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<title>03 March, 2021</title>
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<title>Covid-19 Sentry</title><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" name="viewport"/><link href="styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><link href="../styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><link href="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.css" rel="stylesheet"/><script src="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.js"></script></head>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="covid-19-sentry">Covid-19 Sentry</h1>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
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<li><a href="#from-preprints">From Preprints</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-pubmed">From PubMed</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-patent-search">From Patent Search</a></li>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-preprints">From Preprints</h1>
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<li><strong>Recent changes in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers</strong> -
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Introduction. Early COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates suggest that up to one-third of HCWs may be vaccine-hesitant. However, it is unclear whether hesitancy among HCWs has improved with time and if there are temporal changes whether these differ by healthcare worker role. Methods. In October 2020, a brief survey was sent to all participants in the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes (HERO) Registry with a yes/no question regarding vaccination under emergency use authorization (EUA): “If an FDA emergency use-approved vaccine to prevent coronavirus/COVID-19 was available right now at no cost, would you agree to be vaccinated?” The poll was repeated in December 2020, with the same question sent to all registry participants. Willingness was defined as a “Yes” response, and hesitancy was defined as a “No” response. Participants were stratified into clinical care roles. Baseline demographics of survey respondents at each timepoint were compared using appropriate univariate statistics (chi-squared and t-tests). Analyses were descriptive, with frequencies and percentages reported for each category. Results. Of 4882 HERO active registry participants during September 1-October 31, 2020, 2070 (42.4%) completed the October survey, and n=1541 (31.6%) completed the December survey. 70.2% and 67.7% who were in clinical care roles, respectively. In October, 54.2% of HCWs in clinical roles said they would take an EUA-approved vaccine, which increased to 76.2% in December. The largest gain in vaccine willingness was observed among physicians, 64.0% of whom said they would take a vaccine in October, compared with 90.5% in December. Nurses were the least likely to report that they would take a vaccine in both October (46.6%) and December (66.9%). We saw no statistically significant differences in age, race/ethnicity, gender, or medical role between time points. When restricting to the 998 participants who participated at both time points, 69% were vaccine-willing at both time points; 15% were hesitant at both time points, 13% who were hesitant in October were willing in December; and 2.9% who were willing in October were hesitant in December. Conclusions. In a set of cross-sectional surveys of vaccine acceptance among healthcare workers, willingness improved substantially over 2 calendar months during which the US had a presidential election and two vaccine manufacturers released top-line Phase 3 trial results. While improved willingness was observed in all role categories, nurses reported the most vaccine hesitancy at both time points.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.01.21252457v1" target="_blank">Recent changes in COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Healthcare Workers</a>
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</div></li>
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<li><strong>Accounting for health inequities in the design of contact tracing interventions: a rapid review</strong> -
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Context: Contact tracing has been a central COVID-19 transmission control measure. However, without the consideration of the needs of specific populations, public health interventions can exacerbate health inequities. Purpose: The purpose of this rapid review was to determine if and how health inequities were included in the design of contact tracing interventions in epidemic settings. Method: We conducted a search of the electronic databases MEDLINE and Web of Science. Our inclusion criteria included articles that: (i) described the design of contact tracing interventions, (ii) have been published between 2013 and 2020 in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, or Portuguese, (iii) and included at least 50% of empiricism, according to the Automated Classifier of Texts on Scientific Studies (ATCER) tool. We relied on various tools to extract data. Result: Following the titles and abstracts screening of 230 articles, 39 articles met the inclusion criteria. Only seven references were retained after full text review. None of the selected studies considered health inequities in the design of contact tracing interventions. Conclusion: The use of tools/concepts for incorporating health inequities, such as the REFLEX-ISS tool, and 9proportionate universalism9 when designing contact tracing interventions, would enable practitioners, decision makers, and researchers to better consider health inequities.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.01.21252692v1" target="_blank">Accounting for health inequities in the design of contact tracing interventions: a rapid review</a>
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</div></li>
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<li><strong>Efficacy of AYUSH 64 as add-on therapy in early stage COVID 19 - An open-label randomized controlled pilot study</strong> -
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Background: Efficacy of AYUSH 64 has been proven in fever and influenza-like illness earlier. Hence it was felt it should be evaluated in COVID 19 which has similar symptom complex. Aim: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of AYUSH 64 as an add-on to standard care in early stage COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods: After obtaining IEC permission, a single centre, randomized, open labelled, controlled, pilot study was undertaken. Asymptomatic to mild COVID 19 (RT-PCR positive) patients, who gave written informed consent, were randomly allotted either AYUSH 64 for 14 days as an add-on treatment to standard care or standalone standard care. The outcomes variables were changes in WHO ordinal scale for clinical improvement, incidence of development of COVID symptoms, use of oxygen therapy, use of mechanical ventilator, duration of total symptomatic phase, adverse drug reaction, death and changes in laboratory values. Results: Among total 115 screened, 80 participants were included, out of which 41 received AYUSH 64 in addition to standard care and 39 only standard care. The mean final WHO score was comparable for both the Groups, however, mean scores in the interventional Group showed downward trend from 7th day onwards as compared to the control Group. Difference in laboratory values and need for oxygen were not statistically significant in both the Groups. No incidence of the requirement of a mechanical ventilator, adverse drug reaction, and death were observed in either of the Groups. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that an integrated approach of AYUSH 64 with standard care did not exert promising difference in core outcomes of COVID-19 when compare to standalone standard care. However, a trend towards lower values was observed in the symptoms in AYUSH 64 add-on group in comparison to standalone standard care.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/t8wza/" target="_blank">Efficacy of AYUSH 64 as add-on therapy in early stage COVID 19 - An open-label randomized controlled pilot study</a>
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<li><strong>Add-on Ayurveda Treatment for early stage COVID-19: A single centre retrospective cohort study from Gujarat, India</strong> -
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The retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of Ayurveda treatment exposure as an add-on to conventional care in early stage COVID-19 patients admitted at Samaras COVID care centre, Ahmedabad, India. Conventional care included Vitamin-c, Azithromycin, and Paracetamol. Ayurveda formulations used as add-on were Dashamula and Pathyadi decoctions along with Trikatu powder, Sanshamani tablet, AYUSH -64 tablet AND Yastimadhu Ghana tablet for oral administration. Considering Add-on Ayurveda medicines as exposure of interest, patients who received Add-on Ayurveda medicines at least for seven days were included in the exposed group while those who received only conventional care in unexposed group. Data was collected through record review and telephonic interviews. The outcomes of interest were the development of symptoms, duration of symptomatic phase in those progressing to symptomatic stage and mortality. Total 762 participants were included [541 (71%) in the exposed group and 221 (29%) in the unexposed]. Progression to symptomatic phase did not differ significantly between groups [27.6 % in exposed, 24.6% in unexposed, adjusted RR 0.85; 95% CI 0.6-1.2]. The total duration of symptomatic phase among those progressing to the symptomatic stage was significantly decreased in the exposed group (x̅= 3.66±1.55 days in exposed (n=133); x̅= 5.34±3.35 days in unexposed (n=61), p<0.001). No mortality was observed in either of the groups. Ayurveda Treatment as adjunctive to conventional care reduced the duration of symptomatic phase in early stage COVID 19 as compared to standalone conventional care. Add-on Ayurveda treatment has promising potential for management of early stage COVID-19.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://osf.io/2ta3j/" target="_blank">Add-on Ayurveda Treatment for early stage COVID-19: A single centre retrospective cohort study from Gujarat, India</a>
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<li><strong>Performance evaluation of the Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay</strong> -
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Background: The Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics International Ltd, Rotkreuz, Switzerland) has been developed for the <i>in vitro</i> quantitative detection of antibodies to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein. We evaluated the performance of this assay using samples from seven sites in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Methods: Anonymized frozen, residual serum, or plasma samples from blood donation centers or routine diagnostic testing were used for this study. For specificity and sensitivity analyses, presumed negative samples collected before October 2019 and SARS-CoV-2 PCR-confirmed single or sequential samples were tested, respectively. The performance of the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay was also compared with other commercial immunoassays. Results: The overall specificity (n=7880 pre-pandemic samples) and sensitivity (n=240 PCR-positive samples [≥14 days post-PCR]) for the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay were 99.95% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 99.87–99.99) and 97.92% (95% CI: 95.21–99.32), respectively. Compared with seven other immunoassays, the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay had comparable or greater specificity and sensitivity. The Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay had significantly higher specificity compared with the LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG, ADVIA Centaur® SARS-CoV-2 Total, ARCHITECT SARS-CoV-2 IgG, iFlash-SARS-CoV-2 IgM, and EUROIMMUN Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA assays, and significantly higher sensitivity (≥14 days post-PCR) compared with the ARCHITECT SARS-CoV-2 IgG, iFlash-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM, and EUROIMMUN Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG assays. Conclusion: The Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay demonstrated a robust and favorable performance across samples from multiple European sites, with a very high specificity and sensitivity for the detection of anti-S antibodies.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.02.21252203v1" target="_blank">Performance evaluation of the Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S immunoassay</a>
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<li><strong>Cytoplasmic domain and enzymatic activity of ACE2 is not required for PI4KB dependent endocytosis entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells</strong> -
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The recent COVID-19 pandemic poses a global health emergency. Cellular entry of the causative agent SARS-CoV-2 is mediated by its spike protein interacting with cellular receptor- human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Here, we used lentivirus based pseudotypes bearing spike protein to demonstrate that entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells is dependent on clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and phosphoinositides play essential role during this process. In addition, we showed that the intracellular domain and the catalytic activity of ACE2 is not required for efficient virus entry. These results provide new insights into SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry and present potential targets for drug development.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.01.433503v1" target="_blank">Cytoplasmic domain and enzymatic activity of ACE2 is not required for PI4KB dependent endocytosis entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells</a>
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<li><strong>Natural Selection as the Sum over all Histories and a Differential Equation for Environmental Coevolution.</strong> -
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As evolution can be connected to the principle of least action, and if it is depicted in evolution-space versus time then it corresponds to the direction of ultimate causation. As an organism evolves and follows a path of proximate causation, if the vector is closely parallel to that of the Ultimate Causation then the changes will confer desirable attributes which will lead to further development. If, however, the variations do not occur in a direction close to that of the ultimate causation vector the evolved organism will quickly die out. This may be viewed as similar to Feynmans sum over all histories. Therefore, the principle of least action gives a direction, but not a purpose, to evolution. Taking the coevolution model of Lewontin, an equation of motion for environmental coevolution shows that it is the rate of evolutionary change that responds to changes in the environment. Unfortunately, it is not possible to compare the theory with viral or bacterial mutation rates, as these are not measured on a time base. However, there is some preliminary evidence from recent Covid-19 studies that the model maybe correct. There is positive evidence from population level avian studies. Further analysis shows that the rate of change of the coefficient of additive evolvability (Cav) and its square ( IA) with environmental favourability are linear, which could help in defining the Lagrangian of the environmental effects. However, this is potentially bad news for Covid-19 as. although the data is not yet available, as the stress on the environment for the virus increases due to the vaccination programme, then the mutation rate will increase, and we are in a continual catch-up scenario as with the influenza virus.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.24.432748v2" target="_blank">Natural Selection as the Sum over all Histories and a Differential Equation for Environmental Coevolution.</a>
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<li><strong>Investigation of ventilation conditions associated with CO2 concentration changes in ultrasonographic exam room from the perspective of COVID-19 infection control</strong> -
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Objectives Ventilation is an important factor in preventing COVID-19 infection. To clarify the state of ventilation in ultrasonic exam rooms, as an index of ventilation rate, the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in our exam rooms was measured. Methods We measured the CO2 concentration in each exam room before the examination and 0-15 minutes after end of the exam. The subjects were 70 cases (abdomen: 24, breast: 16, neck: 16, and musculoskeletal: 14). In infant cases, one parent accompanied the patient during the examination. Results The highest CO2 concentration was 2261 ppm, observed after the breast examination. In all cases, the CO2 concentration in the exam room was highest immediately after the examination or two minutes after. Almost all cases had recovered to within 120% of the pre-examination CO2 concentrations within 15 minutes after the examination. The average CO2 concentration after ultrasonography was significantly higher for breast examinations than others. Conclusions Even in a hospital with modern ventilation equipment, the CO2 concentration in the ultrasound room was high after the exam and it takes 15 minutes to recover to the pre-exam state. Care must be taken to ensure adequate ventilation in ultrasonographic facilities.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.01.21252598v1" target="_blank">Investigation of ventilation conditions associated with CO2 concentration changes in ultrasonographic exam room from the perspective of COVID-19 infection control</a>
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<li><strong>High Initial Titres of Anti-Spike Antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 Infection is Associated with Faster Decay Rates at Four Months Follow-Up</strong> -
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Background Dynamics of humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 antigens following infection suggests an initial decay of antibody followed by subsequent stabilization. We aim to understand the longitudinal humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and spike (S) protein and to evaluate their correlation to clinical symptoms among healthcare workers (HCW). Methods In this cross-sectional longitudinal cohort study done in two phases over four months, HCW underwent serial qualitative serology testing for anti-N antibody, quantitative MSH-ELISA to detect Receptor Binding Domain and full-length S reactive antibodies and completed online surveys about COVID-19 related symptoms and healthcare/community exposure. Results Anti-N antibody positivity was 27% and anti-S positivity was 28% in Phase 1. In Phase 2 anti-S titres were higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic positive subjects in Phase 1. Marginally higher titers were seen in asymptomatic compared to the symptomatic positive subgroup in Phase 2. A positive correlation was noted between age, number and duration of symptoms, and Phase 1 anti-S antibody titre. A strong correlation was observed between Phase 1 titers and decay of anti-S antibody titres between the two phases. Significant correlation with rate of decay was also noted with fever, GI symptoms, and total number and duration of COVID-19 symptoms. Conclusions Higher initial anti-S antibody titres were associated with larger number and longer duration of symptoms as well as faster decay during the two time points.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.02.21252362v1" target="_blank">High Initial Titres of Anti-Spike Antibodies following SARS-CoV-2 Infection is Associated with Faster Decay Rates at Four Months Follow-Up</a>
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<li><strong>Safety and Immunogenicity Evaluation of Inactivated whole-virus-SARS-COV-2 In Mice As Emerging Vaccine Development In Egypt</strong> -
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The current worldwide pandemic COVID-19 is causing severe human health problems, with high numbers of mortality rates and huge economic burdens that require an urgent demand for safe, and effective and vaccine development. Our study was the first trail to development and evaluation of safety and immune response to inactivated whole SARS-COV-2 virus vaccine adjuvanted with aluminium hydroxide. We used characterized SARS-COV-2 strain, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 isolates (SARS-CoV-2/human/EGY/Egy-SERVAC/2020) with accession numbers; MT981440; MT981439; MT981441; MT974071; MT974069 and MW250352 at GenBank that isolated from Egyptian patients SARS-CoV-2-positive. Development of the vaccine was carried out in a BSL - 3 facilities and the immunogenicity was determined in mice at two doses (55ug and 100ug per dose). All vaccinated mice were received a booster dose 14 days post first immunization. Our results demonstrated distinct cytopathic effect on the vero cell monolayers induced through SARS-COV-2 propagation and the viral particles were identified as Coronaviridae by transmission electron microscopy. SARS-CoV-2 was identified by RT-PCR performed on the cell culture. Immunogenicity of the developed vaccine indicated the high antigen-binding and neutralizing antibody titers, regardless the dose concentration, with excellent safety profiles. However, no deaths or clinical symptoms in mice groups. The efficacy of the inactivated vaccine formulation was tested by wild virus challenge the vaccinated mice and detection of viral replication in lung tissues. Vaccinated mice recorded complete protection from challenge infection three weeks post second dose. SARS-COV-2 replication was not observed in the lungs of mice following SARS-CoV-2 challenge, regardless of the level of serum neutralizing antibodies. This finding will support the future trials for evaluation an applicable SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.01.433130v1" target="_blank">Safety and Immunogenicity Evaluation of Inactivated whole-virus-SARS-COV-2 In Mice As Emerging Vaccine Development In Egypt</a>
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<li><strong>Fragment-based computational design of antibodies targeting structured epitopes</strong> -
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De novo design methods hold the promise of reducing the time and cost of antibody discovery, while enabling the facile and precise targeting of specific epitopes. Here we describe a fragment-based method for the combinatorial design of antibody binding loops and their grafting onto antibody scaffolds. We designed and tested six single-domain antibodies targeting different epitopes on three antigens, including the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Biophysical characterisation showed that all designs are highly stable, and bind their intended targets with affinities in the nanomolar range without any in vitro affinity maturation. We further show that a high-resolution input antigen structure is not required, as our method yields similar predictions when the input is a crystal structure or a computer-generated model. This computational procedure, which readily runs on a laptop, provides the starting point for the rapid generation of lead antibodies binding to pre-selected epitopes.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.02.433360v1" target="_blank">Fragment-based computational design of antibodies targeting structured epitopes</a>
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<li><strong>High-content screening of coronavirus genes for innate immune suppression revealsenhanced potency of SARS-CoV-2 proteins</strong> -
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Suppression of the host intracellular innate immune system is an essential aspect of viral replication. Here, we developed a suite of medium-throughput high-content cell-based assays to reveal the effect of individual coronavirus proteins on antiviral innate immune pathways. Using these assays, we screened the 196 protein products of seven coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2,SARS-CoV-1, 229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1 and MERS). This includes a previously unidentified gene in SARS-CoV-2 encoded within the Spike gene. We observe immune-suppressing activity in both known host-suppressing genes (e.g., NSP1, Orf6, NSP3, and NSP5) as well as other coronavirus genes, including the newly identified SARS-CoV-2 protein. Moreover, the genes encoded by SARS-CoV-2 are generally more potent immune suppressors than their homologues from the other coronaviruses. This suite of pathway-based and mechanism-agnostic assays could serve as the basis for rapid in vitro prediction of the pathogenicity of novel viruses based on provision of sequence information alone.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.02.433434v1" target="_blank">High-content screening of coronavirus genes for innate immune suppression revealsenhanced potency of SARS-CoV-2 proteins</a>
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<li><strong>Vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and AS03 Adjuvant Induces Rapid Anamnestic Antibodies in the Lung and Protects Against Virus Challenge in Nonhuman Primates</strong> -
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Adjuvanted soluble protein vaccines have been used extensively in humans for protection against various viral infections based on their robust induction of antibody responses. Here, soluble prefusion-stabilized spike trimers (preS dTM) from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) were formulated with the adjuvant AS03 and administered twice to nonhuman primates (NHP). Binding and functional neutralization assays and systems serology revealed that NHP developed AS03-dependent multi-functional humoral responses that targeted multiple spike domains and bound to a variety of antibody FC receptors mediating effector functions in vitro. Pseudovirus and live virus neutralizing IC50 titers were on average greater than 1000 and significantly higher than a panel of human convalescent sera. NHP were challenged intranasally and intratracheally with a high dose (3x106 PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 (USA-WA1/2020 isolate). Two days post-challenge, vaccinated NHP showed rapid control of viral replication in both the upper and lower airways. Notably, vaccinated NHP also had increased spike-specific IgG antibody responses in the lung as early as 2 days post challenge. Moreover, vaccine-induced IgG mediated protection from SARS-CoV-2 challenge following passive transfer to hamsters. These data show that antibodies induced by the AS03-adjuvanted preS dTM vaccine are sufficient to mediate protection against SARS-CoV-2 and support the evaluation of this vaccine in human clinical trials.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.02.433390v1" target="_blank">Vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and AS03 Adjuvant Induces Rapid Anamnestic Antibodies in the Lung and Protects Against Virus Challenge in Nonhuman Primates</a>
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<li><strong>High resolution profiling of MHC-II peptide presentation capacity, by Mammalian Epitope Display, reveals SARS-CoV-2 targets for CD4 T cells and mechanisms of immune-escape</strong> -
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Understanding the mechanisms of immune evasion is critical for formulating an effective response to global threats like SARS-CoV2. We have fully decoded the immune synapses for multiple TCRs from acute patients, including cognate peptides and the presenting HLA alleles. Furthermore, using a newly developed mammalian epitope display platform (MEDi), we determined that several mutations present in multiple viral isolates currently expanding across the globe, resulted in reduced presentation by multiple HLA class II alleles, while some increased presentation, suggesting immune evasion based on shifting MHC-II peptide presentation landscapes. In support, we found that one of the mutations present in B1.1.7 viral strain could cause escape from CD4 T cell recognition in this way. Given the importance of understanding such mechanisms more broadly, we used MEDi to generate a comprehensive analysis of the presentability of all SARS-CoV-2 peptides in the context of multiple common HLA class II molecules. Unlike other strategies, our approach is sensitive and scalable, providing an unbiased and affordable high-resolution map of peptide presentation capacity for any MHC-II allele. Such information is essential to provide insight into T cell immunity across distinct HLA haplotypes across geographic and ethnic populations. This knowledge is critical for the development of effective T cell therapeutics not just against COVID-19, but any disease.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.02.433522v1" target="_blank">High resolution profiling of MHC-II peptide presentation capacity, by Mammalian Epitope Display, reveals SARS-CoV-2 targets for CD4 T cells and mechanisms of immune-escape</a>
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</div></li>
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<li><strong>Perturbation of ACE2 structural ensembles by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding</strong> -
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The human ACE2 enzyme serves as a critical first recognition point of coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. In particular, the extracellular domain of ACE2 interacts directly with the S1 tailspike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virion through a broad protein-protein interface. Although this interaction has been characterized by X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM, these structures do not reveal significant differences in ACE2 structure upon S1 protein binding. In this work, using several all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we show persistent differences in ACE2 structure upon binding. These differences are determined with the Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) machine learning method and validated using independent training and testing datasets, including long trajectories generated by D. E. Shaw Research on the Anton 2 supercomputer. In addition, long trajectories for 78 potent ACE2-binding compounds, also generated by D. E. Shaw Research, were projected onto the LDA classification vector in order to determine whether the ligand-bound ACE2 structures were compatible with S1 protein binding. This allows us to predict which compounds are “apo-like” vs “complex-like”, as well as to pinpoint long-range ligand-induced allosteric changes of ACE2 structure.
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🖺 Full Text HTML: <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.02.433608v1" target="_blank">Perturbation of ACE2 structural ensembles by SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding</a>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-clinical-trials">From Clinical Trials</h1>
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<ul>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>COVID-19 Antithrombotic Rivaroxaban Evaluation</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>: Drug: Rivaroxaban 10 mg<br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz; Bayer; Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein; Hospital do Coracao; Hospital Sirio-Libanes; Hospital Moinhos de Vento; Brazilian Research In Intensive Care Network; Brazilian Clinical Research Institute<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Clinical Study in the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: Molixan; Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>: Pharma VAM<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Safety and Efficacy Study of Human Monoclonal Antibodies, BRII-196 and BRII-198 for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: BRII-196 and BRII-198; Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>: Brii Biosciences, Inc.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Protecting Native Families From COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing; Behavioral: COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring System; Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing and COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring System; Other: Supportive Services<br/><b>Sponsor</b>: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Safety and Efficacy of Thymic Peptides in the Treatment of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Honduras</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Intervention</b>: Biological: Thymic peptides<br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Universidad Católica de Honduras; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>(CBDRA60) to Prevent or Reduce Symptoms of COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Dietary Supplement: CBDRA60 supplement; Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Anewsha Therapeutics Inc.; University of Michigan; Biologics Consulting<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Study to Evaluate UB-612 COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescent, Younger and Elderly Adult Volunteers</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Biological: UB-612; Biological: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>: United Biomedical Inc., Asia; COVAXX<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of ATR-002 in Adult Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: ATR-002; Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>: Atriva Therapeutics GmbH<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>JS016 (Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody)With Mild and Moderate COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 Asymptomatic Infection Subects</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Biological: Recombinant Human Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibody(25mg/kg;50mg/kg;100mg/kg); Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>: Shanghai Junshi Bioscience Co., Ltd.<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Study of the Tolerability, Safety, Immunogenicity and Preventive Efficacy of the EpiVacCorona Vaccine for the Prevention of COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Biological: EpiVacCorona (EpiVacCorona vaccine based on peptide antigens for the prevention of COVID-19); Other: Placebo (sodium chloride, a 0.9% solution for the preparation of dosage forms for injections)<br/><b>Sponsor</b>: Federal Budgetary Research Institution State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”<br/><b>Active, not recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>COVID-19 Treatment Cascade Optimization Study</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19 Testing<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Behavioral: Navigation Services; Behavioral: Critical Dialogue; Behavioral: Brief Counseling; Behavioral: Referral and Digital Brochure<br/><b>Sponsors</b>: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; North Jersey Community Research Initiative; National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD); University of Michigan<br/><b>Recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Adoptive SARS-CoV-2 Specific T Cell Transfer in Patients at Risk for Severe COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: Moderate COVID-19-infection<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: IMP 1,000 plus SoC; Drug: IMP 5,000 plus SoC; Drug: IMP RP2D plus SoC; Drug: SoC<br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Universitätsklinikum Köln; ZKS Köln; MMH Institute for Transfusion Medicine; Miltenyi Biomedicine GmbH<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A Safety and Immunogenicity Study of Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cells) in Healthy Population Aged 18 Years and Above(COVID-19)</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: COVID-19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Biological: medium dosage inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; Biological: high dosage inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; Biological: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsors</b>: Beijing Minhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd; Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co., LTD; Jiangsu Province Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<br/><b>Active, not recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Study to Evaluate a Single Dose of STI-2020 (COVI-AMG™) in Hospitalized Adults With COVID-19</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Biological: COVI-AMG; Drug: Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>: Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Safety and Efficacy of FB2001 in Healthy Subjects and Patients With COVID-19 Infection</strong> - <b>Condition</b>: Covid19<br/><b>Interventions</b>: Drug: FB2001; Drug: FB2001 Placebo<br/><b>Sponsor</b>: Frontier Biotechnologies Inc.<br/><b>Not yet recruiting</b></p></li>
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</ul>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-pubmed">From PubMed</h1>
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<ul>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Targeting the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2: From the Establishment of High Throughput Screening to the Design of Tailored Inhibitors</strong> - The main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro), the causative agent of COVID-19, constitutes a significant drug target. A new fluorogenic substrate was kinetically compared to an internally quenched fluorescent peptide and shown to be ideally suitable for high throughput screening with recombinantly expressed Mpro. Two classes of protease inhibitors, azanitriles and pyridyl esters, were identified, optimized and subjected to in-depth biochemical characterization. Tailored peptides equipped with the…</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Targeting the Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Protein through GSK-3 Inhibition</strong> - The coronaviruses responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), and other coronavirus infections express a nucleocapsid protein (N) that is essential for viral replication, transcription, and virion assembly. Phosphorylation of N from SARS-CoV by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is required for its function and inhibition of GSK-3 with lithium impairs N phosphorylation, viral transcription, and replication….</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The type 2 asthma mediator IL-13 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection of bronchial epithelium</strong> - CONCLUSIONS: IL-13 markedly reduces susceptibility of HBECs to SARS-CoV-2 infection through mechanisms that likely differ from those activated by type I interferons. Our findings may help explain reports of relatively low prevalence of asthma in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and could lead to new strategies for reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection.</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The proximal proteome of 17 SARS-CoV-2 proteins links to disrupted antiviral signaling and host translation</strong> - Viral proteins localize within subcellular compartments to subvert host machinery and promote pathogenesis. To study SARS-CoV-2 biology, we generated an atlas of 2422 human proteins vicinal to 17 SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins using proximity proteomics. This identified viral proteins at specific intracellular locations, such as association of accessary proteins with intracellular membranes, and projected SARS-CoV-2 impacts on innate immune signaling, ER-Golgi transport, and protein translation. It…</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 inhibition compared with standard management in patients with COVID-19 and hyperinflammation: a cohort study</strong> - BACKGROUND: Patients with severe COVID-19 develop a life-threatening hyperinflammatory response to the virus. Interleukin (IL)-1 or IL-6 inhibitors have been used to treat this patient population, but the comparative effectiveness of these different strategies remains undetermined. We aimed to compare IL-1 and IL-6 inhibition in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, respiratory insufficiency, and hyperinflammation.</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Antiviral and immunomodulatory activity of curcumin: A case for prophylactic therapy for COVID-19</strong> - Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), a devastating respiratory illness caused by SARS-associated coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has already affected over 64 million people and caused 1.48 million deaths, just 12 months from the first diagnosis. COVID-19 patients develop serious complications, including severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and or multiorgan failure due to exaggerated host immune response following infection. Currently, drugs that were effective against…</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Exploring existing drugs: proposing potential compounds in the treatment of COVID-19</strong> - The COVID-19 situation had escalated into an unprecedented global crisis in just a few weeks. On the 30^(th) of January 2020, World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern. The confirmed cases were reported to exceed 105,856,046 globally, with the death toll of above 2,311,048, according to the dashboard from Johns Hopkins University on the 7^(th) of February, 2021, though the actual figures may be much higher. Conserved…</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>In-silico nucleotide and protein analyses of S-gene region in selected zoonotic coronaviruses reveal conserved domains and evolutionary emergence with trajectory course of viral entry from SARS-CoV-2 genomic data</strong> - CONCLUSION: phylogeny of SARS-CoV-2 genomic data suggests profiling in diverse populations with and without the outbreak alongside migration history and racial background for mutation tracking and dating of viral subtype divergence which is essential for effective management of present and future zoonotic coronavirus outbreaks.</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Needleless electrospun phytochemicals encapsulated nanofibre based 3-ply biodegradable mask for combating COVID-19 pandemic</strong> - The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected human health and world economies. According to WHO guidelines, continuous use of face mask is mandatory for personal protection for restricting the spread of bacteria and virus. Here, we report a 3-ply cotton-PLA-cotton layered biodegradable face-mask containing encapsulated phytochemicals in the inner-filtration layer. The nano-fibrous PLA filtration layer was fabricated using needleless electrospinning of PLA & phytochemical-based…</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Repurposing of Sitagliptin- Melittin Optimized Nanoformula against SARS-CoV-2: Antiviral Screening and Molecular Docking Studies</strong> - The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in China has become an urgent health and economic challenge. The objective of the current work was to evaluate the efficacy of the combined complex of Sitagliptin (SIT) with melittin (MEL) against SARS-CoV-2 virus. SIT-MEL nano-conjugates were optimized by a full three-factor bi-level (2³) factorial design. In addition, SIT concentration (mM, X1), MEL concentration (mM, X2), and pH (X3) were selected as the critical factors. Particle size (nm, Y1) and zeta…</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SARS-CoV-2 Nonstructural Proteins 1 and 13 Suppress Caspase-1 and the NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation</strong> - Viral infection-induced activation of inflammasome complexes has both positive and negative effects on the host. Proper activation of inflammasome complexes induces down-stream effector mechanisms that inhibit viral replication and promote viral clearance, whereas dysregulated activation has detrimental effects on the host. Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, encode viroporins that activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, and the severity of coronavirus disease is associated with the…</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Propolis in Metabolic Syndrome and Its Associated Chronic Diseases: A Narrative Review</strong> - Propolis is a resinous product collected by bees from plants to protect and maintain the homeostasis of their hives. Propolis has been used therapeutically by humans for centuries. This review article attempts to analyze the potential use of propolis in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associated chronic diseases. MetS and its chronic diseases were shown to be involved in at least seven out of the top 10 causes of death in 2019. Patients with MetS are also at a heightened risk of severe…</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Cell-free DNA maps COVID-19 tissue injury and risk of death, and can cause tissue injury</strong> - INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) clinical course is heterogeneous, ranging from mild to severe multi-organ failure and death. In this study, we analyzed cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a biomarker of injury to define the sources of tissue injury that contribute to such different trajectories.</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by stapled hACE2 peptides</strong> - SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein RBD interacts with the hACE2 receptor to initiate cell entry and infection. We set out to develop lactam-based i,i + 4 stapled hACE2 peptides targeting SARS-CoV-2. In vitro screening demonstrates the inhibition of the Spike protein RBD-hACE2 complex formation by the hACE221-55A36K-F40E stapled peptide (IC50: 3.6 μM, Kd: 2.1 μM), suggesting that hACE2 peptidomimetics could form the basis for the development of anti-COVID-19 therapeutics.</p></li>
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<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A comprehensive review of hydroxyurea for beta-haemoglobinopathies: the role revisited during COVID-19 pandemic</strong> - CONCLUSION: Hydroxyurea is a well-tolerated oral drug which has been in use for many decades. Through its actions of reversible inhibition of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase enzyme and fetal haemoglobin induction, it exerts many favourable effects on patients with β-haemoglobinopathies. It is currently approved for the treatment of sickle cell disease and non-transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia. Also, there are various observations to suggest that hydroxyurea is an important adjunct in the…</p></li>
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</ul>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-patent-search">From Patent Search</h1>
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<ul>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Sars-CoV-2 vaccine antigens</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU318283136">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SARS-COV-2 BINDING PROTEINS</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU318004130">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Compositions and methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU317343760">link</a></p></li>
|
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种3-羟基丁酰化修饰蛋白质药物及其制备方法和应用</strong> - 本发明涉及医药技术领域，公开了一种3‑羟基丁酰化修饰蛋白质药物（例如抗体）及其制备方法和应用，特别是一种3‑羟基丁酰化修饰抗体及其制备方法和应用。发明人经过大量实验发现，3‑羟基丁酸及其类似物修饰蛋白质药物（例如抗体）后，可以显著提高蛋白质药物的热稳定性、对蛋白酶水解的抗性，降低蛋白质药物的等电点，并显著延长其在受试者体内的半衰期，进而提高其药效。修饰后所得蛋白质药物在科研和临床方面具有广阔的应用前景和较高的商业价值。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN318140486">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>新冠病毒重组融合蛋白、其制备方法和应用</strong> - 本发明提供一种新冠病毒重组融合蛋白、其制备方法和应用。本发明通过对新冠病毒S和N重组融合蛋白的基因序列进行设计，选择最优的片段进行整合，再通过人源HEK293细胞系统重组表达融合蛋白，经过纯化后对融合蛋白的分子量、纯度进行检测，最后利用融合蛋白制成新冠病毒抗体胶体金检测试纸条/试剂盒。与单独使用S蛋白或N蛋白制备的胶体金检测试纸条相比，该重组融合蛋白制备的胶体金检测试纸条具有更高的灵敏度和更低的漏检率。此外，本发明提供的新冠病毒重组融合蛋白可广泛应用于不同平台技术的新冠抗体检测试剂盒开发，如胶体金、荧光免疫层析、化学发光和酶联免疫等。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN318140491">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>稳定的冠状病毒重组蛋白二聚体及其表达载体</strong> - 本发明公开了稳定的冠状病毒重组蛋白二聚体及其表达载体，冠状病毒重组蛋白，由冠状病毒S蛋白S‑RBD、冠状病毒N蛋白的CTD区N‑CTD和将二者偶联的连接子构成。本发明一些实例的冠状病毒重组蛋白，可以形成并维持稳定的二聚体结构，避免单体S‑RBD降解，有利于提高冠状病毒重组蛋白的免疫原性，有望用于制备检测试剂原料、疫苗、抗体、预防或治疗性药物。本发明一些实例的冠状病毒重组蛋白二聚体，具有很好的免疫原性。在疫苗开发领域具有广阔的应用前景。本发明一些实例的表达载体，易于表达冠状病毒重组蛋白二聚体且表达量高。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN318107321">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>SELF-CLEANING AND GERM-KILLING REVOLVING PUBLIC TOILET FOR COVID 19</strong> - - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=AU318003558">link</a></p></li>
|
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种新冠病毒S1蛋白的灌流生产系统及方法</strong> - 本发明涉及细胞生物学技术领域，提供了一种新冠病毒S1蛋白的灌流生产系统及方法，包括：细胞反应器，用于培养表达S1蛋白的细胞株；灌流系统，包括过滤装置、出液管、回液管和第一循环泵，所述过滤装置的主体内设有孔径为0.1‑0.2μm的中空纤维柱，用于过滤透出液，截留细胞培养液中的S1蛋白；所述出液管的两端分别与所述细胞反应器和所述中空纤维柱的下端相连通；所述回液管的两端分别与所述细胞反应器和所述中空纤维柱的上端相连通；所述第一循环泵设置于所述出液管与所述中空纤维柱相连的管路中。本发明系统投入成本低且S1蛋白产量高。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN318107249">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>检测新冠病毒的方法及试剂盒</strong> - 本发明公开了一种检测新冠病毒的方法及试剂盒。其中，该方法包括以下步骤：1）采集样本；2）采用核酸释放剂提取核酸；3）采用LAMP扩增进行检测，其中，核酸释放剂包括：热敏蛋白酶1000U/L~10000U/L、Tris‑HCl 5~50 mmol/L、曲拉通X‑100体积百分比0.05%<sub>0.5%和金属离子螯合剂0.1</sub>0.5mmol/L，其余为无菌水，热敏蛋白酶为≥55℃加热5~10分钟会完全失活的蛋白酶。应用本发明的检测新冠病毒的方法及试剂盒，检测新冠病毒，检测周期短，操作简单方便，检测结果通俗易懂，检测特异性高，检测成本低。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN318107166">link</a></p></li>
|
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>一种新型冠状病毒拉曼光谱数据中心的构建方法</strong> - 本发明公开了一种新型冠状病毒拉曼光谱数据中心的构建方法，该方法包括以下步骤：S1.构建新冠病毒结构蛋白拉曼光谱数据库；S2.构建新冠病毒核酸拉曼光谱数据库；S3.构建新冠病毒颗粒拉曼光谱数据库；S4.构建新冠病毒临床检测样本拉曼光谱数据库；将各新型冠状病毒拉曼光谱数据库存入新型冠状病毒拉曼光谱检测服务器构成新型冠状病毒拉曼光谱数据中心。本发明有效建立了一套完整的新型冠状病毒拉曼光谱数据库，为新冠病毒拉曼检测技术提供可靠的标准数据支撑，有效提高检测结果的准确性及置信度。 - <a href="https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=CN318107132">link</a></p></li>
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<title>Daily-Dose</title><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" name="viewport"/><link href="styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><link href="../styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><style>*{overflow-x:hidden;}</style><link href="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.css" rel="stylesheet"/><script src="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.js"></script></head>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
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<ul>
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<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
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<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
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</ul>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Good, the Bad, and the Embarrassing in America’s COVID-19 Response</strong> - Were Americans too unruly, or did elected officials expect too little of them? - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/the-good-the-bad-and-the-embarrassing-in-americas-covid-19-response">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Why Won’t Amnesty International Call Alexey Navalny a Prisoner of Conscience?</strong> - The Russian regime has used both its vast media infrastructure and its judicial system to vilify its opponents. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/why-wont-amnesty-international-call-alexey-navalny-a-prisoner-of-conscience">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Inside Xinjiang’s Prison State</strong> - Survivors detail the scope of China’s campaign of persecution against ethnic and religious minorities. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/a-reporter-at-large/china-xinjiang-prison-state-uighur-detention-camps-prisoner-testimony">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Tanya Selvaratnam on Eric Schneiderman, Andrew Cuomo, and the Abuse of Power</strong> - The filmmaker and writer discusses her abusive relationship with New York’s former attorney general, and the harassment allegations against the current governor. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/tanya-selvaratnam-on-eric-schneiderman-andrew-cuomo-and-the-abuse-of-power">link</a></p></li>
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<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Trump’s Strategy for Returning to Power Is Already Clear</strong> - The former President is positioning himself and his audience as the only true Americans. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/trumps-strategy-for-returning-to-power-is-already-clear">link</a></p></li>
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<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
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<li><strong>Why Fox News is having a day-long meltdown over Dr. Seuss</strong> -
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<figure>
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kFgKFtYxQIXE2X8WqBcw_J-2w-A=/0x0:3948x2961/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68899767/1134107254.0.jpg"/>
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<figcaption>
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Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, in 1985. | Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
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Biden didn’t mention Dr. Seuss in his Read Across America Day statement. All hell broke loose from there.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SRbbeY">
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Conservative media turned 2021’s National Read Across America Day into an epic culture war meltdown.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8IuEyl">
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On Tuesday morning and into the afternoon, programming on Fox News and Fox Business ceaselessly harped upon the purported “cancellation” of legendary children’s author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, as the latest example of woke liberalism run amok — conveniently ignoring the fact that Dr. Seuss has not, in fact, been canceled.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="O9oge8">
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“The cancel culture is canceling Dr. Seuss,” lamented <em>Fox & Friends </em>host Brian Kilmeade, adding later, “It’s out of control.”
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“People are too scared,” echoed co-host Ainsley Earhardt. “They don’t want to be involved in all of this, so they’d rather just cancel it all … the places we are going in this country right now.”
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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Fox & Friends continues its emotional meltdown over the “radical” plot to “eliminate children’s books” by Dr. Seuss, and “people are too scared” to speak up so “they’d rather just cancel it all.” It’s like there’s some anti-Seuss cabal pulling the levers of power. <a href="https://t.co/FDtmKYa6on">pic.twitter.com/FDtmKYa6on</a>
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— Bobby Lewis (<span class="citation" data-cites="revrrlewis">@revrrlewis</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/revrrlewis/status/1366722134953914368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a>
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</blockquote></div></li>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="J7QEKc">
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This <em>Fox & Friends</em> segment wasn’t an isolated incident. Before 9 am Tuesday, Dr. Seuss had been mentioned more than 30 times on Fox News and Fox Business. Fox Business host Stuart Varney even touted Dr. Seuss’s alleged cancellation as one of the big stories of the day.
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Dr. Seuss was an even bigger topic on Newsmax — a Trumpier, further right alternative to Fox News — where it was mentioned more than 20 times during the network’s <em>Wake Up America</em> morning show.
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It’s just 10AM and Fox News has already had 8 segments on Dr. Seuss “quite literally being canceled” [Narrator: He wasn’t] <a href="https://t.co/uSHnBT8sXn">pic.twitter.com/uSHnBT8sXn</a>
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</p>
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— Lis Power (<span class="citation" data-cites="LisPower1">@LisPower1</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/LisPower1/status/1366767516647895046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a>
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</blockquote>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="up8IeF">
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Given what they were being told, viewers of the two networks could be excused for believing that the Dr. Seuss controversy is the biggest news story of the day.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HRs35W">
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And it didn’t stop with the morning shows. A Fox News reporter asked White House press secretary Jen Psaki a question during Tuesday’s briefing about why Biden didn’t mention Dr. Seuss in his statement commemorating Read Across America Day, and Fox News then tried to spin <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1366839217159090180">Psaki’s response</a> (she referred the reporter to the Department of Education) as some sort of scandal. (Fox News hasn’t responded to a question seeking comment about its Seuss coverage, as this is published.)
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you have got to be kidding me <a href="https://t.co/9lgajr4m12">pic.twitter.com/9lgajr4m12</a>
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</p>
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— Aaron Rupar (<span class="citation" data-cites="atrupar">@atrupar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1366837215603666944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Gwis5C">
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In a world where 2,000 Americans are still dying each day from Covid-19, and Congress is grappling with issues like a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill and major voting rights reforms, this level of focus on Dr. Seuss would be silly no matter what. But making it even more ridiculous is the fact that five minutes of research indicates all the outrage is much ado about very little.
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<h3 id="RSofdx">
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Dr. Seuss hasn’t been canceled
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The right-wing outrage over Dr. Seuss can be traced back to a February 26 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oh-the-places-the-woke-will-go-dr-seuss-canceled-for-racial-undertones">article</a> in Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire publication about a left-wing educators group that encouraged public schools to stop “connecting Read Across America Day with Dr. Seuss,” citing “racial undertones” in some of his books. The two are linked, as the <a href="https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/read-across-america">National Education Association</a> has previously used March 2, Geisel’s birthday, as an opportunity to encourage literacy.
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At least one school district — the Loudoun County public school system in northern Virginia — did indeed decide to try to separate Read Across America Day from Dr. Seuss, providing guidance to schools “to not connect Read Across America Day exclusively with Dr. Seuss’ birthday.”
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The Daily Wire cited this guidance as evidence that Dr. Seuss was being “canceled.” In response to the outrage the article generated, Loudoun County schools released <a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dr-seuss-canceled/">a statement</a> trying to correct the record.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ckc4eC">
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“Dr. Seuss books have not been banned in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS),” it says, adding later: “We continue to encourage our young readers to read all types of books that are inclusive, diverse and reflective of our student community, not simply celebrate Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss books have not been banned and are available to students in our libraries and classrooms, however, Dr. Seuss and his books are no longer the emphasis of Read Across America Day in Loudoun County Public Schools.”
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="o4Uu0H">
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Then, on March 1, President Joe Biden released a statement about Read Across America Day that broke with years of precedent by not mentioning Dr. Seuss. This led to headlines like, “<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9315015/Biden-cancels-Dr-Seuss-leaves-mention-childrens-favorite-Read-America-day.html">Biden CANCELS Dr. Seuss</a>.”
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</p>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QvKZXi">
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More fuel was added to the right-wing outrage fire on Tuesday, when Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the company that publishes and licenses the author’s work, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/03/02/972777841/dr-seuss-enterprises-will-shelve-6-books-citing-hurtful-portrayals">announced</a> that six Seuss books will no longer be published because they portray people of color “in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”
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</p>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CLtQvf">
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Why is this reevaluation of Dr. Seuss happening now? In part, it has to do with a 2019 study conducted by a nonprofit linked with Read Across America Day called Learning for Justice that concluded Seuss’s works traffic in “Orientalist tropes” and “anti-Blackness.” Here’s a key expert from that study:
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</p>
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<blockquote>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8GJnFk">
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Of the 2,240 (identified) human characters [in 50 Dr. Seuss books], there are forty-five characters of color representing 2% of the total number of human characters.” Of the 45 characters, 43 exhibited behaviors and appearances that align with harmful and stereotypical Orientalist tropes. The remaining two human characters “are identified in the text as ‘African’ and both align with the theme of anti-Blackness.” It’s also important to note that each of the non-white characters is male and that they are all “presented in subservient, exotified, or dehumanized roles,” especially in their relation to white characters.
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lgsQOj">
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That study led to a reevaluation of some of Seuss’s work, including the six books that Dr. Seuss Enterprises is no longer publishing. But there is no indication this private company’s decision resulted from pressure from the “<a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet//mattvespa/2021/03/01/green-eggs-and-ham-is-racist-woke-mob-comes-after-dr-seuss-n2585527">woke mob</a>,” and it’s not as though Dr. Seuss’s works are being pulled from the shelves of libraries and bookstores.
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|
</div>
|
||||||
|
</aside>
|
||||||
|
<h3 id="HeGkJi">
|
||||||
|
Conservatives aren’t about to let facts get in the way of their narrative
|
||||||
|
</h3>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="p9BNGp">
|
||||||
|
It’s perfectly reasonable to reassess classic works of culture through the prism of the prevailing values of today. Doing so does not mean that those works have been “canceled” or are worthless — it just means being honest about the ways in which they have fallen short in terms of inclusivity and respect for other people.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="GfbTko">
|
||||||
|
But in the months since Donald Trump lost the presidency, right-wing media and Republican members of Congress have leaned into so-called “cancel culture” as a way to make the case against Democrats without having to discuss policy or really anything of substance at all. Instead, Republicans have used insinuations that Democrats want to prohibit traditions that are central to conservative identities. In short, they’re stoking the grievances of their base.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="wW2dKm">
|
||||||
|
The last week has seen a couple noteworthy examples of this. Perhaps most absurdly, right-wingers spent days getting mad about Hasbro’s purported cancellation of Mr. Potato Head.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<div id="8kswx7">
|
||||||
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
|
||||||
|
Ainsley Earhardt worries about how she’ll know which gender of potato toy to buy (they’re labeled “Mr.” and “Mrs.”,) and Steve Doocy assumes Hasbro was trying to be politically correct until “the backlash was enormous” and it backtracked in a panic (that’s not what happened.) <a href="https://t.co/yrPAo7yqrI">pic.twitter.com/yrPAo7yqrI</a>
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
— Bobby Lewis (<span class="citation" data-cites="revrrlewis">@revrrlewis</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/revrrlewis/status/1365284081517363201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2021</a>
|
||||||
|
</blockquote>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oFIgzx">
|
||||||
|
It turned out that all the fuming over Mr. Potato Head rested on <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mr-potato-head-goes-gender-neutral-d3c178f2b9b0c424ed814657be41a9d8">a misinterpretation</a> of a Hasbro press release. While the brand is now being referred to as “Potato Head,” Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are not being “canceled” by the company — they will live on as characters in the broader Potato Head universe.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7XmmIh">
|
||||||
|
Yet even after Hasbro cleared up the confusion, conservatives at CPAC kept bringing up Mr. Potato Head’s pronouns as an example of liberal woke-ism gone wild.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<div id="faFkst">
|
||||||
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
|
||||||
|
“They tried to cancel Kermit the Frog and Mr Potato Head. You see that? They backed off Mr Potato Head. I think he told them his preferred pronounces are ‘he, his, him.’” – Jim Jordan <a href="https://t.co/gU9pwYh3rk">pic.twitter.com/gU9pwYh3rk</a>
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
— Aaron Rupar (<span class="citation" data-cites="atrupar">@atrupar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1366119434453196808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2021</a>
|
||||||
|
</blockquote>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oUhu98">
|
||||||
|
By Tuesday morning, the Dr. Seuss and Mr. Potato Head claims had merged into a single object of right-wing performative outrage. <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1366748387241062401">During a <em>Fox & Friends</em> interview</a>, for instance, Donald Trump Jr. used a question about Dr. Seuss to rail against liberal “cancel culture” in general.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FGSNQd">
|
||||||
|
This might seem silly — and it is. But Republicans and their media enablers use this sort of culture war grievance to avoid talking about real issues, including <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/22274429/republicans-anti-democracy-13-charts">those they advocate for that are unpopular</a>.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NknRxl">
|
||||||
|
One egregious example of this came during <em>Fox & Friends</em> <em>First’</em>s interview on Tuesday with Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC). Despite the fact that both <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/addybaird/madison-cawthorn-sexual-misconduct-allegations-patrick">BuzzFeed</a> and the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/02/27/making-madison-cawthorn-how-falsehoods-helped-propel-career-new-pro-trump-star-far-right/?arc404=true">Washington Post</a> published exposés in recent days detailing numerous accusations of sexual harassment against him, Cawthorn was not asked a single question about that. Instead, he was given an opportunity to complain at length about the fake cancellation of Dr. Seuss.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<div id="AYDD99">
|
||||||
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
|
||||||
|
Madison Cawthorn was on Fox & Friends First for an interview this morning. He was never asked about the multiple sexual harassment allegations made against him, but he was given an opportunity to rail against the purported cancelation of Dr. Seuss. <a href="https://t.co/fC0XpVj8Lg">pic.twitter.com/fC0XpVj8Lg</a>
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
— Aaron Rupar (<span class="citation" data-cites="atrupar">@atrupar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1366756693275795460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a>
|
||||||
|
</blockquote>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="3p9xxz">
|
||||||
|
Later Tuesday, as FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before a Senate committee about the January 6 insurrection and how it was an instance of right-wing domestic terrorism, Fox News was the only network to not cover it live.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lsz9Ww">
|
||||||
|
Instead, they talked more about cancel culture and Dr. Seuss.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<div id="poiOyr">
|
||||||
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
|
||||||
|
Difference in news network coverage right now. <a href="https://t.co/KCUwXVCmJy">pic.twitter.com/KCUwXVCmJy</a>
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
— Ted Johnson (<span class="citation" data-cites="tedstew">@tedstew</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedstew/status/1366779532032827402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a>
|
||||||
|
</blockquote>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NC82Xt">
|
||||||
|
And Fox just kept going with <a href="https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1366800877672165386">even more panel discussions</a> about cancel culture <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1366839740172029955">well into Tuesday afternoon</a>. By Tuesday evening, it was even the lead story on Fox News’s website.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<div id="qy7b5i">
|
||||||
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
|
||||||
|
Time to check the front page of the News website <a href="https://t.co/e2Voe4enjV">pic.twitter.com/e2Voe4enjV</a>
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
— Dave Weigel (<span class="citation" data-cites="daveweigel">@daveweigel</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/daveweigel/status/1366885245732151296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a>
|
||||||
|
</blockquote>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="VhgBGN">
|
||||||
|
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) completed the circle of right-wing disinformation by using a floor debate over voting rights legislation to <a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1366787667128647685">complain about Dr. Seuss</a> in the sort of soundbite tailor-made for additional Fox coverage.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="vJSNQs">
|
||||||
|
“First they outlaw Dr. Seuss and now they want to tell us what to say,” he lied.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="AICctF">
|
||||||
|
Beyond the silliness of using overhyped culture war issues to distract from real issues, there are a couple of ironies in the right-wing obsession with “cancel culture.” First, as writer Charlotte Clymer pointed out on Twitter, schools are much more likely to ban books with LGBTQ themes than they are books containing racism or bigotry.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<div id="zHGlTr">
|
||||||
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
|
||||||
|
And I found out that for the most recent year for which we have data (2019), of the 10 books most challenged and banned, <em>EIGHT</em> of them were solely because of LGBTQ themes.<br/><br/>It seems social conservatives have worked overtime to, uh, “cancel” LGBTQ books.<a href="https://t.co/lRa4Yfc6zB">https://t.co/lRa4Yfc6zB</a>
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
— Charlotte Clymer ️ (<span class="citation" data-cites="cmclymer">@cmclymer</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/1366670979762708483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2021</a>
|
||||||
|
</blockquote>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ScRPwx">
|
||||||
|
And second, despite the racial insensitivity of some of his books, other works by Dr. Seuss indicate he wouldn’t identify with the agendas of right-wing politicians who are now using him as a cudgel.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tg4i8Z">
|
||||||
|
From Fiona Macdonald’s<em><strong> </strong></em>2019 BBC piece “<a href="https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20190301-the-surprisingly-radical-politics-of-dr-seuss">The surprisingly radical politics of Dr. Seuss</a>”:
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<blockquote>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="H3MHIr">
|
||||||
|
Describing Dr Seuss’s wartime output [during World War 2] as “very impressive evidence of cartooning as an art of persuasion”, [graphic novelist Art] Spiegelman explains how they “rail against isolationism, racism, and anti-semitism with a conviction and fervor lacking in most other American editorial pages of the period… virtually the only editorial cartoons outside the communist and black press that decried the military’s Jim Crow policies and Charles Lindbergh’s anti-semitism”. Dr Seuss, he argues, “made these drawings with the fire of honest indignation and anger that fuels all real political art”.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
</blockquote>
|
||||||
|
<div id="iXQfOG">
|
||||||
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
|
||||||
|
Some Dr. Seuss WWII cartoons about the original “America First” movement. <a href="https://t.co/c9SaScfdci">pic.twitter.com/c9SaScfdci</a>
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
— Kevin M. Kruse (<span class="citation" data-cites="KevinMKruse">@KevinMKruse</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinMKruse/status/756211389669208064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2016</a>
|
||||||
|
</blockquote>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LX7O0l">
|
||||||
|
That Fox News is lying isn’t really news — after all, the network has spent <a href="https://twitter.com/revrrlewis/status/1366726075435343873">weeks misleading people</a> into believing that recent widespread power outages in Texas are <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/17/22287469/fox-news-winter-storm-uri-windmills-ercot-greg-abbott-hannity-carlson">somehow an indictment of the Green New Deal</a>.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MOSfrr">
|
||||||
|
But that the network is making this big of a deal over Dr. Seuss on a day when so much else is happening illustrates how much the network is still struggling to establish an identity for itself in the post-Trump world. And it’s also a reminder of how far it’s willing to go to construct an alternative reality for its viewers, where the most important things are their grievances.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gGCpsP">
|
||||||
|
<a href="https://www.vox.com/weeds-newsletter"><em>Sign up for The Weeds newsletter</em></a><em>. Every Friday, you’ll get an explainer of a big policy story from the week, a look at important research that recently came out, and answers to reader questions — to guide you through the first 100 days of President Joe Biden’s administration.</em>
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<ul>
|
||||||
|
<li><strong>Neera Tanden is Biden’s first Cabinet-level nominee to withdraw</strong> -
|
||||||
|
<figure>
|
||||||
|
<img alt="Senate Homeland Security Committee Hears Testimony From Nominee For OMB Director Neera Tanden" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HK77hqt4vup_LnHJ0-xQdw2Vz7o=/559x0:5027x3351/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68900947/1231062167.0.jpg"/>
|
||||||
|
<figcaption>
|
||||||
|
Neera Tanden, nominee for director of the Office and Management and Budget, speaks during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on February 9, 2021, in Washington, DC. | Ting Shen/Getty Images
|
||||||
|
</figcaption>
|
||||||
|
</figure>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
After a tough few weeks, Tanden announced she’s withdrawing her nomination as OMB director.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="2wWxap">
|
||||||
|
President Joe Biden has lost his first Cabinet-level pick.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TtcVuu">
|
||||||
|
Neera Tanden, the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/22/22295201/neera-tanden-senate-confirmation-explained">embattled nominee</a> for Biden’s Office of Management and Budget director, has officially withdrawn her nomination for the position after days of uncertainty over whether she had enough votes to be confirmed in the US Senate.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7rQCeJ">
|
||||||
|
“Unfortunately, it now seems clear that there is no path forward to gain confirmation, and I do not want continued consideration of my nomination to be a distraction from your other priorities,” Tanden, the president of the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress, said in a statement released Tuesday.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="e1rXsf">
|
||||||
|
With her withdrawal,<strong> </strong>Tanden becomes the first nominee to a White House Cabinet post to be sunk by her old tweets, which were sharply critical of a number of lawmakers.<strong> </strong>Biden’s administration had emphasized the historic nature of Tanden’s nomination; she served in President Bill Clinton’s White House and had experience running a major think tank, and<strong> </strong>if confirmed, she would have been the first woman of color and first Asian American woman to lead OMB.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Qut5L0">
|
||||||
|
But much of Tanden’s résumé was overshadowed by her proliferous online posting — at least 1,000 tweets raking both Republicans and leftist Democrats over the coals — that Tanden <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/neera-tanden-mean-tweeted-gop-lawmakersuntil-she-needed-their-votes?ref=wrap">quietly started deleting</a> in November 2020.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eLgsbR">
|
||||||
|
Tanden’s decision comes after an intense few days of trying to win over Republican senators whose votes she needed to get confirmed. In a Senate where Democrats have a one-vote majority, Tanden needed Republican support given she had already lost a critical Democratic vote she needed in West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who recently announced he’d oppose Tanden’s confirmation.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pFVBmG">
|
||||||
|
Tanden and the Biden White House had been holding out hope that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), might flip and give them the one vote they needed. Indeed, up until Tanden officially withdrew her nomination, Murkowski had told reporters she was still undecided on the nomination.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="NkK1zj">
|
||||||
|
Biden released a statement accepting Tanden’s resignation, and mentioned that he’d like to find another spot for her in his administration, one where she wouldn’t need Senate confirmation.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zTyWMl">
|
||||||
|
“I have the utmost respect for her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel, and I look forward to having her serve in a role in my Administration,” Biden said in the statement.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<h3 id="Ebb3rK">
|
||||||
|
Biden’s administration could have a quick replacement for Tanden
|
||||||
|
</h3>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="L2493Y">
|
||||||
|
On Tuesday, deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young had her confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Budget Committee. And it went <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/02/shalanda-young-neera-tanden-omb-472753">much better</a> than Tanden’s had weeks prior.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="p07cZH">
|
||||||
|
Young is a former staff director for the House Appropriations Committee, with deep ties to the Hill and respect from lawmakers and staffers on both sides of the aisle. Also importantly, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/22/politics/shalanda-young-omb-neera-tanden/index.html">she does not have a Twitter account</a>.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ea6XUK">
|
||||||
|
While Republican senators had plenty of spent time admonishing Tanden for her social media posts in her hearing, they had relatively glowing things to say about Young.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="vCnjHS">
|
||||||
|
“Everybody who deals with you on our side has nothing but good things to say. You might talk me out of voting for you, but I doubt it,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told Young during her Tuesday hearing.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="yLLjAa">
|
||||||
|
With Republicans looking likely to vote to confirm Young, the Biden administration may well want to move her up to Tanden’s spot. Some Republicans, including Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Richard Shelby of Alabama, had already said they’d vote to confirm Young if she were Tanden’s replacement.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8UyluL">
|
||||||
|
And with congressional Democrats looking poised to soon pass a major Covid-19 stimulus bill through Congress using budget reconciliation, the Biden administration will likely want to quickly confirm a head of OMB — a key office tasked with planning and overseeing the implementation of the federal budget once Congress passes it.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="vaKZwa">
|
||||||
|
Tanden’s dilemma demonstrates the tricky math of an evenly split Senate and the power of individual senators to stymie pieces of Biden’s agenda. Even though Tanden did plenty to anger the Sanders wing of the Democratic Party over the years, moderates were ultimately the ones who sank her.
|
||||||
|
</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><strong>The vaccine race against the coronavirus variants, explained</strong> -
|
||||||
|
<figure>
|
||||||
|
<img alt="An employee with the McKesson Corporation scans a box of the Johnson &amp; Johnson Covid-19 vaccine as she fills an order at their shipping facility on March 1, 2021, in Shepherdsville, Kentucky." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KcjKwn_6izHjNzImykgnB5JZayg=/134x0:4810x3507/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68899175/GettyImages_1231456380.0.jpg"/>
|
||||||
|
<figcaption>
|
||||||
|
The Covid-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson began distribution this week, just as new variants of the virus are gaining ground. | Timothy D. Easley/Getty Images
|
||||||
|
</figcaption>
|
||||||
|
</figure>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
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||||||
|
Covid-19 vaccines are here. So are new mutations. Here’s what you should know.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="w6UqbV">
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||||||
|
The world is now locked in an arms race with <a href="https://www.vox.com/coronavirus-covid19">Covid-19</a>, as multiple effective vaccines are being deployed (<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations">at staggeringly different rates</a>) around the world. At the same time, new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been rapidly spreading.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="rOcj5d">
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||||||
|
The Covid-19 vaccines that are being distributed in the US, as well as the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson vaccine, have been shown to <a href="https://www.vox.com/22273502/covid-vaccines-pfizer-moderna-johnson-astrazeneca-efficacy-deaths">almost eliminate deaths and hospitalizations</a> from the disease, even for people infected with the new mutations. For a disease that has infected more than 114 million people around the world in just over a year, this is tremendously good news.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eupDdw">
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|
But it’s no time to kick back.
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</p>
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|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="6HsqhA">
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||||||
|
There’s evidence that the virus is evolving in ways that can reduce the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines — particularly when they’re up against the variant discovered in South Africa. Both Johnson & Johnson and Novavax’s vaccine efficacy rate dropped in the South Africa arm of their clinical trials (from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/health/covid-vaccine-johnson-and-johnson.html">72 in the US to 64 percent</a> in South Africa and from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/28/health/covid-vaccine-novavax-south-africa.html">89 in the UK to 49 percent</a>, respectively).
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="z7U8Bj">
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|
The vaccines still worked against their new foe in the majority of trial participants. The human immune response, after all, is <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/02/antibody-evolution/618004/">robust and multi-layered</a>. It can adapt to different versions of the virus that come along, which is why vaccine-induced immunity is unlikely to “fall off a cliff and go from 95 percent to zero,” as University of Utah evolutionary virologist Stephen Goldstein told Vox.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xYUFfF">
|
||||||
|
However, the situation is still dicey. “Eventually, when the majority of the susceptible population is vaccinated with effective vaccines, the variant better suited for survival in the new host will be one that has the ability to evade the vaccine-induced immunity,” researchers warned in a March 1 letter published in <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516588&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41591-021-01290-0&referrer=vox.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2F22298973%2Fcovid-19-vaccine-mutation-coronavirus-variant-moderna-pfizer-johnson" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>Nature</em></a><em>. </em>Such a variant could “decrease, and even abolish, the beneficial effects of a broad immunization program.”
|
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|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CnoccQ">
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|
And the more people the virus infects, the more mutations it acquires — mutations that may eventually evade the protection provided by prior infections or from vaccinations. The <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/1/29/22253908/rich-countries-hoarding-covid-19-vaccines">slow pace</a> of the global vaccine rollout, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, then means that even if people in rich countries like the US are fully vaccinated, variants may still emerge in less vaccinated regions, increasing the risk of new outbreaks everywhere.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
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|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TnRlSG">
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||||||
|
That’s why, while global health groups work to get <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/world/first-covid-19-covax-vaccine-doses-administered-africa">more vaccines to more people</a> around the world, vaccine developers are quickly trying to find new strategies to cope with the variants. They’ve already brought new vaccines to the market in record time. Now they are investigating everything from booster shots to entirely reformulated vaccines.
|
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|
</p>
|
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|
<div class="c-float-right">
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<div id="PX9VZx">
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<div>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
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||||||
|
<h3 id="9zEaQk">
|
||||||
|
What we know about the coronavirus variants and Covid-19 vaccines
|
||||||
|
</h3>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="LNrZvY">
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|
All viruses mutate as they move through populations, and until recently, the mutations in SARS-CoV-2 weren’t cause for much concern. (A mutation is a change in the genetic makeup of a virus, while a variant is a virus that has a suite of mutations that alter how it behaves.) That changed in mid-December, when a <a href="https://www.who.int/csr/don/21-december-2020-sars-cov2-variant-united-kingdom/en/">more contagious variant</a> known as B.1.1.7 was discovered in Britain, just as the first Covid-19 vaccines were coming online.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
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|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="iWha7u">
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|
That was only the beginning of a new chapter in the pandemic. Since then, several new variants and mutations of concern — what the WHO calls changes to the virus that are worrisome — have surfaced in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/health/coronavirus-variant-tracker.html">dozens of countries around the world</a>, becoming the dominant strain in some.
|
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|
</p>
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="CwWrQk">
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|
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that B.1.1.7 could <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/07/health/coronavirus-variant-us-spread.html">overtake</a> other versions of the virus in the US this month. And evidence is mounting that B.1.1.7 is not only more transmissible but potentially also <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/13/world/europe/covid-uk-variant-deadlier.html">deadlier than prior versions of the virus</a>.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
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<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FQR860">
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||||||
|
Another variant, B.1.351, first identified in South Africa, has proven more <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/1/21/22240475/covid-new-variant-south-africa-uk-brazil-vaccine-coronavirus">difficult to immunize against</a>. And still another immune-evading variant discovered in Brazil, known as P1, has already spread to at <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/health/coronavirus-variant-tracker.html">least 25 other countries</a>, including the US. Scientists reported that in several instances, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/health/covid-19-coronavirus-brazil-variant.html">P1 variant was behind reinfections</a> in people who already survived an earlier course of the illness. And two new variants may have emerged in the United States, in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/health/coronavirus-variant-nyc.html">New York</a> and in <a href="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/coronavirus/despite-lower-case-counts-california-coronavirus-variant-concerns-scientists/2533833/">California</a>. These new variants of concern stand to undermine precious progress against the pandemic because they’re either more contagious, potentially more dangerous, or threaten the vaccines we have. And perhaps even more ominously, they’re a reminder that far more — and perhaps even more threatening — variants will emerge in the future.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aOQn8n">
|
||||||
|
Adding to the threat is that many parts of the world, including the US, are not doing enough <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/22225012/us-sequencing-covid-19-variants">genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2</a>. That makes it harder to identify and prepare for new variants when they emerge, increasing the chances of them spreading undetected.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pFGtoQ">
|
||||||
|
The good news is that, for the most part, vaccines still seem to provide good protection against the SARS-CoV-2 variants discovered so far. So does prior infection.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8KxxnE">
|
||||||
|
But there have been some worrying signs that current Covid-19 vaccines are less effective against some new variants — again, B.1.351, first identified in South Africa.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="P5IpkH">
|
||||||
|
How can seemingly minor mutations change the virus’s susceptibility to a vaccine? When a vaccine is administered, the human immune system responds by producing targeted antibodies, proteins that can stick to a specific pathogen. Antibodies that prevent that pathogen from causing an infection are said to be neutralizing.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MUAPOe">
|
||||||
|
Studies show that the vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and by AstraZeneca/Oxford lead to a lower concentration of neutralizing antibodies to B.1.351 than to the older versions of the virus, explained <a href="https://leelabvirus.host/team">Benhur Lee</a>, a professor of microbiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. However, these vaccines generate such a high level of neutralizing antibodies to begin with that the reduced protection is still effective.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Cfqi6u">
|
||||||
|
Antibodies are also just one component of the immune response. A recent preprint found that <a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.27.433180v1">immune protection provided by T cells</a> generated in response to a Covid-19 vaccine was just as potent against the new variants.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5ngX7Y">
|
||||||
|
“This is probably the reason why you see other vaccines still being efficacious in South Africa,” Lee said in an email. So a drop in efficacy doesn’t mean the vaccines are rendered useless, but it does mean they’ll be less protective in environments where variants like B.1.351 are spreading.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="traz4M">
|
||||||
|
In South Africa, the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, which has not been approved in the US, has been <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55999678">pulled from the country’s vaccination campaign</a>. Officials found that it was less effective against the new variant, but the findings came from a small trial of roughly 2,000 people. “Since they had the option of Pfizer and J&J coming down the line, South Africa chose to go ahead with those other vaccines,” Lee said.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gVbv7Z">
|
||||||
|
The vaccines may also provide less resistance to milder forms of Covid-19 spawned by the new variants. Even if they don’t land someone in the hospital, such infections can still reduce quality of life, especially for people with other preexisting health conditions. And we’ve already seen that even seemingly mild cases of the disease can have lasting effects: <a href="https://www.vox.com/22166236/long-term-side-effects-covid-19-symptoms-heart-fatigue">persistent fatigue, brain fog, and so on</a>.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oFXl2R">
|
||||||
|
Another public health concern with regard to vaccines is how well they block transmission of the virus. This is a crucial factor in controlling the pandemic in the population, particularly when vaccination rates are still so far away from reaching <a href="https://www.vox.com/21451282/herd-immunity-explained-covid-19-pandemic">herd immunity</a>.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="H0Q4xn">
|
||||||
|
For now, there is less information about how well vaccines block transmission than there is when it comes to stopping the disease in people. Identifying infections, particularly asymptomatic cases, requires aggressive testing for the virus within a study, an expensive and time-consuming task. But the research that is emerging so far is encouraging.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="8J3jQd">
|
||||||
|
A recent preprint <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3790399">study from the UK</a> reported that the full course of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine reduced the chances of developing a transmissible infection by 86 percent. Another preprint study, looking at Covid-19 <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-israel-vaccine-int-idUSKBN2AJ08J">vaccines in Israel</a>, saw an 89.4 percent drop in transmissible infections.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<aside id="1m5mu5">
|
||||||
|
<div>
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
</aside>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mw9QmR">
|
||||||
|
Will the variants also erode protection against transmission?
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="p2BUpq">
|
||||||
|
It’s possible, but there’s little research to date. The variants already seem to cause more cases of disease with symptoms — <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/world/europe/virus-variant-uk.html">early evidence about B.1.1.7</a> suggests this is the case — so it’s likely that infected people may generate and shed more virus, helping it spread. If SARS-CoV-2 variants lead to more infections breaking through the protection barrier of vaccines, those infections in turn could spur further transmission.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ChVyFq">
|
||||||
|
But as with the vaccine protection for individuals, a barrier to transmission, even if it’s lower, would still slow the spread of the virus within a community.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DITiVm">
|
||||||
|
“Even a less efficacious vaccine will be an important tool to tamp down a highly transmissible strain,” Lee said.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<h3 id="yfoYQt">
|
||||||
|
How Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers are preparing for the variants
|
||||||
|
</h3>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="tBYYs2">
|
||||||
|
One advantage that we have in this race against the variants is that the new vaccines being rolled out around the world so far are also very nimble.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1zrb9M">
|
||||||
|
The <a href="https://www.vox.com/22167841/fda-vaccine-approval-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-eua-coronavirus">Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine</a> and the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/12/18/22188715/moderna-vaccine-covid-19-fda-emergency-use-authorization-coronavirus">Moderna vaccine</a> both use a molecule called <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/8/13/21359025/coronavirus-vaccine-covid-19-moderna-oxford-mrna-adenovirus">mRNA as their platform</a>. This molecule delivers instructions to the body to make a spike protein found on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, educating the immune system to fend it off if it encounters the actual virus in the future.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gpBu5a">
|
||||||
|
Meanwhile, the vaccine developed by the <a href="https://www.vox.com/22206498/uk-approves-astrazeneca-vaccine-oxford-covid-19-coronavirus">University of Oxford and AstraZeneca</a> that recently received approval in the UK (but not yet in the US) uses a reprogrammed version of another virus, an adenovirus, to shuttle DNA that codes for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to use as target practice. The one-dose <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/1/29/22238591/johnson-and-johnson-jnj-vaccine-effective-safety-one-dose-south-africa">Johnson & Johnson vaccine</a> that recently received an emergency use authorization from the FDA also uses an adenovirus vector.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="9M91Ge">
|
||||||
|
In both of these fairly new vaccine platforms, developers only need to modify the code of DNA or mRNA to tweak the vaccine to reorient it to new variants, something they can do <a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/12/moderna-covid-19-vaccine-design.html">quickly</a> if necessary.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TE0y8w">
|
||||||
|
But while it may be possible to alter the vaccine to adapt to new mutations, it’s not ideal: It requires expensive changes in the vaccine production process and eats up valuable time.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="T83mj1">
|
||||||
|
“It takes time to manufacture hundreds of millions of doses,” Lee said.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7wGNnK">
|
||||||
|
Another approach is to build off of existing vaccine formulations but add on another shot. For example, companies like Pfizer are considering adding a third, booster dose to their two-dose Covid-19 vaccine regimen to solidify the response to the new variants. “We believe that the third dose will raise the antibody response 10- to 20-fold,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/third-pfizer-dose-covid-19-vaccine-maker-studying-booster-shots-n1258775">NBC News</a> on February 25.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="PnoKo4">
|
||||||
|
In an email, a Pfizer spokesperson explained that the company hasn’t seen a loss of protection against the new variants in its laboratory studies, but is proactively gaming out several responses, like a booster dose, through further clinical trials. “We need to focus both on vaccinating the world with an initial regimen and be driven by the science of our clinical studies for the boost,” according to the spokesperson. “We are focused on enrolling the full study and should have the findings soon.”
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="N2Joj0">
|
||||||
|
Moderna, meanwhile, announced on February 24 that it has sent a version of its vaccine <a href="https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-announces-it-has-shipped-variant-specific-vaccine">optimized to handle the South Africa</a> variant to the National Institutes of Health for further study. The company is also investigating a booster dose.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="MxAYy4">
|
||||||
|
Johnson & Johnson’s phase 3 clinical trial commenced after those from other manufacturers, so they were able to capture the efficacy of their vaccine against some of the new variants. “The [Johnson & Johnson] Covid-19 vaccine candidate also provided protection against multiple Covid-19 variants,” according to a spokesperson for the company. Johnson & Johnson is also studying a two-dose version of its vaccine.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZsqeD6">
|
||||||
|
For its part, the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-issues-policies-guide-medical-product-developers-addressing-virus">FDA announced it is streamlining the approval process</a> for vaccines to target the new SARS-CoV-2 variants, making the procedure similar to approvals for annual influenza vaccines.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="SQRIkR">
|
||||||
|
“If Covid-19 becomes an endemic, potentially seasonal virus, we can establish a regulatory pathway that will allow us to move expeditiously to update and validate an updated vaccine, similar to what is done with the flu every year,” said a Pfizer spokesperson.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="QAw13n">
|
||||||
|
However, researchers say one shouldn’t hold out for a reformulated vaccine and should take the first shot they’re offered. Whether a vaccine manufacturer opts for a booster, a reformulation, or decides to stick with the existing protocol, timing is critical, and people need to be vaccinated as fast as possible to contain the pandemic.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<h3 id="D5IcqV">
|
||||||
|
What do variants and vaccines mean for how the pandemic ends?
|
||||||
|
</h3>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mX8rLa">
|
||||||
|
There are at least several possibilities for how the pandemic will fade away. Covid-19 could become a largely intermittent threat, with sporadic outbreaks. It could also become seasonal, with surges in the fall and winter. These possibilities make the evolution of the pandemic in 2021 even less predictable than 2020.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Xg0nn1">
|
||||||
|
“The question mark is going to be next fall, next winter. Is there going to be a new variant that becomes dominant again? Are we going to see efficacy from the vaccines start to wane by that time?” said <a href="https://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/anish-j-mehta">Anish Mehta</a>, medical director for clinical quality and virtual health at <a href="https://www.edenhealth.com">Eden Health</a>, and a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “That’s what’s really going to be the big test for us.”
|
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|
</p>
|
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|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="x6ldBW">
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|
One thing we do know is that the suite of public health strategies used so far — social distancing, hand-washing, mask-wearing — remain useful. “A lot of the things that we’ve been doing throughout this pandemic will continue to work when it comes to these variants,” said <a href="https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/our-people/gronvall/">Gigi Gronvall</a>, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, during a press call.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
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|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="o59swv">
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||||||
|
If vaccination rates continue rising while new infections decline, the United States may be able to stay ahead of the virus. Life could return to something approaching normal for most Americans by this summer, according to Mehta.
|
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|
</p>
|
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|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="D6QeCm">
|
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|
But it’s turning out that many parts of the world, especially developing countries, aren’t able to keep up. There are places that still aren’t able to <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/02/14/966418960/you-think-the-u-s-has-vaccine-issues-130-countries-havent-even-started-vaccinati">get vaccines at all</a> — and probably won’t for a couple of years. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread, the likelihood of even more mutations arising will increase. And as has already been demonstrated, new variants don’t stay behind borders for long.
|
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|
</p>
|
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|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OY32FO">
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|
That’s part of why it’s so important to work toward <a href="https://www.vox.com/22291086/biden-covax-united-states-covid-19-vaccinations-world-g7">equity in Covid-19 vaccine distribution</a> around the world. As long as the virus can spread anywhere, it’s a threat everywhere.
|
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|
</p>
|
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|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gGCpsP">
|
||||||
|
<a href="https://www.vox.com/weeds-newsletter"><em>Sign up for The Weeds newsletter</em></a><em>. Every Friday, you’ll get an explainer of a big policy story from the week, a look at important research that recently came out, and answers to reader questions — to guide you through the first 100 days of President Joe Biden’s administration.</em>
|
||||||
|
</p></li>
|
||||||
|
</ul>
|
||||||
|
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
|
||||||
|
<ul>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ashton Agar takes 6-30 as Australia beats New Zealand in 3rd T20</strong> - Glenn Maxwell’s 70 from 31 balls set Australia on course to its commanding total of 208-4.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Kohli bats for rotation policy in age of bio-bubbles</strong> - ‘Till the bubble exists, we need to keep the mental factor in the picture as well, because mental fatigue would be a huge, huge factor’</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Rahul retains second spot, Kohli climbs to 6th in ICC T20I rankings</strong> - England’s Dawid Malan retains top spot with 915 points.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>A day after saying cricket gets forgotten in IPL, Steyn apologises</strong> - In January this year, Steyn announced that he is opting out of the IPL 2021 but will play other leagues around the world.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Too much noise about spin-friendly tracks: Kohli</strong> - England managed 112 and 81 in the Ahmedabad Test after scoring 134 and 164 in Chennai as Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel tormented them in turns.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
</ul>
|
||||||
|
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
|
||||||
|
<ul>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>President takes the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine</strong> - Ram Nath Kovind urges all eligible citizens to get vaccinated</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>In Kochi, frequent price rise of cooking gas triggers squabbles between customers and agencies</strong> - Overnight price hikes burn a hole through the pocket of the customers, leaving distribution agents and their delivery boys at the receiving end of the former’s ire</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>PM photo on COVID vaccine certificates violates poll code, Trinamool tells EC</strong> - PM photos have been used on the COVID-19 vaccination certificates even after the announcement of poll dates, alleges Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Govt okays 12 new SSB battalions to fortify Nepal, Bhutan borders, tri-junction area</strong> - The SSB, with an estimated strength of about 90,000 personnel, is the designated force to guard the open Indian fronts with Nepal (1,751 km) and Bhutan (699 km)</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>HC dismisses Ebrahim Kunju’s plea as withdrawn</strong> - He sought to lift bail condition that he shall not leave Ernakulam</p></li>
|
||||||
|
</ul>
|
||||||
|
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
|
||||||
|
<ul>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Germany to spy on far-right AfD party, reports say</strong> - The intelligence services have not publicly confirmed the move, which the AfD is fighting in court.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ali Boumendjel: France admits ‘torture and murder’ of Algerian nationalist</strong> - President Macron acknowledges that an Algerian nationalist was killed by the French army in 1957.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Covid: France approves AstraZeneca vaccine for over-65s</strong> - Older French patients can now get the jab, which had been initially limited to those aged under 65.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Alexei Navalny: US imposes sanctions on Russians</strong> - The Biden administration targets Russian officials and entities, in a move co-ordinated with the EU.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Covid: What’s the problem with the EU vaccine rollout?</strong> - The coronavirus vaccine is being rolled out across the EU but there have been delays.</p></li>
|
||||||
|
</ul>
|
||||||
|
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
|
||||||
|
<ul>
|
||||||
|
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Jane Does v. GirlsDoPorn: How 22 millennial women brought down a porn empire</strong> - GirlsDoPorn deceived vulnerable women to profit off amateur porn—until Jane Does fought back. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1740595">link</a></p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Merck/J&J deal may help US get enough vaccine for all adults by end of May</strong> - Merck will dedicate two facilities to making the newly authorized J&J vaccine. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1746636">link</a></p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Cuttlefish can pass the marshmallow test</strong> - Cuttlefish that were better at self-control also performed better on learning tests. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1746506">link</a></p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Intel hit with $2.2 billion patent judgment</strong> - Patents claim methods of varying voltages and clock frequencies to save power. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1746490">link</a></p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Dish tries to disrupt SpaceX’s Starlink plans as companies fight at FCC</strong> - Dish is trying to “expropriate the 12 GHz band” for itself, SpaceX tells FCC. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1746518">link</a></p></li>
|
||||||
|
</ul>
|
||||||
|
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
|
||||||
|
<ul>
|
||||||
|
<li><strong>Why can’t dinosaurs clap their hands?</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
|
||||||
|
<div class="md">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Cause they’re dead.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<!-- SC_ON -->
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/BREEZYBEELS"> /u/BREEZYBEELS </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lwgpox/why_cant_dinosaurs_clap_their_hands/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lwgpox/why_cant_dinosaurs_clap_their_hands/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><strong>Karen goes to the doctor not feeling well.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
|
||||||
|
<div class="md">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Karen: Doctor, I’ve not been feeling well lately.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Doctor: I’ve looked at your lab reports and I’m afraid I have some bad news.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Karen: Don’t give me this lab nonsense. I believe in homeopathic medicine, faith-based approaches and healing crystals. All my life, they have never failed me. Now will you do things my way or do I need to see the manager?!?
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Doctor: Sure, we’ll do things your way. No need to raise your temper. Why don’t we try an astrology based approach?
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Karen: At last a sensible approach.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Doctor: So, what’s your star sign?
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Karen: it’s cancer.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Doctor: Well what a fucking coincidence.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
1st cake day, this is my favourite joke of the year. Thanks to you all.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<!-- SC_ON -->
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/ww2212"> /u/ww2212 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lwczux/karen_goes_to_the_doctor_not_feeling_well/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lwczux/karen_goes_to_the_doctor_not_feeling_well/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><strong>My friend claims that he “accidentally” glued himself to his autobiography, but I don’t believe him.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
|
||||||
|
<div class="md">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
But that’s his story, and he’s sticking to it.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<!-- SC_ON -->
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/YZXFILE"> /u/YZXFILE </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lvzpqo/my_friend_claims_that_he_accidentally_glued/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lvzpqo/my_friend_claims_that_he_accidentally_glued/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><strong>I don’t mean to brag, but…</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
|
||||||
|
<div class="md">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
cashiers are always checking me out
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<!-- SC_ON -->
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/burntcig"> /u/burntcig </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lwg2za/i_dont_mean_to_brag_but/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lwg2za/i_dont_mean_to_brag_but/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
|
||||||
|
<li><strong>Instead of Drew, I’m going to name my kid Driew.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
|
||||||
|
<div class="md">
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
|
||||||
|
Now I know what you’re thinking, but it’s only Weird if you say it backwards.
|
||||||
|
</p>
|
||||||
|
</div>
|
||||||
|
<!-- SC_ON -->
|
||||||
|
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/mcudiesinendgame"> /u/mcudiesinendgame </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lwi7cz/instead_of_drew_im_going_to_name_my_kid_driew/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lwi7cz/instead_of_drew_im_going_to_name_my_kid_driew/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
|
||||||
|
</ul>
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
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|
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Reference in New Issue