Parker Davis
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Blood oxygen level-dependent activation of the orbitofrontal cortex in COVID-19
Written by: Parker Davis Edited by: Esther Melamed Anosmia and ageusia – a loss of the sense of smell and taste, respectively – are well-documented symptoms of infection by SARS-CoV-2, the agent of COVID-19 (Vaira et al., 2020; Mak et al., 2020; Tanasa et al., 2020). Though the origins of these symptoms were initially somewhat mysterious,…
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The Johnson & Johnson vaccine promises renewed optimism for widespread distribution
Written by: Parker Davis Edited by: Esther Melamed On Friday, January 29, Johnson & Johnson posted a press release on their website announcing the Phase 3 results of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The vaccine, which was developed and produced by Belgian pharmaceutical company Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, was reported to be 72% effective…
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Despite a rocky start, AstraZeneca tosses its hat into the COVID vaccine ring
Written by: Parker Davis Edited by: Esther Melamed In addition to Pfizer/BioNTech announcing their vaccine as being up to 95% effective in Phase 3 trials, Moderna and the University of Oxford partnered with AstraZeneca have added their names to the list of published vaccine efficacy data. Astonishingly, Moderna has reported in a news update that…
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The Implication of Immunological Memory in SARS-CoV-2 Resistance
In the past month or so, we have seen time and time again studies and news stations reporting that immunity to SARS-CoV-2 begins to wane within a few weeks of infection and is largely absent by 3 months post-infection. As scary as this sounds, it does not necessarily mean that there is no hope for…
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SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Development: Immunological Considerations and Perspectives
As we move ever closer to that ultimate triumph of science over nature – a successful vaccine for COVID-19 – it is increasingly important that we, and especially those in the business of vaccine development, harbor an understanding of how the biology of SARS-CoV-2 interacts with our own, and how we may leverage that interaction…
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The Underlying Immunological Mechanisms of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
Several inflammatory conditions and sequelae have been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19, from cytokine release syndrome (Jose, Manuel 2020), to Kawasaki disease (Jones et al. 2020), and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (see updates for 6/8/2020). Though distinct in etiology and presentation, these complications have in many cases warranted hospitalization and treatment apart from treatment for…
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Neutralizing Autoantibodies Predict COVID-19 Disease Course and Severity
OCTOBER 8, 2020 BY PARKER DAVIS Though the disease course of COVID-19 follows a relatively predetermined and predictable progression, any number of comorbidities that a patient possesses may serve to derail or modify the patient’s clinical trajectory. From hypertension, to diabetes, to various cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases, these underlying pathologies are some of the prime factors that…