March 24, 20206 yr comment_18129 The coronavirus isn’t mutating quickly, suggesting a vaccine would offer lasting protection Dr. Niman, please comment on this story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/the-coronavirus-isnt-mutating-quickly-suggesting-a-vaccine-would-offer-lasting-protection/2020/03/24/406522d6-6dfd-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html Report
March 25, 20206 yr comment_18140 I would certainly defer to Dr. Niman, but my understanding is that an RNA virus such as coronavirus is prone to error in replication i.e. mutation. This virus is highly transmissible and will therefore have achieved a large reservoir of hosts. A vaccine may work but may also introduce selection pressure such that mutations unfavorable to the hosts (humans) proliferate. Report
March 25, 20206 yr Author comment_18144 Thanks. What I would most like Dr. Niman to comment on is why most virologists, according to the article, aren't accepting the proposition that there are different strains with different severity and/or transmission characteristics. Dr. Niman seems convinced that the strain in Italy (and now other countries) is more deadly, whereas others are attributing the higher case fatality rate in Italy to other factors. Edited March 25, 20206 yr by Jon Schultz Report
March 26, 20206 yr Author comment_18226 Also, Dr. Niman, do you think one vaccine will work for both of the current two main lineages you described to Jeff Rense last night? And if they're only going to create one vaccine, do you think it's important that they base it on the "Italian strain"? Report
March 29, 20206 yr comment_18392 On 3/24/2020 at 6:48 PM, Jon Schultz said: The coronavirus isn’t mutating quickly, suggesting a vaccine would offer lasting protection Dr. Niman, please comment on this story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/the-coronavirus-isnt-mutating-quickly-suggesting-a-vaccine-would-offer-lasting-protection/2020/03/24/406522d6-6dfd-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html Same comments were made for SARS. Coronaviruses recombine frequently and will quickly evolve away from a vaccine. Report
April 15, 20206 yr Author comment_19338 I imagine you've seen this article, Dr. Niman, but if not: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3079678/coronavirus-mutation-threatens-race-develop-vaccine Coronavirus mutation could threaten the race to develop vaccine A strain found in India showed changes in the mechanism used to bind the virus to human cells which could render current research futile Researchers are targeting the same process that allowed Sars to infect people, but the mutation could upend their assumptions Report
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