What caused the rare blood clots from J&J and AstraZeneca vaccines?

Researchers found that a reaction to the adenovirus used in the vaccines, combined with a genetic predisposition, caused the rare and severe blood clots.

How does the adenovirus protein lead to blood clots?

The body's immune system confuses an adenovirus protein with a blood protein (PF4), leading to autoantibodies that mistakenly attack the host and cause clotting.

Can future vaccines prevent these rare clotting issues?

Yes, by modifying or removing the specific adenovirus protein, future vaccines can avoid this rare reaction while maintaining protection against disease.

Home / Health / Adenovirus Protein Linked to Rare Vaccine Clots

Adenovirus Protein Linked to Rare Vaccine Clots

14 Feb

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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.

Adenovirus Protein Linked to Rare Vaccine Clots

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.