VIROLOGY 101

I have been asked some questions recently about the COVID vaccine and the flu and the possibility of creating mutant humans because of a vaccine that alters DNA. Not really so much on the last part, but there are people who have been misinformed on how the COVID vaccine works. I’ve answered these questions on a one-on-on basis enough times now that I thought maybe it would be a good idea to share some science here.

First of all, let’s talk about how COVID-19 is different from the flu. Both viruses have similar symptoms. They both contain RNA encapsulated in a nucleoprotein with an outer coating of other proteins. Here come the difference. Influenza contains eight, single stranded negative sense RNA segments. This virus relies on a collaboration between two of its surface proteins, haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA binds the virus to cells and mediates viral entry. Once inside the cell, the virus starts replicating and making more virus particles. NA causes HA to release from the cell surface, which allows the progeny viruses to exit the cell and go wreck more havoc. Those surface proteins on the influenza virus are the reason why you get a flu shot every year. In influenza A that causes seasonal flu there are eighteen possible subtypes of HA and eleven subtypes of NA. That means there are 198 combinations possible. That is just for Influenza A. Influenza B is also a player in seasonal flu outbreaks. There are four known influenza strains each with multiple subtypes.

COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 has a single strand of non-segmented positive sense RNA and one main surface protein called Spike, that attaches the virus to the cell surface. When the virus binds, it injects its RNA and uses the host cell to replicate its genome. Then, new virus particles are released from the infected cell. When COVID-19 emerged in 2019, it was a brand new virus with no available treatments or immunity. That is why it has been so easy to spread. There has been concern from people over the speed at which the vaccine for COVID-19 has been made and released. Vaccine development has been a huge collaborative effort and it had to meet the rigorous scientific and regulatory processes put in place by the FDA, the same processes that any drug or vaccine has to meet in order to be released to the public. I have also heard some concern that the vaccine alters your DNA. That is not true. The vaccine targets the cells involved in immunity. Once inside the cell, it relies on that cell’s protein making machinery to create a protein that recognizes the Spike protein on the COVID-19 surface. All of that stuff happens in the cytoplasm. The vaccine does not enter the nucleus where your DNA is stored and it does not have the enzymes that would allow it to incorporate into DNA.

So…would I get this vaccine? Yes. I cannot roll up my sleeve fast enough. As soon as I am eligible, I am getting this shot and then going back and getting the second round of the shot. Our plan is to have a big vaccination party where your ticket in to the party is your vaccination card. Then I am going to hug all of the people. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate is your choice. It is important that you know the consequences of whatever choice you decide to make. The FDA website has a whole list of answers to some frequently asked questions regarding the vaccine. The CDC is also a great place to go for information on the virus and the vaccine.

At the very least, you should get vaccinated so you can come to my party.

HOLLY JOLLY

I had our Christmas card design ready for ordering almost two months ago. Then I received a coupon and ordered those cards a month ago. I have a stack of cards on my desk waiting to be addressed and I don’t even know who I am any more. The card design came to me by accident and started with a picture taken while hunting for the new dining room table. That table is currently taking up the space where I would normally set up our Christmas tree. So while I may be ahead on the cards, I am at a loss on how I might decorate this year. I’m thinking of only putting out the stockings, hang a wreath on the door and set up the Menorah. There are also no presents. I have a brilliant idea to take the box my mattress came in that I stored in the basement and fill it with individually wrapped gifts for the Cabbage. Except, at this point, I don’t know what to get her because she’s reached that weird age of not really being into anything but her tablet.

How excited she’ll be to open a giant box containing nothing but a pair of earrings.

This year, I am surprised with how much I seem to be embracing the jolliness of the holiday season. I have always disdained the appearance of Christmas on the day after Halloween. Those radio stations that start playing all of the Christmas tunes in November get banned from being played in the car. I once worked at a department store over the holiday and was stuck folding clothes to Christmas songs on a loop for a month. That was enough to turn me into a right Grinch for all things Christmas. This year seems different. Early last week I found myself playing Andrew Birds’ new Christmas album, Hark!, on loop. Man, can that guy whistle and his rendition of Souvenirs makes me dance a silly jig. On Saturday as we drove to Costco, Michael flipped the radio over to a station already playing Christmas songs and the car turned into my own personal choir concert. He let me get through at least three songs before he turned the station with “that’s enough of that.”

With the infection rates being so high right now, we will not be traveling anywhere to visit with family and friends. Our mayor is set to announce new restrictions at noon today. Michael and I have decided to have our Thanksgiving dinner on the Friday after Thanksgiving. They have dollar oysters at Whole Foods on Fridays and our plan is to buy up a mess of them for an Oystergiving. Let’s face it, as we get closer to the end of this year, there seems to be a real urgency to celebrate. It is not so much an urgency to celebrate the end of 2020 as it is to celebrate surviving this year. Oystergiving and singing Christmas tunes at the top of our lungs seems like a pretty nice way to celebrate right now.