Wot no coronavirus thread? Part 2

[-Jrabbit]

Over the course of 10-11 months, the medical community has gotten a lot better at dealing with this disease. In addition, increased testing mean that more infections are caught in early stages when easier to treat.

[BlackCat]

Interesting study here.

Plitidepsin has potent preclinical efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 by targeting the host protein eEF1A


Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins interact with the eukaryotic translation machinery and inhibitors of translation have potent antiviral effects. Here we report that the drug plitidepsin (aplidin), which has limited clinical approval, possesses antiviral activity (IC₉₀ = 0.88 nM) 27.5-fold more potent than remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, with limited toxicity in cell culture. Through the use of a drug resistant mutant, we show that the antiviral activity of plitidepsin against SARS-CoV-2 is mediated through inhibition of the known target eEF1A. We demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of plitidepsin treatment in two mouse models of SARS-CoV-2 infection with a reduction of viral replication in the lungs by two orders of magnitude using prophylactic treatment. Our results indicate that plitidepsin is a promising therapeutic candidate for COVID-19.

Much more to read at the site.

[Jon Miller]

It's interesting that these second peaks don't have as high death rate as the first ones.

Isn't it obvious? We were not ventilating right earlier and we didn't know good tools. Now we have steroids and plasma and more...

JM

[dannubis]

Yeah, but they plateau at a much higher level so over the peak they are more deadly (at least in Belgium)

[N35t0r]

Peerhaps because the hospitaals are better prepared (more ICUs with respirators) ... or because the age structure of infected people now is different (less old people and more middle aged/young people who get infected (and have a better chance for a non serious progression of the disease)) ... or perhaps both of these effects combined

(at least tjhat what I would assume)

My hypothesis is that the more susceptible people have died, so there's fewer of them, and also that there's much more testing (especially on unsymptomatic people) and so the total population is higher.

[Proteus_MST]

Peerhaps because the hospitaals are better prepared (more ICUs with respirators) ... or because the age structure of infected people now is different (less old people and more middle aged/young people who get infected (and have a better chance for a non serious progression of the disease)) ... or perhaps both of these effects combined

(at least tjhat what I would assume)

[N35t0r]

It's interesting that these second peaks don't have as high death rate as the first ones.

[Proteus_MST]

The good thing is, that finally the new CoViD-19 cases per day go down (in the USA as well as in germany)

In the USA the 7 days avg dropped from a peak in Jan 11 of 250k to now just 170k (although it currently just results in the active corona cases hitting a plateau at 9.8 mio)

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

In germany (where we have a lockdown since the beginning of the year) the 7 days avg since its peak on Dec 17 (with 25k) has now dropped to just 12k and we also finally see a drop in active cases from 254k on Dec 17 to currently just 265k

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/germany/

[-Jrabbit]

US cases continue adding over 1million per week. US deaths are now at 441,808 and growing at over 3,416 deaths per day (7-day moving average).

Equivalent city wiped out by COVID: Oakland (433K) or Minneapolis (429K).

[Uncle Sparky]

Good news everybody. A small manufacturing company in PEI Canada has just laid off 30 staff. Why is that good news? They make throat lozenges.
Sales have tanked. Canadians are practicing good hygiene, avoiding crowds, wearing facemasks in groups, and, if they are sick, are staying home.
Flu hospitalizations are way down, and cold patent medicine sales are way down.

[Uncle Sparky]

Oh great... now everyone will want the new deadlier variant without the proper infrastructure .

Whose building Thunderdome?

[Buster Crabbe's Uncle]

You're just asking for it, Ming.

[-Jrabbit]

New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group -- NERVTAG!

Now that's an acronym!

[BeBMan]

Not nice, tho not the final word:

Early evidence suggests the variant of coronavirus that emerged in the UK may be more deadly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

The data has been assessed by scientists on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, which has briefed government.

However, all the evidence remains at a preliminary stage.

Studies have already shown it can spread more easily than other version of the virus.
(...)

from: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55768627

[Ming]

It's so nice having the adults running things for a change...