SARS-CoV-2 Virus Kinetics Influenced by Viral Strain and Vaccination Status

Oak Crest Institute of Science, a Southern California Non-profit, Publishes Significant New COVID-19 Vaccination Research – 'Clinical SARS-CoV-2 Kinetic Profiles are Dependent on the Viral Strain and Host Vaccination Status'

MONROVIA, Calif., Dec. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oak Crest Institute of Science announced the publication of results from a new research project in Microbiology Spectrum (DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04469-22). The study followed two vaccinated participants – a male and female – who developed COVID-19 independently between December 27, 2021, and January 3, 2022, the only participants to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 over this period.  Using state-of-the-art molecular techniques to analyzed nasal swab samples collected at high frequency longitudinally, researchers sought to explore whether full vaccination affected early COVID-19 replication rates and/or viral loads through the various stages of infection.

"Our ultimate conclusion in this study centers on three important points," said researcher, Manjula Gunawardana, M.P.H.

• "The SARS-CoV-2 virus doubling times were similar for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals infected with an earlier SARS-CoV-2 strain.
• Vaccinated individuals have a shorter clearance phase than the unvaccinated subjects in an earlier study.
• The continuous sampling protocols detected a virus mutation in one of the participants during the time they tested positive."

"Oak Crest already has a distinguished history of research on viruses," said Paul Webster, Ph.D., and Senior Faculty at Oak Crest. including HIV prevention strategies. "We work on devices for sustained delivery of anti-HIV drugs, and the formulation of new drug candidates for the delivery, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases. Our team has successfully transferred biomedical research from the bench to early-stage clinical trials, often first-in-human – which is a significant accomplishment for a small academic team. Our HIV clinical trials involve antiviral intravaginal rings and a subdermal implant, currently being evaluated in South Africa in a first-ever human Phase I/II clinical trial."

Gunawardana et al. Clinical SARS-CoV-2 Kinetic Profiles Are Dependent on the Viral Strain and Host Vaccination Status. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Dec 1:e0446922. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.04469-22. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36453916.

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Founded in 1998, Oak Crest Institute of Science is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization established to conduct innovative research in biology, chemistry, and environmental science while providing an educational platform for teachers and students. Taking an experiential role as educators, Oak Crest gives teachers and students a chance to work on funded, authentic research projects, helping all involved to develop a sense of achievement while also fostering inclusion with the entire STEM community. Learn more at: www.Oak-Crest.org.

Media Contact:

Paul Webster, PhD
1 (626) 817-0883
[email protected] 

SOURCE Oak Crest Institute of Science