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T cells as a biomarker for persistent viral antigen in Long COVID. COVID in young mice disrupts sperm & affects metabolism in the next generation. Bone-Brain Axis. EBV in Long COVID & in Lupus.
By Ruth Ann Crystal MD
The “summer” COVID wave continues to be high in many areas, but appears to have peaked on a national level. Mike Hoerger estimates that 1 in 57 people in the United States is currently infected with COVID which equates to about 930,000 new COVID infections each day. Levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater are rising in the Northeast, have leveled off in the Midwest and West, and are falling in the South (Texas) according to WastewaterSCAN.
Flu season has started very early this year and we are starting to see increases in Influenza A especially in the West.
COVID Variants
One of the premier COVID variant hunters, Ryan Hisner, has noted that PJ.2.1 is spreading rapidly in the Western Hemisphere. He believes that PJ.2.1 is evolving within a chronically infected person.
Epidemiology and virological characteristics of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant PJ.2.1 | BioRxiV 10/8/26
The PJ.2.1 variant of COVID is starting to be seen in more countries. The authors note that PJ.2.1 has increased ability to bind the ACE2 receptor, but that it does not have increased immune evasion to our antibodies at this time.
Acute COVID infections, General COVID info
SARS-CoV-2 seeds IAPP aggregation and β-cell failure | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy 10/9/26
New research demonstrates that both the spike and the nucleocapsid proteins of SARS-CoV-2 bind directly to islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), a protein produced in the pancreas, accelerating its aggregation into amyloid deposits and driving inflammation alongside destruction of insulin-secreting beta cells. This interaction offers a concrete molecular pathway through which COVID infection may initiate or worsen diabetes in some patients.
Pediatrics
Kids with Long COVID co-created their own superhero comic book | The Sick Times 10/5/26
Children living with Long COVID collaborated to produce an original superhero comic book called Long Covid Superheroes, centering themes of seeking help, embracing rest, and practicing self compassion alongside compassion for others.
Long Covid Superheroes cover image from the Alchemise Theatre via The Sick Times
Vaccines
Acute infection as a driver of chronic diseases and the unsung benefits of vaccination | Nature Microbiology 10/16/26
A Nature Microbiology commentary discusses that acute infections can leave lasting biological imprints, contributing to chronic illness, worsened existing disease, and accelerated aging. The authors argue that “the true value of vaccination should not be measured only by whether it prevents acute illness today, but also by whether it protects the future health of the individual.”
Male and female mice achieve equivalent protection against heterologous SARS-CoV-2 infection through divergent immune mechanisms | bioRxiv 10/3/26
Sex differences in immune responses were noted in mice that were reinfected with a second SARS-CoV-2 strain. “Females rely on controlled, rapid myeloid-associated inflammatory responses [through increased IFNγ], while males rely on conventional B- and T-cell-mediated responses.” These sex differences in immune response could have “significant implications for designing mucosal vaccines and immunotherapies.”
COVID and Reproduction
Prepubertal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 single-stranded RNA disrupts spermatogenesis and causes intergenerational effects in mice | Molecular Human Reproduction 10/5/26
Prepubertal male mice given synthetic SARS-CoV-2 single-stranded RNA developed testicular inflammation, which impaired the sperm they produced after puberty. Their offspring had lower early body weight and impaired glucose metabolism. The mechanism is unknown, but the authors point to possible epigenetic changes or sperm-borne factors.
Long COVID
Persistently activated virus-specific CD8 T cells indicate antigen-driven immune aberrations in long COVID | BioRxiV 10/16/26
In a subset of people with Long COVID (40% of LC patients vs 16% of COVID-recovered controls), CD8 T cells targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike and/or Epstein-Barr virus lytic antigens stay activated. The spike specific T cells show exhaustion and reduced function, suggesting chronic stimulation by persistent viral antigen. Potentially, T cells could serve as biomarkers to identify which Long COVID patients may respond to antiviral treatments.
Unraveling Long COVID: New Discoveries and the Promise of AI | Dr. Jim Heath at ISB Research Roundtable 10/13/26
Great talk by Dr. Jim Heath about the latest research on autoantibodies in Long COVID, including EBV-associated reprogramming of B cells that may contribute to autoimmunity. He also introduced “ChatISB, an AI-powered research environment that allows scientists to interrogate large biological datasets using everyday language.”
Beth Dobbin: British Olympic sprinter in bed for 22 hours a day after ME diagnosis | BBC 10/16/26
Olympian sprinter Beth Dobbin describes how she is now mostly bedbound after back-to-back infections with COVID and mononucleosis (EBV) in 2021-2022 that led to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). She wants to bring attention to the millions of people worldwide living with ME without adequate recognition or treatment.
Head and neck manual lymphatic drainage for self-reported neurocognitive symptoms in post-COVID condition: a proof-of-concept cohort study | BMC Preprint 10/9/26
In 49 patients with Long COVID, six weeks of head and neck manual lymphatic drainage was followed by improvements in brain fog, concentration, headache, sleep, and fatigue. Life satisfaction, the primary endpoint, did not change. The results prompt researchers to consider whether the brain’s waste clearance mechanisms may play a role in Long COVID neurocognitive symptoms, though the authors emphasize that randomized controlled trials are necessary before any conclusions can be drawn.
VYD2311 is an investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb) made by Invivyd that is active against all SARS-CoV-2 variants tested to date. Invivyd announced a new Phase 2 clinical trial with the SPEAR study group which will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy of high-dose monoclonal antibody VYD2311 in people with Long COVID or Post-Vaccination Syndrome (PVS). The trial will give a high-dose initial intravenous (IV) infusion of VYD2311 followed by monthly intramuscular (IM) injections of VYD2311 at days 30 and 60.
Long COVID is associated with lipoxygenase-catalyzed metabolism of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids | iScience 10/16/26 (Nov 20, 2026 issue)
Harvard researchers studied 106 participants and found that Long COVID involves disrupted fat metabolism and increased lipoxygenase activity, an enzyme pathway that drives inflammation. During acute infection, elevated metabolites from this pathway were linked to developing Long COVID later. Long COVID patients also had lower levels of anti-inflammatory compounds made from polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Oral Fluid Inflammatory Biomarker Profile in Long COVID: Evaluation of Oral Active and Total MMP-8, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in Relation to BMI and Disease Status | Int J of Infectious Diseases 10/13/26
University of Helsinki researchers analyzed oral rinse samples from 115 people with Long COVID and 103 controls. Those with Long COVID had higher salivary levels of the inflammatory proteins MMP8, MMP9, and TIMP1, markers of ongoing inflammation and disrupted tissue remodeling, detectable through a simple, noninvasive rinse.
Higher risk of Long COVID among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and immunomodulatory therapy: a retrospective cohort analysis of national US data. | Arthritis & Rheumatology (ACR) 10/14/26
NC3 researchers analyzing data from 187,106 patients found that individuals with autoimmune rheumatic diseases faced a 56% greater likelihood of developing Long COVID compared to those without such conditions. Treatment with rituximab or corticosteroids was also independently associated with elevated Long COVID risk in this population, as was Sjögren’s syndrome.
🧠 Long-term prognostic value and clinical correlates of brain [¹⁸F]-FDG PET in patients with post-COVID-19 condition and neurocognitive disorders: a prospective cohort study | Research Square Preprint 10/1/26
CHRU Nancy in France tracked 70 Long COVID patients presenting with cognitive symptoms and found measurable reductions in brain glucose metabolism in frontal, parietal, temporal, and cerebellar regions using PET imaging with “metabolic signatures associated with acute disease severity and viral variant”. While the metabolic abnormalities were consistently detectable, they did not reliably forecast which patients would go on to recover from their neurocognitive symptoms over time.
🧠 Cognitive phenotypes and neuropsychological trajectories in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a 12-month follow-up study | Scientific Reports 10/6/26
The University of Oviedo tracked 92 Long COVID patients across 12 months and found that memory tended to recover more substantially over time than other cognitive functions. Attention and processing speed showed the greatest persistent impairments, indicating that cognitive recovery in Long COVID follows a selective pattern rather than a uniform one.
Non-fluorescent benzothiadiazole probe with protein-triggered turn-on fluorescence for imaging SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in biological systems | Bio-Organic Chemistry 10/6/26
Researchers at the University of Brasília developed a fluorescent probe that activates upon binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, enabling direct visualization of spike protein behavior in biological systems. Tracking experiments in cell cultures revealed that spike protein migrated from the outer membrane into lysosomal compartments, and studies in mice detected localized fluorescent signal within brain tissue.
Effectiveness of individualized physical exercise in COVID-19-induced Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome | ScienceDirect 10/6/26
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet studied 60 people with COVID-induced POTS and found that a tailored exercise program did not improve quality of life compared to standard care. The exercise intervention was actually associated with reductions in upright time and daily step counts among participants, nearly all of whom had post-exertional malaise.
Mechanisms of accelerated biological aging and premature cardiovascular events in young and middle-aged post-COVID-19 survivors | Ageing Research Reviews 10/7/26 (November 2026)
A new review of 110 studies found that Long COVID may accelerate biological aging and increase cardiovascular disease risk particularly among younger adults aged 25–55 . Researchers identified persistent viral RNA and ongoing immune activation as likely contributors to chronic inflammation, vascular injury, and cellular premature aging.
Proteomic Profiling of Post-COVID -19 Sequelae | Molec & Cellular Proteomics 9/28/26
A new study examining nearly 2,900 blood proteins across 495 COVID survivors pinpointed 235 proteins associated with 15 lingering symptoms that persisted after initial recovery. Long COVID symptom-specific protein patterns were noted for 6 clusters of Long COVID symptoms. Long COVID appears to operate through at least three distinct biological pathways spanning inflammatory responses, immune system signaling, and metabolic function.
Handgrip strength parameters as predictors of post-COVID syndrome severity and muscle weakness in an observational study | Scientific Reports 10/8/26
Munich researchers examined 102 Long COVID patients and found that reduced handgrip strength and slower muscle recovery correlated with impaired blood vessel function. Elevated antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were additionally associated with greater degrees of muscle impairment in the same cohort.
Persistent venular dysfunction despite structural convergence in post-COVID-19 syndrome: a prospective six-month retinal vessel analysis follow-up | Research Square 10/8/26
Researchers at the Technical University of Munich followed 82 Long COVID patients over six months and discovered that while the physical structure of their retinal microvasculature normalized, the tiny venous blood vessels still could not dilate properly, regardless of symptom burden. Ongoing vascular dysregulation in the retinal vessels appears to outlast any visible structural recovery.
Sputum and oral microbiota profiles are associated with long COVID severity and phenotype post-hospitalisation: a UK multicentre, prospective cohort study | European Respiratory Journal 10/11/26
In patients hospitalized for severe COVID infection in 2020 and 2021, patients with impaired lung function and with neurocognitive symptoms had distinct oral microbiota profiles. Gastrointestinal symptoms months after COVID infection were associated with a distinct sputum microbiota profile.
Measles
As of October 15, 2026, the CDC reports 4,410 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026. While the CDC reports that there have been 2 measles deaths in 2026, Pennsylvania just reported its 6th measles death this year.
Pennsylvania reports its 6th measles death, in a Franklin County resident | CIDRAP 10/12/26
US measles cases grow by 8% in 1 week for a total of 4,410 cases | CIDRAP 10/16/26
“The true number of measles cases is likely to be substantially larger, according to public health experts. Pennsylvania has reported six measles deaths, a much higher number than experts would predict based on the 1,260 cases in that state.
“That’s because the expected mortality rate from measles ranges from one to three deaths per 1,000 infections. Based on those historic rates, infectious disease specialists say the true number of measles infections in Pennsylvania could be 6,000 or more.”
Pennsylvania Department of Health Measles Dashboard:
1260 measles cases, 121 in the last 7 days, 5 deaths according to the website.
Johns Hopkins US Measles Tracker
H5N1 Bird Flu
Necropsy Provides New Information About Beloved Bald Eagle Known as Jackie | CDFW News 10/14/26
A new report from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shows that Jackie, one of the famous Big Bear bald eagles, died of complications from the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or bird flu.
Dengue Fever in Florida
‘I ached so much’: Man shares bout with dengue fever contracted during Florida’s outbreak | CIDRAP 10/15/26
Dengue fever is known as “breakbone fever“ because of the pain it causes. This year in Florida, there have been more than 320 locally transmitted cases of Dengue which is unusual. Dengue is spread by mosquitoes.
Ebola
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): As of October 12, there have now been 9,144 confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC, with 4,410 deaths. The case fatality rate is 48.2% and contact tracing is at 77.6% according to the DRC Minister of Health.
Kenya Ministry of Health Oct 17, 2026: The Kenya Ministry of Health has confirmed four new Ebola cases, bringing the total to seven, including one death. All new cases were already in quarantine, and there is no evidence of community transmission.
Government Health News
Hepatitis B vaccine study condemned as unethical wins approval from Danish university | CIDRAP 10/8/26
The University of Southern Denmark has approved a controversial US CDC-funded ($1.6 million) study to be completed in Guinea-Bissau that would give life-saving Hepatitis B vaccines to only half of enrolled babies. Health groups and political leaders have condemned the design as unethical.
US health secretary Kennedy launches new push on vaccine injuries | Reuters 10/8/26
Feds sold lab equipment that exposed US to ‘severe bioterrorism threat,’ report says | CIDRAP 10/8/26
A US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report warns that HHS and USDA sold 1,316 pieces of surplus lab equipment from 2022 to 2025, including nine export-controlled items, without assessing biosecurity risks. Undercover investigators using fake identities bought four risky items. Agencies have agreed to fix their policies.
Other news
@EricTopol: “The personalized neoantigen vaccines to treat cancer, already shown to work in malignant melanoma, and in trials of pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, renal cell cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer.....now ovarian cancer. Results from a Phase 1 trial.”
Connecting Our Immune System and Healthspan | Eric Topol MD 10/11/26
CD8+ effector-memory T cells can be rich in either K granules which lead to healthy aging or B granules which are associated with disease and increased mortality. Eric Topol reviews an important new paper on how the immune system ages.
Eric and Wendy Schmidt announce global public health nonprofit to improve systems that monitor, identify, respond to health threats | Eurekalert 10/8/26
Expanding the mission of the Schmidt Initiative for Long Covid (SILC) beyond a single disease, Eric and Wendy Schmidt announced Schmidt Global Health, a nonprofit aimed at improving public health by strengthening the systems and advancing the technology used to monitor, identify and respond to emerging disease threats worldwide.
US maternity wards face wave of closures as Medicaid cuts kick in | Guardian 10/11/26
Hospitals across the United States are closing maternity wards as federal Medicaid cuts take effect, the Guardian reports. Medicaid pays for more than 40% of US births, so lost funding hits obstetric units first, leaving rural and low income families with longer drives for care.
Tibial bone compression promotes recovery after brain injury through osteocyte PIEZO1 | Nature Neuroscience 9/21/26
Mechanical compression of the tibia bone improved survival and motor and cognitive recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke in mice, and after TBI in pigs. Osteocyte bone cells sensed the force through PIEZO1 and released neuroprotective factors, including HSP70 and IL-1R2, pointing to a bone-brain axis.
UCSF researchers compared plasma from 695 Lupus patients and 301 healthy controls. Machine learning found a reproducible autoreactivity signature that separated the two groups. The most common shared target, a YTHDF2 peptide, was found in the plasma of approximately 25% of patients and resembles the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BZLF1 protein. Antibodies were found to bind the viral peptide more tightly, supporting the hypothesis that EBV may trigger Lupus autoimmunity through molecular mimicry.
The association between PFAS exposure, menstrual cycle parameters, and reproductive hormones in adolescent girls | JCEM Sept 2026
“Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals”, are widespread. Certain PFAS exposures have been associated with reproductive abnormalities in women, but limited data exist in adolescents. [In a new study], PFAS were widely detected in healthy girls. PFBS was positively associated with estrone-3-glucuronide (E1G) levels, suggesting potential ovarian effects.”
Real-world, digital-first delivery of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy in women | Nature Medicine 9/16/26
“A real world digital GLP-1 structured treatment program achieved marked weight loss, high retention, metabolic improvement, and no serious adverse events in over 8,000 women. Suggests scalability with minimal need for clinician support.” -@EricTopol
The human gut microbiome primes fever after vaccination | Science 10/8/26
A Science study of 171 healthy adults found that gut microbes making more flagellin, a bacterial protein that fuels inflammation, were linked to fever after mRNA COVID vaccination. People who ate more plant foods tended to have less fever. Stronger fevers did not mean stronger antibody responses.
Animals crossing: the simple solution to stop roadkill in the Amazon | Guardian 10/9/26
Brazilian biologist Fernanda Abra came up with a simple solution to prevent animals from being killed on roads in the Amazon region. She installed rope bridges that have allowed over 15,000 safe animal crossings. Six primate species use them, including threatened marmosets and the critically endangered Alta Floresta titi monkey.
Biologist Fernanda Abra, the founder of Reconectam, with one of the canopy bridges. Photograph: Reconecta
MIT trailblazer who helped shape Apollo 11 legacy dies at 90 | Mass Live 10/8/26
“Margaret Hamilton, a pioneering computer scientist who helped establish the field of software engineering and led the MIT team that developed the onboard flight software for NASA’s Apollo moon missions” died on September 30 at age 90.
Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton poses with the Apollo guidance software she and her team developed at MIT.
Photo credit: MIT museum
Have a great week,
Ruth Ann Crystal MD
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