Covid variants can reinfect virus survivors

In this illustration, taken on October 30, 2020, a woman has a small bottle labeled with the “Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine” sticker. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / File Photo

The following is a summary of some of the latest scientific research on the new coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for the virus-induced disease COVID-19.

Brazilian variants that are more likely to reinfect survivors

New data suggest that coronavirus variants that are endemic in Brazil are more likely to reinfect those who survived the previous version of the coronavirus. A variant that emerged in Brazil, called P.1, is already known to make it difficult to treat the mutants prevalent in South Africa with antibodies and prevent them from being prevented with available vaccines. I have a mutation. New data suggest that in many recovered patients, immunity to previous versions of the virus will not immunize to P.1. Researchers have tested the ability of antibodies to neutralize antibodies in plasma samples taken from survivors of COVID-19 caused by previous versions of the virus. Plasma was “one-sixth less capable of neutralizing” the P.1 variant than previous virus versions, researchers said Monday in a peer review on a preprint server belonging to the Lancet Journal. I reported it in advance. “The low neutralizing capacity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and partial immunity to new mutants suggests that reinfection may occur in convalescent and vaccinated individuals. “The authors said. In another paper submitted to medRxiv on Wednesday prior to peer review, some of the same researchers were exposed to P.1 for every 100 survivors of COVID-19 due to a previous virus version. It was estimated that 25 to 60 could be re-infected in some cases. Deformation because those antibodies could not protect them. As of Thursday, there are 13 cases of COVID-19 with P.1 in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Https://bit.ly/2PyNFGt; https://bit.ly/3qeqq1a)

COVID-19 vaccine antibody infects breast milk

Small studies suggest that COVID-19 antibodies induced by the Pfizer Inc / BioNTech and Moderna Inc vaccines can infect breast milk, but it is not yet clear how long the antibodies will be present. .. Six breastfeeding mothers who planned to receive both Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna vaccines provided researchers with milk samples before and after vaccination, with the last sample being 2 of the second vaccination. Collected after a week. No woman was infected with the coronavirus. One week after the first shot, all women’s milk contained COVID-19 antibody. After that, antibody levels dropped slightly and increased sharply after the second shot. Although antibody levels vary from woman to woman, the two vaccines were equally effective in inducing antibodies, the research team reported on Tuesday in medRxiv prior to a peer review. “Further research is needed on the lifespan of antibody reactions in breast milk and the magnitude and duration of the effect of the virus on the baby’s immunity,” the researchers said. (Https://bit.ly/3kNOPJP)

Common neurological problems in hospitalized children with COVID-19

Although most children and adolescents are exempt from severe COVID-19, researchers have found that transient neurological effects are common among those requiring hospitalization. In their study of 1,695 patients under the age of 21 hospitalized for COVID-19 or a COVID-19-related disorder known as multisystem inflammation syndrome, 365 (or 22%) had neurological complications. Of these, 43 (12%) had life-threatening neurological complications. Disorders such as stroke and central nervous system infections. Other neurological effects included seizures, headaches, weakness, loss of smell and taste, changes in consciousness or confusion. According to a report published Friday at JAMA Neurology, the neurological involvement of most patients was transient and resolved by the time they were discharged. The authors said that the extent and rate of neurological complications may underestimate the actual problem, as they studied only children in hospital. They said more research is needed to determine the true incidence and to track these children over the long term. (Https://bit.ly/2PCxXKC)

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