take a life-saving vaccine.  Cops take great steps to protect themselves in the line of duty.  Vaccination is obviously an extension of that.

Oh, yeah, if they want the vaccine they should definitely get it. If they don't, they shouldn't be forced into unemployment. Seems like a relatively straightforward issue. 

1 minute ago, Kz! said:

Oh, yeah, if they want the vaccine they should definitely get it. If they don't, they shouldn't be forced into unemployment. Seems like a relatively straightforward issue. 

Cops follow a lot of protocols in the name of public safety.  If they're not willing to do their jobs properly then they're free to find a new job.  

1 minute ago, VanHammersly said:

Cops follow a lot of protocols in the name of public safety.  If they're not willing to do their jobs properly then they're free to find a new job.  

Wow, sounds like you really care about their safety and well-being. The disturbing part is they think they're the good guys. 

4 minutes ago, Kz! said:

Wow, sounds like you really care about their safety and well-being. The disturbing part is they think they're the good guys. 

Obviously, like everyone else that isn't as aggressively stupid as you are, I care about the public's safety and well-being first and foremost.  That's the whole point of having cops.  Much like I wouldn't want cops with open sores all over their bodies, not wipe their a** after they take a sheet or vomit blood on people in the streets, I expect cops to not, you know, intentionally spread diseases.  I'm weird like that.  If they're too terrible at their jobs to take basic hygienic precautions in the name of public safety (and their own) then they're free to either find a new profession or move to Florida where Desantis is making it rain taxpayer money in the name of stocking their police force with incompetent cops.

9 minutes ago, Kz! said:

Wow, sounds like you really care about their safety and well-being. The disturbing part is they think they're the good guys. 

Also, on an unrelated note, I'm fascinated by your use of pronouns here.  "Their" is in reference to the police, obviously.  But then you use "they" in reference to either me or just the general left (which obviously I represent as we all know).  So, the second sentence is you talking to me in the third person?  Or the second sentence isn't for me, it's for the group?

3 minutes ago, VanHammersly said:

Obviously, like everyone else that isn't as aggressively stupid as you are, I care about the public's safety and well-being first and foremost.  That's the whole point of having cops.  Much like I wouldn't want cops with open sores all over their bodies, not wipe their a** after they take a sheet or vomit blood on people in the streets, I expect cops to not, you know, intentionally spread diseases.  I'm weird like that.  If they're too terrible at their jobs to take basic hygienic precautions in the name of public safety (and their own) then they're free to either find a new profession or move to Florida where Desantis is making it rain taxpayer money in the name of stocking their police force with incompetent cops.

And this couldn't be accomplished with testing? Assuming all the cops who oppose forced vaccinations are "incompetent" is also aggressively retarded. 

10 minutes ago, Kz! said:

And this couldn't be accomplished with testing? Assuming all the cops who oppose forced vaccinations are "incompetent" is also aggressively retarded. 

Sure, we could do that, just like we could constantly test cops who don't wipe their a** after they take a sheet to make sure their loose fecal matter isn't spreading disease to the public, or we could all understand that if a cop is so unconcerned with the public safety, the safety of their fellow officers or even their own safety to take even the most basic hygienic precautions then they're completely unfit to be a police officer.