RNA sequencing helped show how SARS-CoV-2 can make the earliest immune response quieter during infection, possibly helping the virus replicate and evade immune control. That kind of immune escape could also contribute to persistence. NSP1 and NSP15 stood out.

Disease databases can help care move from “try a drug and see” toward “test, subgroup, then choose.” In HIV, cancer, cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, arthritis and lupus, data tied samples to drug response. This is why @amaticahealth is building one for Long COVID and ME/CFS.

ME/CFS and Long COVID research often misses the sickest individuals. Many severe individuals are housebound or bedbound, so research that needs clinic visits can end up studying the people well enough to travel.

ME/CFS genetics may be pointing toward brain signalling, synapses, and specific nerve cells. A new preprint combined large genetic datasets and found converging signals in brain regions involved in communication between neurons. Simple-language breakdown 🧵

A large new study found that taking oral antivirals early in COVID was linked with a lower chance of still having symptoms almost 3 months later. Not a cure. Not mechanistic proof. But a useful signal for Long COVID prevention.

Most people have heard of DNA testing. RNA sequencing is different: it looks at gene activity, not just which genes exist. At Amatica Health, individuals can order a whole blood RNA sequencing test. More on what it measures and how to order below.

Researchers found a possible gut-to-brain inflammation pathway in ALS/FTD. In mice with reduced C9orf72, some gut bacteria made a form of glycogen that pushed immune cells into a more inflammatory state. Breaking it down improved survival in mice.

Blood vessel inflammation linked to brain fog. A new study found signs of blood vessel inflammation in people with neuropsychiatric Long COVID, linked with worse memory, word finding, anxiety, and depression. Let's break it down in simple language 🧵

Long COVID research is moving toward a clearer picture: this may not be one illness with one cause. It may be several overlapping problems involving the immune system, blood vessels, nerves, clotting, muscles, sleep, and viral remnants.

A positive “mold test” may not mean mold is making you sick. Some tests do not test mold at all. Others test mold toxins often found in healthy people from food and everyday air. The key question is: what did it actually measure? Let’s break it all down in simple language 🧵

Mayo Clinic tested an AI system that may help find pancreatic cancer before a tumor is visible on CT scans. In the study, it flagged about 73% of future cancer cases roughly 16 months before diagnosis on average.

Cancer has been shown to be rising in younger adults, with research suggesting obesity and lifestyle as likely factors. But one factor I think may be overlooked is increasing population density and travel leading to increased infection exposure.

New long COVID research in children and young adults found signs of blood vessel injury, tiny abnormal blood clots, and overactive neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that can damage vessel lining when activated.

Two new RNA panels now live on the platform: B-Cell Biology Oxygen Sensing & Hypoxia Adaptation These expand coverage of B-cell immune function and how cells detect and adapt to low oxygen.

Researchers have identified the cause of clotting seen after some COVID vaccines. In certain people, a common inherited gene version plus prior adenovirus exposure led to an immune mistake that triggered clotting.

The UK Covid Inquiry says the vaccine rollout was a major success overall. But for people living with serious long term illness after vaccination, the report still does not seem to offer a real plan for research, treatment, or clinical care.

Due to MCAS my diet consists of ONLY sweet potatoes & beef mince. 800g of sweet potatoes and 300g of mince for breakfast, lunch, dinner, every day for 3 years. And I’ve recently realised I probably eat more sweet potatoes per year than anyone in the western world. Great record.

Long COVID patients in this study had far more platelet-monocyte clumps in their blood than healthy controls. These clumps may be a sign of ongoing blood vessel and immune system stress, and this method may help measure that more clearly.

Batch 3 of the @amaticahealth 31 marker protein samples are now with the lab and being prepared for analysis next week. This now brings our protein cohort up to 154 LC / ME patients & 45 control

Getting COVID more than once may carry extra risk. In this large study, people with reinfection had higher risks of death, hospitalisation, and health problems across many parts of the body than people who had COVID once and were not reinfected.

We accept orders globally @amaticahealth We even ship the collection kit to you and use our shipping service to ship it back of us, avoiding all customs issues. Just a reminder as lots of new messages on this topic. To order the test: amaticahealth.com

🔬Study shows SARS-CoV-2 causes direct damage to heart cell mitochondria - even months after recovery - helping potentially explain Long COVID heart symptoms like chest pain, palpitations & fatigue. Let’s break it down 🧵

Two new RNA panels now live on the platform: Amino Acids Tryptophan, Kynurenine & Monoamine

New long COVID study suggests tiny packets released by gut bacteria may help drive gut problems, immune activation, and brain-related symptoms in some people with long COVID.

Big pharma is going deeper into AI drug development. Lilly’s new deal with Insilico is worth up to $2.75 billion and centres on drugs designed with AI, spanning across multiple therapeutic areas. This is the future of drug development.

A new ME/CFS study found signs that people with more severe illness may show different spinal fluid protein patterns linked to immune activity, blood clotting, cell stress, and brain-related signaling. People with POTS also showed a different pattern. Simple breakdown 🧵

Two new RNA panels live: Gut Barrier & Mucosal Immunity (128 genes): gut lining, mucus, local immune defence Lipid & Fatty Acid Biology (203 genes): fat metabolism, transport, signalling, membranes Now available on individual dashboards.

New study suggests antibodies from some people with ME/CFS may directly affect healthy cells. In lab tests, patient IgG changed how cells produce and manage energy, changed the shape of mitochondria, and changed inflammatory signals.

Two recent stories suggested AI may help find highly personal treatment routes in cancer, one in Sid Sijbrandij and one in Rosie the dog. There is some nuance here, so I’ll break down what happened in simple language, including cost, and how similar logic could apply to chronic disease.

If you have ME/CFS or LC & have done Lyme testing, the result is often not as simple as it reads. Some tests are quite specific. Some tests sold right now can generate lots of false positives. And some miss real infections. I’ll breakdown the testing landscape in this thread 🧵

Vascular gene panel now available for all individuals with RNA results. Covers genes linked to blood vessel structure and function, including endothelial biology, vessel tone, angiogenesis, lymphatics, and barrier integrity. More panels coming soon.

Vascular gene panel now available for all individuals with RNA results. Covers genes linked to blood vessel structure and function, including endothelial biology, vessel tone, angiogenesis, lymphatics, and barrier integrity. More panels coming soon.

A new brain scan study found widespread inflammation-related changes across the brain’s wiring in ME/CFS, and some matched worse mental health, more disability, and greater illness severity.

Switching off 2 genes helped worn-out T cells start working better again in chronic viral infection models, without clearly harming immune memory in those models. That could be relevant if viral persistence drives T-cell exhaustion in some long COVID or ME/CFS.

A study of 40,537 people found key immune cells that fight infections were still below earlier levels up to 20 months after the major COVID wave. In people with heart and blood vessel disease, some of these cells were about 70% lower than earlier levels.

A study found a small set of molecules in blood that can separate people with Long COVID from recovered patients 1 year after severe infection. Using machine learning on metabolomics data, researchers identified 9 molecules linked to energy problems in the body.

New research suggests antibodies from people with ME/CFS and Long COVID may directly change how cells handle energy and inflammation. The study found these antibodies may fragment mitochondria and alter immune signals.

Ion channels control sodium, potassium, and calcium inside our cells. This pathway is being studied in ME/CFS and Long COVID because it could connect immune signals, blood flow control, nerve symptoms, and PEM after exertion. Let’s break it down in simple language.

CAR-T is a treatment that takes your own immune cells, reprograms them to attack a specific target, and puts them back into your body. It is already used in some blood cancers. In this thread, I will explain how it works and how it could potentially relate to long COVID and ME/CFS.

Many patients are told they have Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). This includes people with long COVID, ME/CFS, and many others. The core issue is that FND is built on flawed logic. When you break down the criteria, it often becomes a diagnosis of “we don’t understand.”

Long COVID patients in this study scored worse on thinking tests and had lower levels of mitochondrial DNA fragments in blood. People with higher levels of those fragments tended to score better on cognition and had lower CRP (a blood inflammation marker).

A mitochondrial drug is being tested for long COVID fatigue with post exertional malaise (PEM). What it does, and what the prior trials found 🧵 clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT072...

Scientists engineered “helper” immune T cells to recognise Alzheimer plaque in mice. The cells piled up where plaque builds up around the brain. A short-lived version was linked to fewer brain plaques and lower inflammation signals. Early mouse proof of concept.

Long COVID blood signal in this study: Many more tiny “microclots” plus higher markers of some overactive white blood cells. The two also often show up stuck together in the same clumps. This pattern may help with measurement and subgrouping.

Some immunosuppressed blood cancer or blood disorder patients stayed COVID PCR positive for weeks to months after single antivirals. In this hospital cohort, 2 to 3 antivirals together was followed by PCR clearance in 13 of 15 followable episodes.

Brain scans in Long COVID found a brain fluid structure that was larger and had lower blood flow. These scan changes were linked to higher Alzheimer’s-related blood markers and small differences on thinking tests.

A 6-month randomised trial tested whether a Fitbit + pacing app could reduce post-exertional malaise (PEM) in long COVID. It was safe and well run, but it did not improve PEM more than usual care.

Replication update in mostly moderate, non-PEM sampling: the 2016 “ME/CFS serum changes muscle cell respiration” signal wasn’t reproduced in this assay. Useful to narrow focus, but it doesn’t cover severe ME/CFS or blood drawn during PEM.

New study: People with ME/CFS and Long COVID show a clear drop in how their bodies make energy after exertion. This drop appears on repeat testing, and not just from being unfit.

Viruses appear to play a meaningful role in aging. Across a lifetime, infections may speed up immune aging, increase long-term inflammation, and raise the risk of age-related diseases.