Immunology Sponsored by Beckman Coulter
Are T cells more important than antibodies in COVID-19?
A new study stressed the importance of a multilayered, virus-specific immune response for controlling SARS-CoV-2 during acute COVID-19, with an emphasis on the critical nature of T cells over antibodies during the process. The work was published in Cell on September 16.  Discuss
How willing are U.S. adults to accept a COVID-19 vaccine?
A recent online survey of adults residing in the U.S. found that close to 70% of those surveyed would accept a COVID-19 vaccine if one were widely available. The study findings were published in the journal Vaccine on August 20.  Discuss
New technique reins in inflammatory response of adjuvants
Adjuvants are often added to vaccines as a method for promoting an immune response in recipients. But what happens when that immune response goes haywire, causing too much inflammation? Researchers believe that adding an "immune potentiator" to adjuvants that strengthens the immune reaction and modulates excess inflammation could lead to vaccines that are better tolerated in humans, according to a September 9 article in Science Advances.  Discuss
Experts draw lessons from FDA's hydroxychloroquine EUA controversy
Public health and regulatory experts advocated for changes to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA) process in a viewpoint published online August 31 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. They offer a set of recommendations to improve the process going forward as more COVID-19 vaccines and treatments emerge.  Discuss
Protein engineering creates highly potent experimental SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
A bioengineering technique that utilizes various naturally occurring sequences and de novo design of messenger RNA (mRNA) components was applied to develop an mRNA-based vaccine that could be highly effective against SARS-CoV-2, according to a new article published in Advanced Materials on September 2.  Discuss
New mouse-adapted model helps accelerate COVID-19 vaccines, therapies
A new mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 model developed with engineered virus can help accelerate vaccine and therapeutic candidates to clinical trials. The results of the preclinical studies were published in Nature on August 27.  Discuss
Will a COVID-19 vaccine really let us go 'back to normal'?
Will the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine be enough to allow society to go "back to normal" in the near future? The answer to that question depends on a wide range of variables, such as how effective the vaccine is and how many people get vaccinated, according to an article published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine on August 25.  Discuss
Pharmacists issue guidance for mass COVID-19 vaccination
As society prepares for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has issued 10 guiding principles for development, distribution, allocation, and oversight of vaccines. The guidelines build on the organization's research and best practices expertise in pandemic preparedness, supply chain management, distribution, and clinical practice.  Discuss
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein hinges like leg joints to seek receptors
New research demonstrates that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein may be more flexible than previously thought, with hinges similar to leg joints to seek receptors on a host, according to a new article published in Science on August 18. Understanding molecular dynamics of how the spike protein functions could have implications in therapeutic and vaccine design.  Discuss
Early trials show potential of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is making progress on BNT162b1, a COVID-19 vaccine candidate that is undergoing development and for which the U.S. government has secured access to 300 million doses in 2021. The results of the phase I/II clinical trials were published in Nature on August 12.  Discuss
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September 21-25
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