Immune 31: Immunology of COVID-19, part three

May 8, 2020

Immune continues a discussion of the immune response to infection with SARS-CoV-2, including vaccines and immunity, effects of BCG and OPV, immunity passports, and answers to listener questions.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Stephanie Langel, and Cynthia Leifer

Guest: Brianne Barker

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Music by Steve Neal. Immune logo image by Blausen Medical.

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One comment on “Immune 31: Immunology of COVID-19, part three

  1. Nancy L Hope May 29, 2020

    Hello Profs,

    It is 20C here in Ste Agathe in the Laurentians. We are expecting sun, showers and maybe a thunderstorm.

    The topic of Vitamin D has come up a fizzled out a couple of times on TWIV to my intense frustration. From my explorations it seems this vitamin is crucial for our health and worse almost everyone in the Northern Hemisphere is deficient after winter. Even in summer we barely get our levels up because we spend so much time indoors. An important point is that the darker your skin colour the more slowly you will make the vitamin. (Why are darker skinned people dying in high numbers?)

    Several white blood cells have receptors for Vit D on their surfaces. A clue to their importance. There are a lot of studies showing how useful it is in respiratory infections. Dr Griffin accepted that it might be helpful in strengthening immune response but was concerned about later over-activity. I have included a link about the immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D.

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24988607/

    I am hoping the Immune team will take a look at this in more depth.

    I wish you all the best and thank you for the work you do and for sharing it with us so enjoyably!

    Nancy