UPDATED: Equal Opportunity Blood Clotter
UPDATE: Commenter Mb corrected me. I had referred to the J&J shot as if it were an mRNA shot, but it's an "adenovirus ." Which is different. I won't pretend to be able to explain the difference, but if you follow the link ...
Use in gene therapy and vaccination [edit]
Gene therapy [edit]
Adenoviruses have long been a popular viral vector for gene therapy due to their ability to affect both replicating and non-replicating cells, accommodate large transgenes , and code for proteins without integrating into the host cell genome. [18] More specifically, they are used as a vehicle to administer targeted therapy ,[37] in the form of recombinant DNA or protein. This therapy has been found especially useful in treating monogenic disease (e.g. cystic fibrosis , X-linked SCID , alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency) and cancer.[18] In China, oncolytic adenovirus is an approved cancer treatment.[38] Specific modifications on fibre proteins are used to target Adenovirus to certain cell types;[39] a major effort is made to limit hepatotoxicity and prevent multiple organ failure. Adenovirus dodecahedron can qualify as a potent delivery platform for foreign antigens to human myeloid dendritic cells (MDC), and that it is efficiently presented by MDC to M1-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes.[40]
Adenovirus has been used for delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing systems, but high immune reactivity to viral infection has posed challenges in use for patients.
Vaccines [edit]
Further information: Viral vector vaccine
Modified (recombinant ) adenovirus vectors, including replication incompetent types, can deliver DNA coding for specific antigens . [41]
Adenovirus have been used to produce viral vector COVID-19 vaccines . "In four candidate COVID-19 vaccines... Ad5... serves as the 'vector' to [transport] the surface protein gene of SARS-CoV-2".[42] The goal is to genetically express the spike glycoprotein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 ). A replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vaccine vector (ChAdOx1) is used by the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved for use.[43][44] The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine uses modified recombinant adenovirus type-26 (Ad26).[45] Recombinant adenovirus type-5 (Ad5) are being used by Ad5-nCoV ,[46] ImmunityBio and UQ-CSL V451 . The Gam-COVID-Vac (aka Sputnik-V) product is innovative because an Ad26 based vaccine is used on the first day and an Ad5 vaccine is used on day 21.[45] Another one is ChAd-SARS-CoV-2-S ; the vaccine reportedly prevented mice that were genetically modified to have human ACE2 (hACE2) receptors, presumably receptors that allow virus-entry into the cells, from being infected with SARS-CoV-2.[47][48]
Poss ible issues with using Adenovirus as vaccine vectors include: the human body develops immunity to the vector itself, making subsequent booster shots difficult or impossible.[49] In some cases, people have pre-existing immunity to Adenoviruses, making vector delivery ineffective.[50]
Until today we were hearing that all blood clotting cases associated with the J&J adenovirus shot involved women--median age: 37 years old. However, Fox is reporting that a man has now believed to have shared in that "side effect". His age is reported to be in his "early 30s":
California man who received Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine hospitalized with blood clot
The patient is in good condition, with an expected hospital discharge in the next few days, a spokeswoman said
Excuse me. I'm not crazy about the idea of risking a blood clot in my leg, in the circumstances.
I'd really like to know. When CDC re-authorized this high risk experimental therapy, did they assume that it would only affect women? According to CBS News :
A panel of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted earlier Friday to recommend resuming use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The shots are expected to be accompanied by a new warning about an increased risk of rare but serious blood clots for adult women under 50.
Time to revise the warning--already. Again: This adenovirus shot is experimental. Nobody knows what all could happen in the short run, much less in the long run .