In August an immunologist declared the "Leonardi Effect" had received a "decent burial"
Fast forward to today: a new preprint shows what I warned about in 2020
Persistent SARS-CoV-2-induced impairment of CD8 T cell responses to community-acquired pathogens
I was right
Key finding: Post-COVID patients show markedly reduced T cell reactivity to common pathogens (influenza, Staph, VCZ) which is evidence of lasting immune dysregulation favoring secondary infections and viral reactivation
This is the scenario I described years ago: accelerated CD8 aging/paralysis/exhaustion/senescence, poorer control of pathogens.
We ignored it at our peril. Rising "mystery" infections, cancers, herpes flares? Not a coincidence
after covid, patients show profound mitochondrial defects in T cells specific for common pathogens
Classic signs of T cell exhaustion/senescence
This is the scar I predicted in 2020
Aged, dysfunctional T cells that can’t properly control chronic viruses
Science eventually catches up.
Protect your T cells: vaccinate, mask in crowds, avoid reinfection
The TV adaptation is great. I wish I could watch it without knowing anything about it again.
Heard, I'll add it to my list. Is it over/complete?
It was billed as a miniseries so technically yes. There was some chatter about adapting the second book but that seems unlikely so also yes.