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Adenovirus Protein Linked to Rare Vaccine Clots
14 Feb
Summary
- Researchers identified an adenovirus protein reaction causing rare blood clots.
- A genetic predisposition to this reaction was observed in affected individuals.
- Modifying the protein could prevent future rare vaccine-related clotting issues.
Australian researchers have identified the cause of rare, severe blood clots linked to the Johnson & Johnson and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. These clots, known as Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT), occurred due to a reaction to the adenovirus used to deliver the vaccine's genetic material.
The immune system mistakenly identified a protein from the adenovirus as similar to a blood protein called PF4. This confusion triggered the production of harmful autoantibodies, leading to dangerous blood clotting. The findings were made possible through advanced mass spectrometry sequencing.
In 2021, the FDA and CDC reported 15 VITT cases in women aged 18-59, occurring 6-15 days post-vaccination. Hundreds more cases were reported in Europe. While VITT has a significant mortality rate, especially in severe cases, the new research offers a path to preventing this rare complication entirely.
Future vaccines utilizing similar technology can be made safer by modifying or removing the problematic adenovirus protein. This advancement aims to ensure that adenovirus-vector vaccines remain effective, accessible, and even safer for disease prevention globally.
