The Disgruntled Biologist

Just another disgruntled biologist trying to stay sane and combat "the miasma of misinformation" regarding science and biology.

[Hank Green @hankgreen]

In 2010 my brother and I started posting educational videos because we had run out of ideas for our vlog.

Today, with @ASU and @Google, we’re launching https://t.co/ciWkOtX8iS a path from YouTube to real, transferable college credit, and I want to talk about why (and how).

[Hank Green @hankgreen]

Be skeptical of any research that shows the health risks / benefits of a behavior that can also be correlated to wealth.

Is quinoa good for you? Or do rich people get better healthcare?

[Tanentzapf Lab @TanentzapfLab]

“This grant proposal describes breeding experiments in peas. This reviewer remains unconvinced about the translational benefits. Applicant should switch to a more economically important crop like wheat. Applicant’s productivity also an issue, no paper published in last 8 years”.

[Michael Mina @michaelmina_lab]

Did You Know:

When you swab your nose for a rapid test or a PCR test…. You do NOT want to go for the “snot and gooey” stuff.

Nope, the virus lives in the cells lining your nose.

You want the swab to rub against and “scrape” the cells of the nasal walls for the best sample.

[Michael Mina @michaelmina_lab]

Here’s an ex of why we can’t just use FDA numbers vs PCR

If we only compare vs PCR, you get poor sensitivity (here: ~400/800 or ~50%).

But if you compare viral loads that matter (culture pos), you get very high sensitivity: 93% here.

From https://t.co/q17YY8LDAv

[The Disgruntled Biologist @TheDisgruntle20]

@catrenzer @wojespn I don't know for sure, but I assume that vaccinated players with a positive PCR test but a high Ct value (less virus in airway) are considered to have mounted an effective immune response and to no longer be contagious.

3/3

[The Disgruntled Biologist @TheDisgruntle20]

@catrenzer @wojespn PCR tests are much more sensitive and detect very small amounts of viral genetic material - RNA. These tests link the amount of this RNA to a number (the Ct value). A low Ct value implies A LOT of viral material (<30) and a high Ct value indicates very little virus (31+)

2/3

[The Disgruntled Biologist @TheDisgruntle20]

@catrenzer @wojespn It depends on the test. Antigen tests require a large amount of viral proteins to be present in the upper airway to come up positive. This is generally considered a good indicator of contagiousness but not infection. They may be using this indicator.
1/3

[The Disgruntled Biologist @TheDisgruntle20]

@wxahcaleb @ShamsCharania The definitive way is to sequence the virus and cross-refrence it against other sequences for known mutations. Some tests target multiple parts of the virus and certain targets dropping out while the rest come up positive can also be indicative of these mutations.

[The Disgruntled Biologist @TheDisgruntle20]

@SamCharnizon @patrickc I don't like what I said. That's too alarmist. Vax associated *antibody* response against omicron isn't very good.

Still waiting to see what this means for disease, T cell response, etc.

[The Disgruntled Biologist @TheDisgruntle20]

@SamCharnizon @patrickc Compared to a previous rapidly spreading variant of concern (Delta), Omicron appears to be much better at not being bound by neutralizing antibodies associated with mRNA or the AstraZeneca vax.

tldr: Vax associated immune response isn't good against Omicron

[WesElyMD @WesElyMD]

SHOCKER‼️ 1 in 10 lung 🫁 transplants is now for #COVID.

Huge Shift ⬆️ in 1 year.

We’ve done ~250 in US alone & people w COPD & Fibrosis die waiting.

It’s another measure of the human cost of allowing #Virus to spread.

#Mask #Vaxx to prevent tragedy.

https://t.co/5sFoHsvTmD

[Michael Mina @michaelmina_lab]

YES! We would!

[Dr. Tom Frieden @DrTomFrieden]

The data is overwhelming: unvaccinated people are more likely to get Covid and MUCH more likely to get seriously ill and die from it. Vaccines aren't about any political party—they're about humans vs. the virus.

[Dr. Tom Frieden @DrTomFrieden]

It's impossible to get Covid from vaccination. Vaccines don't contain the virus itself—they contain instructions for your immune system to recognize and kill the virus if you're exposed.

[Michael Mina @michaelmina_lab]

I truly dislike the term "Natural Immunity"

There is no such thing as artificial immunity

A vaccine drives a NATURAL immune response

The question is simply "how do you want to start building that immunity?" Through a risky infection or via a safe vaccine

Me? I choose vaccine.

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

The @CDCgov trial to rigorously assess mRNA vaccination suppression of covid infections as assessed with frequent NP swabs in nearly 4,000 participants
91% efficacy of blocking transmission of infection (2 doses); 40% reduction of viral load https://t.co/tI6LECbw42

[Robbert Dijkgraaf @RHDijkgraaf]

“When you mix science and politics, you get politics.”

Hard to think of a sharper summary of the current state of the world. Strong piece by John M. Barry, author of “The Great Influenza.”
https://t.co/A5oijoksip

[Daniel Griffin MD PhD @DanielGriffinMD]

I am sorry to say but this pandemic is so far from over. https://t.co/Y7NzupEePn

[Craig Spencer MD MPH @Craig_A_Spencer]

I treated many really sick Covid-19 patients today.

All wanted to get vaccinated but didn’t know how to navigate appointments, transportation. Might sound easy, but for many, it’s not.

Expanding eligibility doesn’t always mean accessibility, especially for the most vulnerable.