Why do variants arise? We know that natural immunity is compromised in moderate/severe COVID-19. Indeed, long-term viral persistence in the gut suggests that even natural T cell immunity is sub-par. Low-affinity antibodies and wimpy immune pressure a recipe for escape variants?

In the land of Yajnavalkya, and the invention of zero Ignorance at high levels, but at every corner a hero Ineffective antibodies in us, science was not heeded No herd immunity from the virus, vaccines are needed

Insufficient immune pressure and variants emerged South Africa, Brazil ..of course India would be submerged

The land of algebra, logic and the legacy of Bhaskara Witnessed the rejection of science, elevation of a Baba Why salute the Coronil conman, no social distance for election? The tsunami was coming, but was anyone paying attention?

Without real logic and science, the only certainty is ruin Fight for modernity - don’t drown souls in cow’s urine

In the land of Rabindranath, changes elicit many a sigh He said “Where the mind is without fear, the head is held high.. .. knowledge is free” will now fear and ignorance abound? Will speaking truth mean on you, some will soon set the hound?

For Buddhi, Gyaan and Vigyaan is there now no respect? Salute Shailaja and Iqbal Chahal, for they did protect

Others have been commenting on a previous and accurate tweet (from Eric Topol) about this preprint of ours so maybe I should try and explain it a little. medrxiv.org/content/10.110…

Repeated previous exposures to viruses and other microbes have shaped our memory B cells likely over years and decades. Memory B cells that recognize some parts of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 exist in most people and were probably induced by common cold coronaviruses.

Vaccination activates and induces these specialized long-lived memory B cells. After a booster it is “ancient” memory cells “molded” by many long-standing previous exposures that are activated most avidly and can bind most tightly to shapes on the Omicron spike protein.

From a vaccination standpoint, it has long been recognized that spreading out doses over time provides more immunological breadth and also more avid recognition. Generating these specialized “pre-existing” and rapidly responding memory B cells may be key.

Others such as our colleagues Balazs Lab have shown that boosting generates better neutralization of Omicron. Special thanks to Cory Perugino, Hang Liu, our many collaborators especially colleagues humin institute, Schmidt Lab, Balazs Lab, Vivek Naranbhai, Gaurav Gaiha.

#Specialized memory B cell subsets, #SARS-CoV-2, # Omicron variant

Grad school is hard when you love it and impossible when you do not. With PhD interview season beginning, applicants should note that you are interviewing us. Do not be passive. Get your questions answered and make the right decision for your life. Then go change the world!

medrxiv.org/content/10.110… In this study from well-established epidemiologists, the green lines are a surrogate for Omicron. In southern California ICUs (as on the East coast), death is frequently linked to Delta not Omicron

Dr. Vikram Sampath, FRHistS Seems to me you cannot take the heat from your own cooking. You might consider leaving the kitchen in that case!

An old dog is learning new tricks. Will be putting out a couple of rhymes with explanations each month in a series called "There is Poetry in Immunology". A couple of links below: youtube.com/watch?v=nMydLD…

And a second one: youtube.com/watch?v=YIK79l…

Lord of the rings (there is poetry in immunology....) youtu.be/jHdylT4fUvk?si… via YouTube

Requiem for a greasy beast youtu.be/5VEIpLXmu6g?si… via YouTube