Two years ago I started a master’s in AI/ML to help cure long COVID.

In two weeks I graduate. One of the hardest things I’ve done, and still nothing compared to long COVID itself.

Rapamycin and GLP-1 keep bringing me back.

But mostly, I did it for my kids and you all.

UCLA researchers using 6 pooled saliva samples found RNA sequencing results depend more on library prep than extraction, with some methods capturing far more SARS-CoV-2 reads and standard RNA quality metrics failing to predict detection.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

New York University Abu Dhabi researchers found coronaviruses rewire cell metabolism in similar ways, exposing shared weak points like mitochondrial transport that could be targeted to slow viral growth.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Griffith University scientists using at least 9 donors find SARS-CoV-2 spike sugars trigger platelets to form tiny filopodia and clump into clots, with sialic acids driving the effect rather than the protein itself.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Qatar, 338 people. SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to a brief rise in stroke risk, strongest in the first 28 days and mainly for ischemic stroke.

The signal appeared in pre-Omicron infections, not Omicron.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Beyond GLP1: modulating multiple nutrient-stimulated hormone pathways to reduce cardiovascular risk - Nature Reviews Cardiology A new generation of dual and triple receptor modulators targeting nutrient-stimulated hormone pathways are producing cardiometabolic effects that exceed any previous pharmacotherapy, with weight loss ...

A review says new drugs that hit GLP1 plus GIP, glucagon, or amylin may drive weight loss near bariatric surgery and could further cut heart risk if trials confirm it.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Microbiome signature of Parkinson’s disease in healthy and genetically at-risk individuals - Nature Medicine Microbiome analysis suggests that gut microbial changes in Parkinson’s disease evolve progressively from healthy individuals to genetically at-risk individuals to clinically affected patients, with th...

UCL, 464 people, a gut microbiome pattern linked to Parkinson’s also appeared in healthy and genetically at risk people, and it tracked symptoms that may come before diagnosis.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus spike protein inhibits FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy to prevent nucleocapsid protein degradation | Journal of Virology IBV has evolved a mechanism to counteract the host’s antiviral defense. Specifically, the viral spike (S) protein blocks a form of autophagy called mitophagy by binding to the mitochondrial receptor FUNDC1. Normally, FUNDC1 helps cells eliminate damaged mitochondria and restricts IBV replication by promoting the degradation of the viral nucleocapsid protein. By interfering with this process, the S protein enhances viral survival. We further identified a single conserved amino acid in the S protein that is critical for this function, and mutation of this residue weakened IBV in chickens. These findings reveal how IBV manipulates host defenses and suggest new strategies for controlling coronavirus infections.

China Agricultural University scientists found IBV spike protein blocks FUNDC1 mitophagy, stopping cells from breaking down a viral core protein.

One spike change, N240A, made the virus less harmful in chickens.

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Lublin Poland 40 women study finds COVID-19 in pregnancy raises immune and regenerative signals in early breast milk, suggesting milk may help shape newborn immunity after infection.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Tokyo University scientists tracked blood for 310 days and found vaccines caused minimal protein shifts but infection triggered broad immune and inflammation changes revealing hidden layers of COVID response.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Answering big questions about the new flu and SARS-CoV-2 viral variants An immunology perspective on the influenza

La Jolla Institute scientists find a SARS-CoV-2 subvariant that shifts immune recognition, and show current COVID 19 vaccines may be less matched, pointing to next generation vaccines that build stronger tissue level immunity to improve protection.

www.lji.org/news-events/...

University of Pennsylvania study of over 600,000 children finds COVID vaccination after prior infection cut reinfection risk by about 60% for early Omicron but offered little protection against later variants.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

An autoantibody signature predictive for multiple sclerosis: evidence at the protein level and association with histopathological lesion types - Journal of Neurology Recently, an autoantibody signature considered to be predictive of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported in an article by Zamecnik et al. published in Nature Medicine, which is characterized by im...

Heidelberg University 19 patients study finds at least 58% of people with multiple sclerosis show IgG antibodies targeting specific protein motifs, supporting a predictive immune signature and possible link to Epstein Barr virus in disease mechanisms.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Bogotá researchers studied 300 people with rheumatoid arthritis and found prior COVID-19 did not significantly change immune cells cytokines or autoantibodies long term though symptoms like fatigue often persisted.

www.jidc.org/index.php/jo...

University of Nebraska Medical Center studied 60 hamsters and found SARS-CoV-2 can leave lasting brain and immune changes, especially in males, with early signs linked to neurodegeneration and Long COVID symptoms.

www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-9...

A few extra Paxlovid days may reduce rebound.

Persistent infection may need longer treatment or combinations.

We should be moving faster on combo trials for Long COVID.

Extended ensitrelvir or ibuzatrelvir plus VYD2311, feels like the obvious next step.

When the system isn't moving fast enough, go help push.

Clinical trial simulation of antiviral drugs | Journal of Virology Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) is a computational modeling approach that integrates disease processes and drug characteristics to inform the design and conduct of clinical trials (1). The goa...

Fred Hutchinson researchers review how antiviral trial simulation can predict real world drug performance, including rebound after Paxlovid and persistent SARS-CoV-2, where longer antiviral courses may help clear infection.

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 953 adults, SARS-CoV-2 variant shaped peak viral load and shedding time, while age, BMI, sex, HIV, and other host factors showed little effect.

Big viral loads alone did not predict which variant would dominate.

www.nature.com/articles/s43...

Université de Sherbrooke, 150 people, blood tests found a distinct post COVID protein pattern 3 months after mild infection.

Long COVID cases also showed more oxidative stress and signs of DNA damage.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Argonne National Laboratory study finds SARS-CoV-2 enzyme nsp16 only activates when paired with nsp10, which opens its binding pocket and enables immune evasion, revealing a key target for antiviral drugs.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

The weight-loss-independent hepatoprotective benefits of semaglutide are orchestrated by intrahepatic sinusoidal endothelial GLP-1 receptors Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medicines improve metabolic liver disease through weight-loss-dependent and -independent actions. Here, we interrogate…

Toronto, mice study finds semaglutide can protect the liver even without weight loss.

The key seems to be GLP-1 receptors on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells that help curb fat buildup, fibrosis, and inflammation.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Differential effects of SARS-CoV-2-targeted infection of ATII, club cells, and macrophages on lung immunopathology and antiviral responses The specific contributions of lung epithelial and immune cells to SARS-CoV-2–induced immunopathology and antiviral responses remain unclear. To addres…

UT Health San Antonio, mouse study finds SARS-CoV-2 hits lung cells differently.

Club cells trigger early defenses and mild damage, ATII cells drive stronger inflammation, and infected macrophages make lung injury worse.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

HuR enhances SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein translation through the genomic 5′-UTR, by promoting polypyrimidine tract-binding protein binding | Journal of Virology Viruses interact with various host proteins throughout their life cycle. A key protein is HuR, an RNA-binding protein regulating RNA stability and translation. HuR binds to viral RNAs at the 5′-UTR or 3′-UTR, influencing translation and replication. We identified conserved HuR binding sites in the SARS-CoV-2 5′-UTR across beta coronaviruses. This binding enhances translation initiation from the genomic 5′-UTR, increasing non-structural protein production essential for replication. Additionally, we discovered that another host protein, PTB, is recruited by HuR to the viral 5′-UTR, aiding ribosome loading. This regulation shows that the virus exploits HuR for its benefit. Targeting HuR may help control the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. HuR knockout increased sensitivity to remdesivir, an antiviral drug. Using an antisense oligonucleotide to block HuR binding effectively reduced viral RNA levels. Our findings highlight HuR’s critical role in viral protein production regulation and its potential as a therapeutic target against SARS-CoV-2.

Researchers found SARS-CoV-2 hijacks the host protein HuR to boost early viral protein production.

Blocking HuR cut viral RNA, lowered viral growth, and made remdesivir work better, pointing to a possible new antiviral target.

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Combating respiratory diseases with mucosal vaccines | Journal of Virology Respiratory diseases are a major public health concern worldwide, causing significant negative consequences for global health and economic growth. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported...

Griffith University researchers review evidence that nasal and other mucosal vaccines may stop respiratory viruses closer to where they enter the body, building local IgA and resident immune cells that could cut illness and transmission.

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

Acute SARS-CoV-2 viral load and systemic inflammation are associated with neuropsychiatric and musculoskeletal symptoms in long COVID Background Long after recovery from acute-COVID illness, many patients show persistent multi-organ dysfunction consistent with Long COVID. Biochemical profile and measurements of inflammatory markers ...

Dow University of Health Sciences, 300 participants, 59% still had long COVID 10 months later, with brain and muscle symptoms tied to higher inflammation and higher SARS-CoV-2 viral load during the initial infection.

journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

The neuropsychiatric features of Long COVID in older adults and the potential association with neuroinflammation: Preliminary observations in a small cohort The underlying mechanism of neuropsychiatric features of Long COVID remains unclear; however, the most compelling hypothesis is the contribution of excessive neuroinflammation induced by a systemic in...

Stony Brook University, 24 older adults, found Long COVID was linked to more depression and fatigue.

In a 6 person brain scan subgroup, those with Long COVID also showed higher signs of brain inflammation.

Preliminary but striking.

www.jns-journal.com/article/S002...

Frontiers | Thymidine phosphorylase promotes SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-driven lung tumor development BackgroundCOVID-19 survivors exhibit increased interstitial lung fibrosis, a known risk factor for lung cancer. We investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 spike prot...

Marshall University, 166,807 participants, prior COVID was linked to higher lung cancer risk, especially in current smokers.

In mice, the spike protein appeared to worsen lung injury and tumor growth through TYMP, a possible treatment target.

www.frontiersin.org/journals/imm...

2749 participants Eli Lilly found orforglipron matched insulin safety while lowering heart risks 16% and deaths 57% with better weight and blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes.

investor.lilly.com/news-release...

AIIMS Bibinagar, 41 studies found that COVID-19 set back TB control worldwide.

Fewer TB cases were diagnosed and treated on time, which likely left more people undetected and may have worsened outcomes for coinfected patients.

www.maedica.ro/articles/202...