Are there neurological issues, other than strokes, that I should worry about?
Biology/Immunity Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Yes and no. Most of the other neurological complications seen to date have occurred later in disease progression (some time after active COVID-19 symptoms). There is some concern that COVID-19 can have effects on neural cells in the brain through the same mechanism that the virus enters other cells (ACE-2 receptor). There is also Read more…
April 26, 2020
I have been hearing about young, healthy people who didn’t have overt symptoms of COVID-19 having strokes. What does this mean?
Biology/Immunity Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: We are still learning a great deal about the virus. Early reports from Italy and China have demonstrated that patients positive for COVID-19 are at an increased risk of developing blood clots, which can increase the risk of stroke due to occlusion of the blood vessels (1). Increasing cases of young, otherwise healthy people Read more…
April 24, 2020
Could over 20% of individuals living in New York City really already have been exposed to COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Possibly, but there are a few things to consider about the sample of individuals included in the study (and all sero-surveys assessing past exposure to the infection via detection of antibodies targeted against SARS-CoV-2). In this study, ~3000 individuals (~1300 in NYC specifically) were recruited to be tested for presence of antibodies targeted against Read more…
April 17, 2020
What is an “infectious dose?” What is the “viral load”? Does high viral load increase ability to pass the virus to others?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Full explainer in the link below from two microbiology Profs. “In general, the more virus you have in your airways, the more you will release when you exhale or cough, although there is a lot of person-to-person variation. Multiple studies have reported that patients have the highest viral load of the coronavirus at the Read more…
April 13, 2020
How do you know if someone is immune to Covid-19?
Biology/Immunity
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: This is a tricky one. Scientists are currently examining blood serum of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 to study their immune system response. At the moment, there are more questions than answers. Here are a few highlights about immunity and an article summarizing the challenges around determining how infection with Covid-19 or Read more…
April 7, 2020
What is a “cytokine storm?” Why is it important?
Biology/Immunity
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: The immune system’s overreaction to a virus or bacterium. It’s the actual cause of death in many COVID cases, and therefore is the target of numerous experimental treatments. Links: The New York Times Original FB post
A: Yes and no. Most of the other neurological complications seen to date have occurred later in disease progression (some time after active COVID-19 symptoms). There is some concern that COVID-19 can have effects on neural cells in the brain through the same mechanism that the virus enters other cells (ACE-2 receptor). There is also Read more…
I have been hearing about young, healthy people who didn’t have overt symptoms of COVID-19 having strokes. What does this mean?
Biology/Immunity Clinical Symptoms
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: We are still learning a great deal about the virus. Early reports from Italy and China have demonstrated that patients positive for COVID-19 are at an increased risk of developing blood clots, which can increase the risk of stroke due to occlusion of the blood vessels (1). Increasing cases of young, otherwise healthy people Read more…
April 24, 2020
Could over 20% of individuals living in New York City really already have been exposed to COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Possibly, but there are a few things to consider about the sample of individuals included in the study (and all sero-surveys assessing past exposure to the infection via detection of antibodies targeted against SARS-CoV-2). In this study, ~3000 individuals (~1300 in NYC specifically) were recruited to be tested for presence of antibodies targeted against Read more…
April 17, 2020
What is an “infectious dose?” What is the “viral load”? Does high viral load increase ability to pass the virus to others?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Full explainer in the link below from two microbiology Profs. “In general, the more virus you have in your airways, the more you will release when you exhale or cough, although there is a lot of person-to-person variation. Multiple studies have reported that patients have the highest viral load of the coronavirus at the Read more…
April 13, 2020
How do you know if someone is immune to Covid-19?
Biology/Immunity
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: This is a tricky one. Scientists are currently examining blood serum of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 to study their immune system response. At the moment, there are more questions than answers. Here are a few highlights about immunity and an article summarizing the challenges around determining how infection with Covid-19 or Read more…
April 7, 2020
What is a “cytokine storm?” Why is it important?
Biology/Immunity
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: The immune system’s overreaction to a virus or bacterium. It’s the actual cause of death in many COVID cases, and therefore is the target of numerous experimental treatments. Links: The New York Times Original FB post
A: We are still learning a great deal about the virus. Early reports from Italy and China have demonstrated that patients positive for COVID-19 are at an increased risk of developing blood clots, which can increase the risk of stroke due to occlusion of the blood vessels (1). Increasing cases of young, otherwise healthy people Read more…
Could over 20% of individuals living in New York City really already have been exposed to COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Possibly, but there are a few things to consider about the sample of individuals included in the study (and all sero-surveys assessing past exposure to the infection via detection of antibodies targeted against SARS-CoV-2). In this study, ~3000 individuals (~1300 in NYC specifically) were recruited to be tested for presence of antibodies targeted against Read more…
April 17, 2020
What is an “infectious dose?” What is the “viral load”? Does high viral load increase ability to pass the virus to others?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Full explainer in the link below from two microbiology Profs. “In general, the more virus you have in your airways, the more you will release when you exhale or cough, although there is a lot of person-to-person variation. Multiple studies have reported that patients have the highest viral load of the coronavirus at the Read more…
April 13, 2020
How do you know if someone is immune to Covid-19?
Biology/Immunity
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: This is a tricky one. Scientists are currently examining blood serum of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 to study their immune system response. At the moment, there are more questions than answers. Here are a few highlights about immunity and an article summarizing the challenges around determining how infection with Covid-19 or Read more…
April 7, 2020
What is a “cytokine storm?” Why is it important?
Biology/Immunity
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: The immune system’s overreaction to a virus or bacterium. It’s the actual cause of death in many COVID cases, and therefore is the target of numerous experimental treatments. Links: The New York Times Original FB post
A: Possibly, but there are a few things to consider about the sample of individuals included in the study (and all sero-surveys assessing past exposure to the infection via detection of antibodies targeted against SARS-CoV-2). In this study, ~3000 individuals (~1300 in NYC specifically) were recruited to be tested for presence of antibodies targeted against Read more…
What is an “infectious dose?” What is the “viral load”? Does high viral load increase ability to pass the virus to others?
Biology/Immunity Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Full explainer in the link below from two microbiology Profs. “In general, the more virus you have in your airways, the more you will release when you exhale or cough, although there is a lot of person-to-person variation. Multiple studies have reported that patients have the highest viral load of the coronavirus at the Read more…
April 13, 2020
How do you know if someone is immune to Covid-19?
Biology/Immunity
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: This is a tricky one. Scientists are currently examining blood serum of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 to study their immune system response. At the moment, there are more questions than answers. Here are a few highlights about immunity and an article summarizing the challenges around determining how infection with Covid-19 or Read more…
April 7, 2020
What is a “cytokine storm?” Why is it important?
Biology/Immunity
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: The immune system’s overreaction to a virus or bacterium. It’s the actual cause of death in many COVID cases, and therefore is the target of numerous experimental treatments. Links: The New York Times Original FB post
A: Full explainer in the link below from two microbiology Profs. “In general, the more virus you have in your airways, the more you will release when you exhale or cough, although there is a lot of person-to-person variation. Multiple studies have reported that patients have the highest viral load of the coronavirus at the Read more…
How do you know if someone is immune to Covid-19?
Biology/Immunity
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: This is a tricky one. Scientists are currently examining blood serum of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 to study their immune system response. At the moment, there are more questions than answers. Here are a few highlights about immunity and an article summarizing the challenges around determining how infection with Covid-19 or Read more…
April 7, 2020
What is a “cytokine storm?” Why is it important?
Biology/Immunity
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: The immune system’s overreaction to a virus or bacterium. It’s the actual cause of death in many COVID cases, and therefore is the target of numerous experimental treatments. Links: The New York Times Original FB post
A: This is a tricky one. Scientists are currently examining blood serum of individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19 to study their immune system response. At the moment, there are more questions than answers. Here are a few highlights about immunity and an article summarizing the challenges around determining how infection with Covid-19 or Read more…
What is a “cytokine storm?” Why is it important?
Biology/Immunity
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: The immune system’s overreaction to a virus or bacterium. It’s the actual cause of death in many COVID cases, and therefore is the target of numerous experimental treatments. Links: The New York Times Original FB post
A: The immune system’s overreaction to a virus or bacterium. It’s the actual cause of death in many COVID cases, and therefore is the target of numerous experimental treatments. Links: The New York Times Original FB post