By Nancy Lapid
(Reuters) – The following is a summary of some of the latest scientific studies on the new coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
A variant in Brazil is likely to infect the survivors again
A coronavirus variant circulating in Brazil could likely re-infect people who survived infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus, according to new data. The variant that originated in Brazil, called P.1, contains a mutation that is already known to be a variant that occurs in South Africa, is more difficult to treat with antibodies and more difficult to prevent with available vaccines. . New data suggest that immunity to earlier versions of the virus in many recovering patients will not provide immunity to P.1. Researchers have tested the neutralizing ability of antibodies in plasma samples taken from survivors of COVID-19, caused by earlier versions of the virus. The researchers reported on Monday that the plasma had “6 times less neutralizing ability” against the P.1 variant than against earlier virus versions. “Lower neutralization ability of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and partial immunity to new variants suggest that reinfection may occur in individuals with recovery or even vaccination,” the authors said. In a separate article posted on medRxiv on Wednesday before peer review, some of the same researchers estimated that 25 to 60 out of every 100 survivors of COVID-19 could become infected again due to earlier virus versions if exposed to the P.1 variant because their antibodies could not protect it. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention, by Thursday, there were 13 cases of COVID-19 due to P.1 in the United States. (https://bit.ly/2PyNFGt; https://bit.ly/3qeqq1a)
COVID-19 antibodies are transferred into breast milk
COVID-19 antibodies induced by vaccines from Pfizer Inc / BioNTech and Moderna Inc can be transferred into breast milk, according to a small study, although it is not yet clear how long the antibodies will be present. Six breastfeeding mothers, who planned to receive both doses of Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, gave researchers milk samples before and after vaccination, with the last sample collected two weeks after the second survey. None of the women were infected with the coronavirus. One week after the first shot, all the women had COVID-19 antibodies in their breast milk. Antibody levels then dropped slightly and then increased sharply after the second shot. The two vaccines were also effective in inducing the antibodies, although the antibody levels differ from woman to woman, the research team reported on Tuesday on medRxiv. “Further research is needed on the longevity of the antibody response in breast milk, as well as the extent and duration of the effect on infants’ immunity to the virus,” the researchers said. (https://bit.ly/3kNOPJP)
Neurological problems commonly found in children admitted to hospital with COVID-19
Most children and teens are spared from severe COVID-19, but among those who do need hospitalization, temporary neurological effects are common, researchers have found. In their study of 1,695 patients 21 or younger admitted to hospital for COVID-19 or a COVID-19-related disease known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome, 365 – or 22% – had neurological complications, including 43 (12%) with life-threatening neurologists. disorders such as strokes and central nervous system infections. Other neurological effects include seizures, headache, weakness, loss of smell and taste, and altered consciousness or confusion. According to a report published in JAMA Neurology on Friday, neurological involvement in most patients was short-lived and resolved by the time they left the hospital. Because the children only studied hospitalized children, the extent and rate of neurological complications may be an underestimation of the real problem, the authors said. They said more research is needed to determine the true appearance and to track these children down in the long run. (https://bit.ly/2PCxXKC)
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(Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Edited by Bill Berkrot)