|
It’s been a tough six months, but it may be time for cautious optimism. Early data shows that the coronavirus vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca leads to a strong antibody response – meaning effective protection could be within reach.
Rebecca Ashfield, a scientist working on the trial, explains the encouraging news that within 28 days, the vaccine induced antibodies in all the people who received it. The vaccine also induces T cells that recognise the coronavirus – another clue that it will offer protection.
The crucial next step is to confirm that the vaccine actually stops people from getting COVID-19. All eyes will be on the next round of tests taking place in South Africa and Brazil.
|
Numstocker/Shutterstock
Rebecca Ashfield, University of Oxford
The experimental vaccine stimulates the creation of antibodies. Now we need to show that these effectively protect us from the coronavirus.
|
Health + Medicine
|
Raj Thaker, University of Essex
It's hard to discuss COVID without referring to white blood cells. Here is a primer on the two you need to know about.
| |
Jonathan Euvrard, University of Cape Town; Mary-Ann Davies, University of Cape Town
COVID-19 has stretched South Africa's public health services to capacity. In response, the services have increased their capacity through innovation.
|
|
|
Politics + Society
|
James Angove, University of Oxford; Roxana Willis, University of Oxford
Cameroon's anglophone crisis is not simply a dispute between two feuding groups: a range of international actors have been architects of the current situation.
| |
Dorothy Denning, Naval Postgraduate School
The Russian cyberthreat, now targeting coronavirus vaccine research, goes back over three decades, extends into the country's educational systems and criminal worlds, and shows no signs of letting up.
|
|
|
