thetranscendedman
atranscendedman.bsky.social
thetranscendedman
@atranscendedman.bsky.social
Transparent to the transcendent.

Wrote a book on Long Covid. - https://jondouglas.dev/longhaul/

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. - Sagan
Pinned
For five years I've lived with long COVID and watched people push for answers without the tools they deserved.

So I'm building TrialPilot, a way to take part in real studies from home.

Any support or sharing would be deeply appreciated. ❤️

gofund.me/3f6830e8f
Donate to Patients Deserve Faster Answers - Help Build TrialPilot, organized by Jon Douglas
Hi, I’m Jon Douglas (@atranscendedman ). I’ve lived with long … Jon Douglas needs your support for Patients Deserve Faster Answers - Help Build TrialPilot
gofund.me
Montreal researchers at IRCM studied mice and human T cells and found that SLAMF6 acts as a brake on anti tumour immunity.

Blocking it with new antibodies boosted T cell activity, reduced exhaustion, and slowed tumour growth.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
SLAMF6 as a drug-targetable suppressor of T cell immunity against cancer - Nature
SLAMF6 functions exclusively as a T cell inhibitory receptor, which is triggered by cis homotypic interactions.
www.nature.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Aethlon Medical in San Diego reported new preclinical Long COVID data showing its Hemopurifier binds extracellular vesicles from patient samples and reduces microRNAs tied to immune dysregulation, supporting its potential as a multi disease therapy.

www.aethlonmedical.com/news-media/p...
Aethlon Medical Announces Fiscal Q3 2026 Financial Results and Corporate Update
Clinical and research programs continue to advance, supported by year-to-date cost efficiencies Conference Call Today at 4:30 p.m. ET SAN DIEGO,…...
www.aethlonmedical.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:49 PM
ME/CFS is one thing Chris Williamson wants to tackle when he's on the other side of it.
February 13, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Chris Williamson on the wild things people suggested to "cure" his chronic condition and why he won't stop talking about it, because it's his real, lived experience.
February 13, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Researchers show certain COVID 19 spike antibodies can fuse infected lung cells with monocytes, forming giant cells that release intense inflammation.

In mice, low antibody doses worsened disease without raising viral load.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org
February 13, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Virginia Tech scientists studied milk from 7 white tailed deer and found it contains SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and rapidly destroys viral RNA within 30 minutes, suggesting deer milk may block transmission rather than spread the virus.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org
February 13, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Researchers tracking thousands of adults found long COVID is not one condition but 8 distinct symptom paths.

While some steadily recover, others worsen as late as 15 months after infection, and reinfection does not explain most of this.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H5x...
Long COVID trajectories in adults
YouTube video by RECOVER: Researching Covid to Enhance Recovery
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Hyogo Japan, 91 adults with ME/CFS after COVID infection or vaccination and low vitamin D saw real change.

Adding daily vitamin D, diet, sun, and exercise cut symptoms by 6.7 vs 1.2 in controls, and 16 no longer met ME/CFS criteria.

www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18...
www.mdpi.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Taiwan, 39 studies reviewed. Researchers report that long COVID can disrupt hearing and balance months after infection, with at least 1.99% having persistent hearing symptoms and 3.99% balance issues at 6 months.

www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27...
www.mdpi.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 5 female Syrian hamsters, found a new fusion spike protein combining RBD and a conserved region cut lung viral load and eased lung damage after Omicron infection, suggesting a path toward broader coronavirus vaccines.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A novel fusion protein of COVID-19 virus enhancing protection of Syrian hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 and its variants have spread around the world, triggering a range of long-term sequelae and leading to the need for broadly effective vaccine…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:42 PM
South Africa 71 participants Researchers at the Africa Health Research Institute found that early blood proteins during first SARS CoV 2 infection predicted who would later make strong neutralizing antibodies with HSPA8 emerging as the strongest signal.

www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Host proteins associated with strong neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in a South African cohort - Communications Medicine
Khairallah et al., investigate the host proteins associated with a strong neutralizing antibody response to SARS-CoV-2. High neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 are associated with specific ...
www.nature.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM
West China Hospital Sichuan University researchers report a new DNA aptamer that binds a conserved coronavirus N protein and blocks NLRP3 driven inflammation.

In mice it reduced lung viral load to undetectable levels and lowered IL 6 and TNF α.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Targeting coronaviral inflammation: aptamer-based strategies for emerging threats - Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy - Targeting coronaviral inflammation: aptamer-based strategies for emerging threats
www.nature.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Madrid’s Gregorio Marañón Hospital, 15 immunocompromised COVID 19 patients, dual therapy with remdesivir plus nirmatrelvir ritonavir and triple therapy adding sotrovimab cleared persistent infection in 13 cases, while early monotherapy often failed.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Evaluation of the efficiency of combined antiviral therapy in COVID-19 challenging immunocompromised patients - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Evaluation of the efficiency of combined antiviral therapy in COVID-19 challenging immunocompromised patients
www.nature.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Japanese researchers studied 28 macaques and found Omicron caused milder lung disease but weaker immune responses.

Reinfection still occurred, and antibodies kept targeting the original Wuhan strain, revealing immune imprinting.

www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Pathological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants and immune responses induced in a COVID-19 macaque model - Communications Biology
Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants using a COVID-19 monkey model reveals heterogeneous immune responses to viral infection, which may inform future vaccine strategies and public health control.
www.nature.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Vanderbilt University, 1 patient, reports the first case of central nervous system demyelination possibly triggered by baricitinib.

After 18 months on the drug, vision loss and 25 brain and spine lesions emerged, then improved when treatment stopped.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Baricitinib triggering a central nervous system inflammatory-demyelinating disease: A case report - Rozita Khalili, Ahmad A. Toubasi, Meryim Poursheykhi, Francesca Bagnato, 2026
Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis), such as baricitinib, target the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription pathway to regulate proinflamma...
journals.sagepub.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Epstein Barr virus is likely a necessary trigger for multiple sclerosis, infecting rare B cells that drive brain inflammation.

Targeting the viral protein EBNA1 could offer more precise treatment than broad immune suppression.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Targeting Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous autoimmune-mediated demyelinating disease with complex multifactorial risk factors. It is now well-establis…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Researchers in mice found that DNA can be folded into tiny shapes that neatly display HIV proteins.

These DNA origami particles triggered focused antibody responses, offering a promising new path toward a more effective HIV vaccine.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A double helix twist in HIV vaccine design
DNA origami scaffolds displaying HIV antigens stimulate focused antibody responses in mice
www.science.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Vanderbilt Health researchers will enroll ~550 adults in an expanded multisite U.S. trial to test whether the immunomodulator baricitinib can ease long COVID’s lasting brain, heart, and lung symptoms through 12-month follow-up.

www.newswise.com/articles/van...
Vanderbilt Health to Lead Expanded Multisite Study of Immunomodulation in Long COVID | Newswise
Since the virus that causes COVID-19 emerged in late 2019, there have been over 780 million cases worldwide and over 7 million deaths. Despite the development of vaccines and effective therapeutics, m...
www.newswise.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Researchers report two rare immune misfires behind some COVID 19 vaccine side effects.

Adenovirus shots can trigger antibodies that activate platelets and cause unusual clots.

mRNA shots can spark short lived heart inflammation in a few young people.

www.science.org/content/arti...
Rare, dangerous side effects of some COVID-19 vaccines explained
“Groundbreaking” study uncovers why adenovirus-based shots caused life-threatening blood clots and bleeding in some people
www.science.org
February 12, 2026 at 1:38 AM
In a study by Peaches Biotech using SARS-CoV-2 infected mice, the cell-free biologic PRS CK STORM reduced lung inflammation and promoted tissue repair as effectively as corticosteroids, without impairing viral clearance.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org
February 11, 2026 at 2:48 PM
At Antalya Training and Research Hospital, 261 vaccinated adults were tracked.

Women and those receiving Sinovac or Turkovac had significantly fewer side effects than those given BioNTech.

Most side effects were mild and resolved within 24 hours.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Investigation of the administration technique and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines: a descriptive and cross-sectional study - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Investigation of the administration technique and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines: a descriptive and cross-sectional study
www.nature.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Palacký University and KLE College of Pharmacy screened 119 marine compounds from coral microbes.

Several outperformed remdesivir in docking studies, showing stable binding to SARS-CoV-2 protease and spike variants including Omicron.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Molecular docking and dynamic simulation of marine natural products from soft coral-derived microbes against SARS-CoV-2 main protease and spike protein - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Molecular docking and dynamic simulation of marine natural products from soft coral-derived microbes against SARS-CoV-2 main protease and spike protein
www.nature.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:43 PM
At Universiti Teknologi MARA, six young women with mild COVID-19 later developed long COVID and described life-changing symptoms like breathlessness, brain fog, etc.

Most felt dismissed by doctors but adapted through faith, routines, and peer support.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Experiences and coping strategies among patients with mild COVID-19 who develop post COVID conditions at a primary care centre - Scientific Reports
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the emergence of post-COVID conditions (PCC) even among individuals with initially mild illness. This study explored the experiences and coping strategies of patients ...
www.nature.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Researchers at Seoul National University engineered CD32a-based CAR monocytes that outperformed CD3ζ in phagocytosis.

In a COVID-19 spike protein model, they also triggered antigen-specific CD8+ T cell activation.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Optimization of THP-1-CAR monocytes utilizing CD32a signaling phagocytosis for antigen-specific T cell activation - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Optimization of THP-1-CAR monocytes utilizing CD32a signaling phagocytosis for antigen-specific T cell activation
www.nature.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:02 PM
At Barranquilla Zoo, a 17-year-old male lion became the first in Latin America reported with co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and chronic dermatophytosis

Both the lion and a zookeeper had identical Delta-like variants, pointing to human-to-animal transmission

link.springer.com/article/10.1...
First report of SARS-CoV-2 co-infection with chronic dermatophytosis in a lion (Panthera leo) ex situ at Colombia - BMC Veterinary Research
BMC Veterinary Research - Coronaviruses affecting humans traditionally caused mild respiratory infections. However, new zoonotic strains such as MERS-CoV (2012) and SARS-CoV-2 (2019) have led to...
link.springer.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:00 PM