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Covid-19 Infects More Lung Cells Than Thought

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the University of California-San Diego in the US have discovered that the lungs can independently mount an antiviral response without immune system aid when exposed to the virus…reports Asian Lite News

A lot more lung cell types can be infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the Covid-19 pandemic, and the number is higher than what was previously speculated, according to a study.

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the University of California-San Diego in the US have discovered that the lungs can independently mount an antiviral response without immune system aid when exposed to the virus.

The team used induced pluripotent stem cells to create “mini lungs,” discovering that SARS-CoV-2 can infect cells without traditional receptors.

“While many people experience mild or moderate symptoms, Covid-19 still kills,” said Sandra Leibel, Associate Professor of Paediatrics at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine.

“This virus is here to stay, and we need to learn everything we can about it so we can improve treatment and prevention,” she added.

In the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that different strains of the virus prefer different lung cells, potentially explaining variations in disease severity. For instance, the Delta variant caused more severe pneumonia, while Omicron led to milder symptoms. The study also showed that the drug apilimod could block SARS-CoV-2’s entry into cells lacking traditional receptors.

Additionally, the team discovered that the lung’s surfactant protein B (SP-B) plays a crucial role in the antiviral response.

“These findings suggest not just one but two potential novel drug applications with the possible clinical use of surfactant early in Covid-19 cases,” said Evan Snyder, a professor in the Human Genetics Programme at Sanford Burnham Prebys. This research could lead to better treatment strategies and risk assessment tools for Covid.

ALSO READ-First Covid inquiry report to show plan failures

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-Top News COVID-19 UK News

First Covid inquiry report to show plan failures

During the hearings for this module, last year, 69 experts and politicians, including former Prime Minister David Cameron and Health Secretaries Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock, gave evidence…reports Asian Lite News

The failures and weaknesses in the UK’s pandemic preparations are expected to be laid out in the first report published by the Covid inquiry. Baroness Hallett, who is chairing the public inquiry, will set out her findings at lunchtime.

Her report will cover the state of the healthcare system, stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the planning that was in place. It is the first of at least nine reports covering everything from political decision-making to vaccines and the impact on children.

During the hearings for this module, last year, 69 experts and politicians, including former Prime Minister David Cameron and Health Secretaries Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock, gave evidence.

The inquiry heard much of the UK preparations had been based on planning for a flu virus. This meant an over-reliance on vaccines and antivirals that would have no impact on a Covid virus and an acceptance only so much could be done to curb the spread of a new virus.

Hunt told the inquiry the UK should have been paying more attention to Asian countries such as Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea, which had seen earlier outbreaks of two other coronaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers).

Those countries suppressed the initial wave of Covid more effectively, by rolling out targeted test, trace and quarantine systems and establishing border controls.

And this helped reduce the number of deaths and limited the use of lockdowns. Another issue Lady Hallett is likely to address is why the government failed to act on the recommendations made when the civil service ran Exercise Alice, in 2016, simulating a major Mers outbreak.

Witnesses were also critical of austerity and the state it had left the NHS and public health systems in. England’s former chief medical officer Prof Dame Sally Davies was heavily critical of the state of the NHS, saying it had fewer doctors, nurses, beds and ventilators than in similar countries.

And University College epidemiology professor Michael Marmot said the UK had entered the pandemic with “depleted” public services, leaving it less able to cope. But George Osborne, the Chancellor between 2010 and 2016, told the inquiry austerity had meant the UK had had the financial resources to deal with the pandemic.

The inquiry heard a number of Department of Health workstreams relating to pandemic planning had been paused or slowed as planning for a no-deal Brexit had been prioritised.

But former cabinet minister Michael Gove said Brexit planning had increased staffing and made departments work more closely together. And former Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the same work had secured medical supply chains and prevented hospitals running out of some intensive-care drugs.

Prof Adam Kucharski, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who advised the government during the pandemic, told BBC News preparedness was a crucial issue and the report’s findings would require action. “We’re going to face more pandemic threats in future,” he said.

“We need to ask the question, ‘If there’s a pandemic next year, what do we want a good response to look like and what do we need to be putting in place now to ensure that response is feasible?’”

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COVID-19 Health Lite Blogs

Breakthrough Covid Infections Boost Immunity

Covid vaccines are given in the upper arm, which means immune cells fighting the virus develop far away from the upper respiratory system…reports Asian Lite News

The immune cells of people who received Covid 19 vaccines and also experienced “breakthrough” or repeated infections can build an “immunity wall” against future SARS-CoV-2 infections, according to scientists.

Analysing blood samples, the team at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) in California, US, found that people who experienced symptomatic breakthrough infections, from the Delta and Omicron variants, developed T-cells that are better at recognising and targeting SARS-CoV-2.

“The virus evolves, but, importantly, so does the immune system. T-cells do not sit idle. Instead, they learn to recognise the parts of the virus that mutate,” said Alessandro Sette, Professor at LJI.

The researchers noted that due to multiple infections, “the cells could recognise multiple features, or antigens, on SARS-CoV-2.” As a result, the volunteers’ T-cells could recognise and target SARS-CoV-2, “even if part of it was mutated.”

The study published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine showed that even asymptomatic breakthrough infections boost T-cell responses, however, the effect was not as significant.

Further, breakthrough infections also led B-cells to produce cross-reactive antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Most of these antibodies targeted the new viral variants and the original vaccine antigens.

“New B-cell responses that are only specific to the infecting variant, but not the vaccine, are very rare,” said LJI Instructor Parham Ramezani-Rad.

Importantly, the researchers discovered that breakthrough infections add more layers of protection to an individual “on top of a vaccine.”

Covid vaccines are given in the upper arm, which means immune cells fighting the virus develop far away from the upper respiratory system.

But, SARS-CoV-2 first infects the upper respiratory tract, which means there can be a delay in getting the right immune cells to the scene of infection, which the breakthrough infections can guard, explained the researchers.

The researchers found no evidence of harmful “T-cell exhaustion,” where T-cells lose their ability to target a pathogen after repeated infection.

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Covid-19 Vaccination Cuts Mortality Risk in Heart Failure Patients

Heart Failure is a life-threatening syndrome affecting more than 64 million people globally…reports Asian Lite News

Patients with heart failure who are vaccinated against Covid-19 are 82 per cent more likely to live longer than those who are not vaccinated, a new study said on Saturday.

The study presented at Heart Failure 2024, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), used the Korean National Health Insurance Service database to obtain information on vaccinations and clinical outcomes.

Participants who received two or more doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were described as “vaccinated”, and those who were not vaccinated or had received just one dose were defined as “unvaccinated”.

Heart Failure is a life-threatening syndrome affecting more than 64 million people globally.

“In this large study of patients with heart failure, Covid-19 vaccination was associated with a lower likelihood of contracting the infection, being admitted to hospital because of heart failure, or dying from any cause during a six-month period compared with remaining unvaccinated,” said study author Dr Kyeong-Hyeon Chun of the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Republic of Korea.

The study comprised 651,127 heart failure patients over the age of 18. The average age was 69.5 years, and 50 per cent were female. Of the whole study population, 538,434 (83 per cent) were classified as vaccinated, and 112,693 (17 per cent) as unvaccinated.

The researchers found that vaccination was associated with an 82 per cent lower risk of all-cause mortality, 47 per cent lower risk of hospitalisation for heart failure, and 13 per cent reduced risk of Covid-19 infection compared with no vaccination.

Regarding cardiovascular complications, vaccination was associated with significantly lower risks of stroke, heart attack, myocarditis/pericarditis, and venous thromboembolism compared to no vaccination, the researchers mentioned.

“The study provides strong evidence to support vaccination in patients with heart failure. However, this evidence may not be applicable to all patients with heart failure, and the risks of vaccination should be considered in patients with unstable conditions,” Chun said.

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-Top News Health USA

CDC Reports 22 Million Flu Cases in US This Season

Medical workers carry a patient into a hospital in New York, the United States, Dec. 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ying/IANS)

Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally with increases in some parts of the country…reports Asian Lite News

There have been at least 22 million flu illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations, and 15,000 deaths from flu so far this season in the US, according to the latest data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated nationally with increases in some parts of the country.

Eight influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported during the latest week ending February 3, bringing the season total to 74 pediatric deaths, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the CDC data.

Over 11,000 patients were admitted to hospitals with flu in the latest week, the CDC data showed.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine as long as influenza viruses are spreading.

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-Top News Health

COVID Deaths Soar to 10,000 in December Due to Holiday Spread

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Although Covid-19 no longer constitutes a global health emergency, the virus is still circulating, changing and killing, he warned…reports Asian Lite News

Holiday gatherings and the globally dominant JN.1 variant fueled the spread of Covid-19 across the world in December, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus head of the WHO, said.

Almost 10,000 deaths from Covid-19 were reported to the WHO in December, while hospitalisations rose 42 per cent and ICU admissions jumped 62 per cent over the previous month, Ghebreyesus told a virtual press briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.

The trends are derived from data shared by less than 50 countries, mostly in Europe and the Americas, said the health agency’s Director-General, who believed there are increases in other countries going unreported, Xinhua news agency reported.

Although Covid-19 no longer constitutes a global health emergency, the virus is still circulating, changing and killing, he warned.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead for Covid-19, attributed the increase in respiratory diseases across the globe to the coronavirus, flu, rhinovirus and pneumonia.

“We expect those trends to continue into January through the winter months in the northern hemisphere,” she said.

ALSO READ-New AI model to predict Covid-19 variant waves early

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-Top News Tech Lite

New AI model to predict Covid-19 variant waves early

The patterns that emerged from this analysis were used to build a Machine Learning-enabled risk assessment model…reports Asian Lite News

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US have developed a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that can predict early which SARS-CoV-2 variants are likely to cause new waves of infection.

Current models used to predict the dynamics of viral transmission do not predict variant-specific spread.

The team led by Retsef Levi from MIT’s Sloan School of Management studied what factors could shape the viral spread based on an analysis of 9 million SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequences collected by the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) from 30 countries, along with data on vaccination rates, infection rates, and other factors.

The findings are published in the journal PNAS Nexus.

The patterns that emerged from this analysis were used to build a Machine Learning-enabled risk assessment model.

The model can detect 72.8 per cent of the variants in each country that will cause at least 1,000 cases per million people in the next three months after an observation period of only one week after detection.

This predictive performance increases to 80.1 per cent after two weeks of observation.

Among the strongest predictors that a variant will become infectious are the early trajectory of the infections caused by the variant, the variant’s spike mutations, and how different the mutations of a new variant are from those of the most dominant variant during the observation period.

“This work provides an analytical framework that leverages multiple data sources, including genetic sequence data and epidemiological data via machine-learning models to provide improved early signals on the spread risk of new SARS-CoV-2 variants,” said the researchers in the study.

While calling for more research, they noted that the modelling approach could potentially be extended to other respiratory viruses such as influenza, avian flu viruses, or other coronaviruses.

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-Top News COVID-19 India News

India Reports 602 New Covid Cases, 511 of JN.1 Series Variant

Over 10 per cent of people with Covid in the UK consistently reported anxiety or excess worrying since early November, revealed the winter Covid report from the ONS…reports Asian Lite News

India has recorded 602 new Covid-19 infections in the past 24 hours, pushing the the total number of active cases to 4,440 on Wednesday.

The country had recorded 865 new cases on May 19.

Five new fatalities — one each from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Punjab, two from Kerala — have been reported in the span of 24 hours, according to the ministry’s data.

As of now, the total number of coronavirus cases in India, since the outbreak in January 2020, has reached 4,50,15, 083.

The death toll related to Covid cases in the country has risen to 5,33,371.

The new variant, JN.1 subvariant is descendent of the Omicron subvariant known as BA.2.86 or Pirola, with Kerala being the first state to report a case.

“A total of 511 cases of the JN.1 series variant have been reported from 11 states till January 2. Karnataka has reported 199 cases of the sub-variant. Kerala has reported 148 cases. 47 cases have been reported from Goa, 36 from Gujarat, 32 from Maharashtra,” the health ministry has said.

The overall recovery from Covid has reached over 4.4 crore individuals, reflecting a national recovery rate of 98.81 per cent.

The country has administered a total of 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccines, as per the available data.

Symptoms

Health authorities in the UK have identified anxiety and trouble in sleeping as new symptoms of the latest Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1, according to a report.

JN.1, from the lineage of Omicron, was first detected in August and is currently present in over 40 countries.

It has been classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organisation (WHO), due to its rapid spread.

JN.1 is a descendant lineage of BA.2.86. In comparison with BA.2.86, JN.1 has the additional L455S mutation in the spike protein, making it more transmissible. However, no signs of new or unusual symptoms caused by the virus have been reported yet.

So far, the symptoms reported are mostly restricted to upper respiratory tract infections such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and runny nose.

But recent data from December 2023 by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) spotted two new symptoms: trouble sleeping and anxiety.

Over 10 per cent of people with Covid in the UK consistently reported anxiety or excess worrying since early November, revealed the winter Covid report from the ONS.

The most common Covid-19 symptoms are runny nose (31.1 per cent), cough (22.9 per cent), headache (20.1 per cent), fatigue (19.6 per cent), muscle pain (15.8 per cent), sore throat (13.2 per cent), trouble sleeping (10.8 per cent), and anxiety (10.5 per cent), the data showed.

Interestingly, the once-common loss of taste and smell is currently reported in only 2-3 per cent of UK cases.

But whether a person will experience some or all of these symptoms, including those that have not previously been commonly reported, largely depends on each individual’s health and immunity to the virus.

The findings come at a time when there is a fresh global rise in Covid infections. As per the WHO, the global number of new Covid-19 cases has increased by 52 per cent during the last one month.

The UN health body also reported an increase in hospital, ICU admissions as well as deaths globally.

Meanwhile, India recorded 573 fresh cases of Covid and two deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Tuesday.

The total number of active cases stands at 4,565. The country reportedly also has a total of 197 cases of the JN.1 from 11 states — Kerala, Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Odisha, and Delhi.

“Overall cases are mild and severity is seen in only less than 10 per cent of the cases, and only when people are having previous comorbidities, involving lungs and old age,” Dr Kirti Sabnis, Infectious Disease Specialist, Fortis Hospital Mulund told IANS.

“Generally, the fatality rate is less than 2 per cent, deaths are occurring very sparingly and is not a common feature,” she added.

The doctor said there are also “no severe illnesses” seen among patients and “not many people are requiring hospitalisation, because of JN.1. Majority of the patients are getting better at home”.

The doctor advised using masks, maintaining hand hygiene and to avoid public gatherings if one is sick.

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-Top News COVID-19

WHO Declares JN.1 as Standalone Covid Variant

Though JN.1 is now restricted to its circulation in the US, it is responsible for an estimated 1 in 5 new coronavirus infections, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…reports Asian Lite News

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the new Covid-19 variant — JN.1 — as a “standalone variant of interest”.

WHO’s decision was prompted by the variant’s ability to spread fast among the community. It said the decision was due to the strain’s ‘rapidly increasing spread’.

The WHO on Tuesday announced that it is classifying a new Covid-19 strain – JN.1 – as a standalone variant of interest “due to its rapidly increasing spread”, media reports said adding that the new variants’ characteristics and a growth advantage over other strains in circulation prompted the early warning, reports said.

Though WHO assessed the global public health risk of JN.1 as low, it warned that countries approaching winter should be aware that Covid-19 and other pathogens may exacerbate respiratory disease seasons.

“Despite this, with the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, JN.1 could increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries,” it said.

Though JN.1 is now restricted to its circulation in the US, it is responsible for an estimated 1 in 5 new coronavirus infections, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency expects that JN.1’s prevalence in the US will continue to increase in the winter months.

WHO considers BA.2.86 sub lineages to be variants of interest, but now JN.1 is listed as a variant of interest separate from its parent lineage, also known as pirola.

WHO defines a variant of interest as a strain with genetic mutations, according to US News & World Report.

Covid-19 tests and treatments are expected to work on JN.1. So far, it doesn’t appear to cause more severe disease but it does seem to have advantages over the other strains.

“While there is a rapid increase in JN.1 infections, and likely increase in cases, available limited evidence does not suggest that the associated disease severity is higher as compared to other circulating variants,” WHO said in its risk assessment of the strain.

Coronavirus vaccines are also expected to work on JN.1. “Current vaccines, including those based on ancestral strain as well as the updated monovalent XBB vaccines continue to provide protection against severe disease and death, including against JN.1,” WHO’s Maria Van Kerkhove said on social media.

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-Top News Europe UK News

Boris Rubbishes Allegations That He ‘Let Covid Rip’

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.(photo:Instagram)

Dismissing the implications drawn from the diary extracts, Johnson insisted that his position was centered on saving human life across all age groups…reports Asian Lite News

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson vehemently denied pursuing a “let it rip” strategy in managing the coronavirus pandemic during his testimony at the Covid inquiry. Insisting that he actively contributed counter arguments to challenge consensus in meetings, Johnson asserted that his actions aimed to curb the virus rather than allowing it to freely spread through the population. His testimony focused on countering accusations of being slow to react when Covid-19 cases surged again in the autumn of 2020.

Facing nearly ten hours of questioning, Johnson passionately rejected the notion that he was reluctant to enforce a second lockdown, dismissing claims that he prioritized keeping the economy open over protecting vulnerable populations. During a particularly tense exchange, he labelled such ideas as “rubbish” and emphasized his commitment to “save human life at all ages.”

The second day of Johnson’s testimony delved into the events of the autumn of 2020, with accusations that he delayed reimposing restrictions as cases rose. Reference was made to Sir Patrick Vallance’s diary, the government’s chief scientific adviser at the time. Johnson was confronted with an entry from October, quoting him as advocating for “letting it all rip” and suggesting that potential victims had “had a good innings” and “reached their time anyway.” The inquiry’s lead lawyer insinuated that these “secretly held” views influenced Johnson’s reluctance to reimpose restrictions, to which he vehemently disagreed.

Dismissing the implications drawn from the diary extracts, Johnson insisted that his position was centered on saving human life across all age groups. He defended his decisions, emphasizing that the government implemented lockdown measures as soon as feasible and highlighting his role in challenging consensus during meetings.

In addressing the language he used, Johnson expressed regret for any “hurt and offence” caused, attributing his unpolished communication style to fostering an environment where others felt free to express themselves. He disputed the accuracy of reported accounts, stating that some described words were unfamiliar to him. As protesters demonstrated outside the inquiry building, holding pictures of lost loved ones and expressing their grievances, Johnson maintained his position that his actions throughout the pandemic were driven by a commitment to safeguarding human life.

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