Editing 2404: First Thing
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Created by a SPIKED PROTEIN. Needs a better explanation of the science and the title text. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
− | This comic, somewhat like [[2402: Into My Veins]], references both the {{w|COVID-19 vaccine}} and a common Internet trend | + | This comic, somewhat like [[2402: Into My Veins]], references both the {{w|COVID-19 vaccine}} and a common Internet trend. |
− | The {{w|COVID-19 pandemic}} has been one of the most consequential and broadly unpleasant events in living memory{{Citation needed}}. As of the publication of this strip, it is estimated to have caused over 1.5 million deaths worldwide | + | The {{w|COVID-19 pandemic}} has been one of the most consequential and broadly unpleasant events in living memory{{Citation needed}} (World wars apart). As of the publication of this strip, it is estimated to have caused over 1.5 million deaths worldwide, with over 300,000 deaths in the United States, with many more cases that have not resulted in fatality but far too often needing serious medical support and/or with lasting implications. Even for those who have been spared infection, measures to slow the spread of the virus have been highly impactful, and have been ongoing for nearly a year. |
− | In consequence of all of this, many people are excited for the vaccine (which | + | In consequence of all of this, many people are excited for the vaccine (which will hopefully end the pandemic). Many people online have been sharing plans for what they'll do after getting the vaccine, like "see my friends" or "travel the world." In this comic, Ponytail takes the trend literally, listing instead what will happen in her body immediately after getting the vaccine: |
− | + | - First she will make some spike proteins. This implies that she took an mRNA vaccine (e.g. from BioNTech or Moderna) or a viral-vector vaccine like the ones from AstraZeneca or CanSino. mRNA vaccines contain RNA encoding for the viral proteins, which is then used by Ponytail's cell to make the spike protein. Viral-vector vaccines contain DNA, which the viral "shell" introduces into human cells, which then manufacture spike proteins. (In contrast, subunit-containing vaccines like the ones from NovaVax contain actual duplicates of viral proteins to sensitize the immune systems, and inactivated/weakened virus-based vaccines contain the actual virus in question, but modified to not cause disease, e. g. the vaccines from Sinovac and Sinopharm.) | |
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− | + | - The spike protein made by Ponytail will then be recognised by her immune system as foreign (as would the proteins of the real coronavirus) and subsequently engulfed by the dendritic cells in a process called phagocytosis. | |
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+ | - The dendritic cells then chop the spike proteins into small pieces (called antigens) and present them on their surface using MHCII proteins. | ||
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+ | - This will then allow T-cells to recognise these pieces and become activated if they have a matching T-cell receptor. | ||
The next step is mentioned in the title text: | The next step is mentioned in the title text: | ||
− | + | - The T-cells will activate B-cells, who will then try to make antibodies to bind the spike protein. Since the B-cells don't know how a good antibody looks like, they just randomly generate antibodies through a process of somatic hypermutation. Then they check if the antibody binds the antigen presented by the dendritic cells. If it doesn't the antibody is discarded, if it does, it is kept and improved on by another round of somatic hypermutation, to create an antibody which binds even better. | |
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+ | - Finally Ponytail mentions the one thing she herself (as opposed to her immune system) has to do: continue to use social distancing, hand washing, wearing a mask etc. | ||
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+ | This is important because while the vaccine will eventually protect her ''after'' the protein has been made, engulfed by the dendritic cells etc. this process takes time, during which Ponytail is still vulnerable to the virus. This can for example be seen in the graph presented in [[2400: Statistics]]: While eventually there is a clear difference between the vaccinated and the placebo group, they contract Covid at the same rate in the beginning, when the immune system is still busy presenting the antigens to T-cells and creating antibodies through somatic hypermutations. | ||
− | + | If Ponytail were to go out and socialise before her immune system has finished its work, she would be at risk of contracting the coronavirus, making the vaccination pointless. | |
− | + | The title text emphasizes the real danger for and from people planning what they'll "do first": they won't have immunity immediately after receiving the vaccine. Developing immunity takes weeks to be effective. The first few vaccines likely to be approved will require a second dose 3 or 4 weeks after the first. Moreover, a person with immunity might still be able to spread the virus even if they don't get sick themselves. | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:COVID-19]] | [[Category:COVID-19]] | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
[[Category:Biology]] | [[Category:Biology]] |