Mutations

Experts Reveal What The Pig With Bird Flu in Oregon Really Signifies A concerning development. The Conversation ScienceAlert

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Pigs are the ideal genetic mixing vessel to generate a human pandemic influenza strain, because they have receptors in their respiratory tracts which both avian and human flu viruses can bind to.

Pandemic accord deal in sight as talks resume Countries reconvened on Monday in a bid to finalize a landmark global agreement on handling future pandemics, with the specter of mpox, Marburg and H5N1 adding fresh urgency to seal a deal. Robin MILLARD Medical Xpress

After more than two years of talks, hopes are high of completing an accord by November 15, though the heart of the document—how to share pathogens and vaccines—is set to be worked out later.

Why protective antibodies fade after COVID-19 vaccines New findings could help explain why the immune protection generated by COVID-19 vaccines tends to decline over time. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Researchers found that current COVID-19 vaccines fail to generate mature and durable antibody-producing cells in the bone marrow.
• The findings could help explain why protection tends to decline over time.
• Better understanding of long-term immune responses could lead to improved vaccines that provide enduring protection.
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Is this year’s COVID booster a good match for new variants? Depending on when you last got vaccinated, that COVID-19 shot may no longer be a good match for the variants expected to dominate this fall and winter. amartichoux The Hill

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While they may not be a perfect match, the latest variants have enough in common with the KP.2 and JN.1 that the boosters should still offer effective cross-protection.

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