Why are some people naturally less resistant to Covid-19?
A team of researchers affiliated with a group of institutions in the United Kingdom and Brazil has partly solved the mystery of why some people are naturally less resistant to Covid-19 than others.
A new study shows that small differences in an individual’s genetic makeup may help explain why some people build a strong natural defense against Covid infection, while others become severely ill.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow’s Center for Virus Research have identified a specific protein called OAS1, which is believed to play a key role in shaping the early stages of an individual’s response to Sars-CoV-2.
When a human cell is infected, the OAS1 protein interacts with interferon signaling by calling for an immune response when the SARS-CoV-2 virus is detected, allowing the cell to begin attacking the virus’s genetic material.
Previous studies have also shown that these signals can prevent the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The study, published in the journal Science, suggests that some people express a more protective version of OAS1 that binds to membranes using a prenyl group as part of the signaling process, which is the addition of a single fat molecule to the protein encoded by the OAS1 gene.
Because coronaviruses hide inside cells and replicate their genomes inside vesicles made of lipids, pre-OAS1 is better suited to seek out Sars-CoV-2 and direct cellular weapons to attack it.
The researchers looked at the transcriptomes of 500 Covid-19 patients who experienced a wide range of symptoms, and found that those who had not been exposed to prior OAS1 experienced more severe symptoms. Why some people are born without this enzyme is still a mystery, but the team’s work could help lead to new types of vaccines against Covid-19 and other types of infections.
Based on their findings, the researchers turned their attention to another mammal, the horseshoe bat, one of the presumed sources of SARS-CoV-2, and found that it did not possess the OAS1 preform that protects humans from the virus. This discovery could help explain why bats are such prolific hosts for a variety of viruses.
This means that the virus never needed to adapt to evade this line of defense, but if the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates and gains the ability to circumvent the defenses generated by OAS1 protein promerization, the virus could potentially become more virulent or transmissible.
Trapped viruses within a new strategy for the vaccine industry
Trapped viruses within a new strategy for the vaccine industry
Chinese scientists create a vaccine that contains the live virus in a protective water gel in order to activate the body’s immune response quickly, safely and effectively without side effects and safety problems.
Promising technology for health protection
BEIJING – Chinese scientists have devised a new strategy for making vaccines that avoids the disadvantages and side effects of inactivated virus technology.
Inactivated vaccines contain a killed form of the pathogen, to help the immune system trigger a response without causing disease.
The manufacture of vaccines with a whole virus raises concerns about reducing immunity and raises questions about safety.
This method also requires time-consuming production processes, which hinders its widespread application.
Recently, the risks of new viral outbreaks have led to an urgent need for safe and effective ready-to-use vaccines.
The strategy involves trapping the live virus in a protective hydrogel in order to quickly, safely, and effectively activate the body’s immune response.
Researchers from Zhejiang University and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology demonstrated an experimental vaccine consisting of live, wild-type Zika virus, a mosquito-borne single-stranded RNA virus, Xinhua reported.
They prevent the escape of viral particles via electrostatic interaction but allow the passage of immune cells
The researchers trapped the virus in a water gel using chitosan scaffolds, which can prevent the escape of viral particles through electrostatic interaction but allow the passage of immune cells.
The vaccine, injected under the skin of mice, was shown to activate normal immune responses, resulting in effective humoral and cellular immunity, thus protecting the rodents against deadly Zika infection, according to the study, which was published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
This study shows that virulent virus strains can be directly converted into vaccines by engineering virus-trapping microenvironments.
The study represents a promising strategy for protecting health against emerging infectious diseases, the researchers said.
How to deal with stress and anxiety during the pandemic?
As you watch the events of the coronavirus outbreak unfold, it is not abnormal to experience increased feelings of stress and panic.
The news keeps pouring in and the information can be overwhelming and frightening. You may experience anxiety and fear due to many issues such as dealing with family members or people at risk, the need to work from home, or just adjusting to new situations. Over the days, stress can build up and affect you both physically and mentally.
In this article, we present some surefire ways to manage the stress around the outbreak and keep a positive mindset.
Maintain social ties
Maintaining social connections is one of the most important things you can do to promote your own mental health and that of others. Make a point of reaching out to those you love to maintain strong relationships, even if we keep our physical distance.
This is especially important for people with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Ask them how they are – offer to listen to them and let them know that you care about them.
Be kind to others
Simple actions can have a lot of meaning, like offering to run errands for a neighbor or friend who may be more vulnerable, or letting people know that you are available to help them. Not only will they feel less isolated and lonely, but you will likely feel better, too.
Take a break from the media
If you spend a lot of time reading or watching media coverage and notice that it makes you anxious, consider limiting yourself to checking the news only once or twice a day, and for a limited time. Use reliable sources to keep up to date, then take a break. Turn off the TV and listen to some music, you will feel much better.
Take care of yourself
Eat fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. We know that sleep has a direct impact on the immune system, so set a regular time each night to relax and rest.
Modify your sports program
If you choose to exercise at home rather than in the gym, have fun changing your routine. There are lots of tips available on the Internet for training without special equipment. Exercise is good for your mental health. Here are some ideas to get you moving without leaving the house.
Breathe deeply
By taking the time to pause for just three full, deep breaths, we can restore the reaction of both body and mind. Try doing this several times a day and see the difference it makes. This easy-to-perform exercise is another way to reduce stress.
Share your feelings
It is normal, especially at these times, to feel anxious and stressed. Know that you are not alone and that it is okay to share your feelings with a friend, family member, coworker, doctor, or anyone you trust. Your children may also feel anxious, do not hesitate to encourage them to express themselves on their moods.
Practice gratitude
Practice gratitude by making a daily habit of writing down a few things for which you are grateful. Better yet, send them to a friend and ask them to share their list with you.
If you suffer from depression, anxiety, addiction, or other mental health issues, contact your doctor.
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How do you deal with the “Omicron” virus?
Omicron“, the new mutated virus from “Corona”, was able to reach more than 30 countries and is on its way to other countries, in light of its ability to overcome human immunity and immunization against the initial type, Covid 19, but there are some claims that it is milder than the mutants. Delta and ex covid.
discovery of mutant omicron
A mutant of the Corona virus was discovered and found in South Africa, where a group of mutations appeared completely different from the current variants, and this mutant achieved many of the developments and mutations that were
Epidemiologist: Humans lost 28 million years of their life in 2020 due to Corona
There is an opinion that the Omicron mutant appeared because there is a patient who could not overcome the Corona virus, and therefore the new mutant appeared.
immune evasion
The virus has the ability to evade the immune system, as it is not possible to predict what that virus does in the human body. The current concern about Omicron is much greater than the concern about Corona, as by tracking the virus, a group of alarming mutations were seen.
Vaccines are less effective against the new mutation, and they also make it more difficult for antibodies to stand up to it. There are some variables that have emerged through studies, including the beta variable, which had the ability to evade the immune system, but Delta overcame it and became the fastest in spreading.
Experiments and current studies about Omicron
Some laboratory experiments are conducted, in order to study whether the antibodies in human blood have the ability to stand in front of the new mutant or not.
Some scientists praised that the mutated delta that appeared some time ago has the ability to escape from the immune system like beta, but the escape is very modest, but it is expected that there will be higher degrees in the coming period.
Spread of the new mutant
Cases are increasing dramatically in South Africa, since mid-November, when the number of cases recorded on a daily basis has become 8,000, after the daily number was only 250, and the country is witnessing a set of changes, and it may be the cause of the new mutation
There was a talk among experts that what is happening now in South Africa will be repeated with the rest of the countries, such as the United Kingdom and the rest of the world, as the evidence indicates that the mutant is spreading very quickly, and is entering into great competition with Delta.
Some believe that the severity of the virus differs from one country to another according to the immunity of its citizens, so the role of the virus is different from one place to another, but others believe that there is a really strong mutated cause that causes infection with the virus, and then infection with a serious disease occurs after it.
the severity of the disease
There is no evidence that the symptoms associated with corona are different from those associated with Omicron, nor is there any information indicating that the symptoms are different from those found in all other variables.
It is not yet clear thatCorona vaccine puts Trump in an embarrassing situation on the air infection with Omicron causes disease that is more severe than other variants, but there is some evidence to suggest that there is a risk of reinfection with Omicron, but the information is very limited.
Vaccine efficacy
The World Health Organization is now working with companies to understand the potential impact of the alternative, but the organization praises the importance of current vaccines to reduce severe disease and death, including the Delta mutant, and vaccines remain useful and effective against serious disease and death.
PCR tests are ongoing, and these include an omicron infection, in order to determine whether the rapid detection tests have any effect.
Treatments are currently being evaluated to see if they are effective compared to the changes that have now occurred in the Corona virus. There are also studies on the transmissibility of the virus, the severity of infection, diagnostic tests, and the efficacy and performance of vaccines.
Actions recommended by the World Health Organization for countries
1. WHO encourages countries to collect data and share patient data through the WHO Clinical Data Platform, so that all characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients are described.
2. Informing the organization of cases and primary groups, and conducting laboratory evaluations in order to understand the different characteristics of the disease, and how vaccines affect it.
3. Implementation of all public health measures to reduce the spread of viruses and diseases, and medical and health capacities must be increased in order to manage the excess cases, and the organization can provide countries that need reinforcements with support and guidance.
4. Good and fair diagnosis and equality in giving people doses of different vaccines, and determining who can give weak doses of vaccines.
5. Maintaining the distances between people, which is not less than a meter at least, in addition to opening windows for good ventilation, avoiding crowded places, and maintaining hygiene in general.
6. The World Health Organization always strives to provide all the information about everything new on social media platforms and various media
Hand care after daily sterilization
Repeated washing and sterilization in the time of “Corona” constitutes severe stress for the hands, and causes them to dry out and crack, so hands should be taken care of with moisturizing creams.
German dermatologist Marion Morse-Karby explained that it is best to use a soap with a pH of 5.5; Where this value is gentle on the skin, according to the “24” website.
Morse-Carpe added that hands should be cared for after washing and sterilization in order to strengthen the skin’s natural protective barrier, with creams containing moisturizing substances such as shea butter, hyaluronic acid, urea or glycerin.
For his part, the German cosmetic expert, Martin Rubmann, pointed out that very stressed skin needs intensive care, such as a jojoba oil bath; Where the oil is placed on the surface of the hand and left for about ten minutes to take effect, and then the skin is massaged with the excess oil.
Alternatively, hands can also be dipped in a bowl filled with warm olive or almond oil for ten minutes, and after this bath, the oil is left on the hand for another ten minutes before drying the hands.
The black tea bath is one of the good possibilities for caring for the stressed skin of the hand. For this purpose, a high dose of black tea is boiled for 20 minutes, then the tea is left to cool until it reaches a temperature suitable for the hand, and the hands are dipped in the pot for about ten minutes, then the hands are massaged. Cream rich in fat.