This Week in Virology TWiV 1191: The pandemic duo
Feb 9, 2025
Explore the fascinating intersection of government actions and their impact on science funding. Learn how prior COVID-19 vaccinations can modulate immune responses during infections. Delve into the genetic adaptations of bats, uncovering how they resist viruses. Discover the complexities of public health communication and the fight against misinformation. Lastly, enjoy light-hearted anecdotes about hummingbird gardens and a critique of pseudoscience in vaccination discussions.
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Breakthrough Infections
- The study's focus on "breakthrough" infections as anomalies is flawed.
- Vaccines rarely prevent infections; they mitigate disease.
Innate Immunity
- Vaccination alters innate immunity, not just adaptive immunity.
- This reshaping of the immune response might explain vaccines' protective effects.
Dampening Inflammation
- Vaccines' ability to dampen inflammatory responses is key to preventing severe disease.
- This challenges the previous understanding of interferon's role.