idk shit about science, but I thought I would post it here. I hope it's true.

  • ZoomeristLeninist [comrade/them, she/her]
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    edit-2
    3 months ago

    this article discusses monoclonal antibodies, which is a great treatment option for immunocompromised people. but monoclonal Ab treatment is more expensive by an order(s) of magnitude than a vaccine.

    for general use in the population of ppl with complete immune systems, this research could be relevant in vaccine design. the antibodies in this paper bind to surface proteins on the virus. the mRNA in current covid vaccines is really good at activating our immune system, so future vaccines could contain a conjugate of the protein appended to the mRNA to utilize the immunogenicity (its ability to stimulate immune system) of the mRNA and the efficacy and effectiveness of the protein

    edit: that being said, we are years from this work being used in an approved vaccine. you want to make sure the immune response to these conjugate vaccines doesn’t provoke deadly amounts of inflammation, whether the Abs it produces work against the protein or if the mRNA “hijacks” the response, what kind of immune response it produces, etc.

      • marxisthayaca [he/him,they/them]
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        3 months ago

        EILI5: Triggering a response of the immune system is a delicate thing because too much inflammation is a whoopsie daisy.

        • FishLake@lemmygrad.ml
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          3 months ago

          “Don’t let the cure be worse than the disease,” is supposed to be about medical treatments, not wearing a mask to the grocery store.

      • ZoomeristLeninist [comrade/them, she/her]
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        edit-2
        2 months ago

        the discovery in the paper is a good treatment for ppl with immune disorders. but this discovery can also help make a better vaccine that activates the immune system as well as the current mRNA vaccines but has improved ability to cause ur immune system to kill covid. but it’s also a long ways away bc a lot of testing is required to ensure it’s safe and more effective than current vaccines