Gorczynski et al.: "Nature of Acquired Immune Responses, Epitope Specificity and Resultant Protection from SARS-CoV-2"; Many pathogens enter into a symbiotic relationship with the host, with each

by Paul Alexander

undergoing sequential change responding to changes the other makes to its presence; to ignore a substantial body of well-attested immunological research in favor of expediency is a poor way to proceed

This passage pretty much sums it up and this group is at least 1) recognizing the symbiotic relationship between virus and host and to underestimate and disregard it (which is what Fauci et al. have done), to indeed underestimate the evolutionary dynamics between virus and host will severely hamper your efforts to address the pathogen with any measure and 2) if this was done for expediency, then this was a catastrophic mistake and we are now paying the price with a failed injection that could have never worked out of the gate.

‘We have known that many pathogens enter into a quasi-symbiotic relationship with the host, with each undergoing sequential change in response to alterations the other makes to its presence. The subsequent evolution of viral variants which has caused such widespread concern over the last 3–6 months as host immunity develops was an entirely predictable response.

 

What is still not known is whether there will be other unexpected side-effects of the deployment of novel vaccines in humans which have yet to be characterized, and, if so, how and if these can be avoided. We conclude by remarking that to ignore a substantial body of well-attested immunological research in favour of expediency is a poor way to proceed.’

The primary global response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been to bring to the clinic as rapidly as possible a number of vaccines that are predicted to enhance immunity to this viral infection. While the rapidity with which these vaccines have been developed and tested (at least for short-term efficacy and safety) is commendable, it should be acknowledged that this has occurred despite the lack of research into, and understanding of, the immune elements important for natural host protection against the virus, making this endeavor a somewhat unique one in medical history.

In contrast, as pointed out in the review below, there were already important past observations that suggested that respiratory infections at mucosal surfaces were susceptible to immune clearance by mechanisms not typical of infections caused by systemic (blood-borne) pathogens. Accordingly, it was likely to be important to understand the role for both innate and acquired immunity in response to viral infection, as well as the optimum acquired immune resistance mechanisms for viral clearance (B cell or antibody-mediated, versus T cell mediated).

This information was needed both to guide vaccine development and to monitor its success. We have known that many pathogens enter into a quasi-symbiotic relationship with the host, with each undergoing sequential change in response to alterations the other makes to its presence.

The subsequent evolution of viral variants which has caused such widespread concern over the last 3–6 months as host immunity develops was an entirely predictable response. What is still not known is whether there will be other unexpected side-effects of the deployment of novel vaccines in humans which have yet to be characterized, and, if so, how and if these can be avoided. We conclude by remarking that to ignore a substantial body of well-attested immunological research in favour of expediency is a poor way to proceed.