Marc Veldhoen
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marcveld.bsky.social
Marc Veldhoen
@marcveld.bsky.social
Professor of Immunology 🇳🇱 🇬🇧
Lisbon, 🇵🇹

#Immunology
Time for Science, not silence

https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=7vG1jLIAAAAJ&hl=en

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1478-9562

threads.net/@marc_veld

mastodon.online/@marc_veld
Pinned
Five years of COVID taught us one thing: immunology didn’t fail, our public discourse did. My new Substack cuts through the noise with evidence, not ideology. If you want facts over fear, and science over spin, join here:

marcveldhoen.substac...
1/2
What will population immunity to SARS-CoV-2 look like in a post-vaccine world?
An updated outlook (2025)
marcveldhoen.substack.com
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
Put it plainly: Elon Musk and key MAGA leaders are amplifying white nationalist narratives.

Don’t dress it up as “free speech” or “culture war.” It isn’t subtle. It’s explicit. The only people missing, even denying, it are the ones choosing not to look or supporting it.
1/2
February 15, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
Pathological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants and immune responses induced in a COVID-19 macaque model

Ouch. This is oversimplified and questionable.

www.nature.com/artic...
1/10
Pathological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants and immune responses induced in a COVID-19 macaque model | Communications Biology
Although recent studies have suggested that the Omicron strain is less severe, the prevalence of long Omicron variants and their subvariant waves continues today. Here, we analyze the pathological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variants in cynomolgus macaques. Prolonged re-challenge analysis results in the establishment of re-infection in some macaques with both the same strain and different strains. Omicron infection shows low pathogenicity; however, all macaques that developed pneumonia were inoculated with Omicron strains at the second inoculation. Interestingly, antibodies against the Wuhan, Alpha, and Delta strains are strongly induced regardless of the strain, but antibodies against Omicron strains are not. Moreover, despite the re-infection strain, antibody levels against the Wuhan strain are highest, suggesting original antigenic sin. In addition, Omicron infection induces weaker antigen-specific T-cell responses. These results indicate that immune responses to viral infection differ between the variants, and these differences could inform vaccine development strategies. 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 14, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
America’s disease surveillance system is going dark. Here’s what we can build to replace it

We can’t just wait for Washington to do the right thing

www.statnews.com/202...
1/3
America's disease surveillance system is going dark. Here's what we can build to replace it
America’s disease surveillance system is broken. Here’s how to replace it.
www.statnews.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
Stochasticity in cancer immunotherapy stems from rare but functionally critical Spark T cells

This study shows cancer immunotherapy can behave randomly. The authors find this isn’t from tumours but "noise" from the immune system itself.

www.cell.com/cell/ab...
1/8
February 15, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Stochasticity in cancer immunotherapy stems from rare but functionally critical Spark T cells

This study shows cancer immunotherapy can behave randomly. The authors find this isn’t from tumours but "noise" from the immune system itself.

www.cell.com/cell/ab...
1/8
February 15, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
UK to tighten online safety laws to include AI chatbots ft.trib.al/8bkJqfl
UK to tighten online safety laws to include AI chatbots
Keir Starmer to warn tech companies that ‘no platform gets a free pass’ after deepfake scandal involving Grok
ft.trib.al
February 15, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Put it plainly: Elon Musk and key MAGA leaders are amplifying white nationalist narratives.

Don’t dress it up as “free speech” or “culture war.” It isn’t subtle. It’s explicit. The only people missing, even denying, it are the ones choosing not to look or supporting it.
1/2
February 15, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
These three are doing a lot of damage to Science.
Without any basic expertise they interpret techical Science papers: very, very incorrectly. Thereby causing distrust and even panic.

February 14, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
Where are the "Twitter-files" on this? Freedom!

Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts

www.nytimes.com/2026...
1/2
Homeland Security Demands Social Media Sites Reveal Names Behind Anti-ICE Posts
The department has sent Google, Meta and other companies hundreds of subpoenas for information on accounts that track or comment on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials and tech workers said.
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
Great to expose this weeks hypocrisy in a funny way.
Who is actually in charge of uniting the country, and does he? Is Spanish a dead language? Why are country musicians hit so hard? Who has fake outrage? Who brought the six-pack of yoghurt to the party?
Trump Defends Racist Obama Meme & MAGA Rages Over Bad Bunny’s Spanish Halftime Show | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart digs into MAGA's hair-trigger outrage at anything that doesn't align with their narrow set of values, from boycotting Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show with TPUSA's own "English"-language mediocrity fest, to the president setting a new racism high score with a social media post dehuma
youtu.be
February 15, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
Two little‑known animal viruses—Influenza D and a dog coronavirus (CCoV‑HuPn‑2018)—are getting fresh scientific attention. No panic, just good data and smart surveillance. Curious what the evidence actually says?

👉 Read more: open.substack.com/pu...
1/2
Emerging Respiratory Threats in 2026: Influenza D and the Canine Coronavirus HuPn‑2018
Two little‑known animal viruses are worth watching in 2026 and beyond: Influenza D (common in cattle) and a dog coronavirus called CCoV‑HuPn‑2018.
open.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
Stop the monitarisation of social media accounts spreading misinformation and hate. Many accounts exist for only that reason: to profit.

These selfish accounts owners hugely damage trust and society.
“The next time someone shares with you some anti-London b******t, be sure to send them this video"

Excellent explainer from @evanedinger.bsky.social, countering hate and lies about London www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDky...

#racism #hateforprofit #stopfundinghate
Why The Internet Is Terrified of London
YouTube video by Evan Edinger
www.youtube.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
London measles outbreak: more than 60 children infected

Cases are spreading between children in Enfield as the virus exploits low MMR vaccination rates, medical experts say

www.thetimes.com/uk/...
1/3
London measles outbreak: more than 60 children infected
Cases are spreading between children in Enfield as the virus exploits low MMR vaccination rates, medical experts say
www.thetimes.com
February 15, 2026 at 4:21 PM
America’s disease surveillance system is going dark. Here’s what we can build to replace it

We can’t just wait for Washington to do the right thing

www.statnews.com/202...
1/3
America's disease surveillance system is going dark. Here's what we can build to replace it
America’s disease surveillance system is broken. Here’s how to replace it.
www.statnews.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:40 PM
"COVID-19 may leave a lasting impression on the brain, even in people who fully recover from their infection."

Science journalist also have a responsibility. This is not what can be concluded from the study.

February 15, 2026 at 6:04 PM
The virus infects roughly 90 percent of unvaccinated people exposed to it; Breakthrough cases are possible among the vaccinated, but they tend to be rare, relatively mild, and less likely to spread.

Vaccinate to prevent possible tragedy. It is that simple.
February 15, 2026 at 5:58 PM
London measles outbreak: more than 60 children infected

Cases are spreading between children in Enfield as the virus exploits low MMR vaccination rates, medical experts say

www.thetimes.com/uk/...
1/3
London measles outbreak: more than 60 children infected
Cases are spreading between children in Enfield as the virus exploits low MMR vaccination rates, medical experts say
www.thetimes.com
February 15, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
This year at the Munich Security Conference vs. Last year at the Munich Security Conference
February 15, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
'With its contempt for the humanities, Edge offered intellectually insecure reactionaries a pass. Without even opening a book (...) They could continue to ignore giants like Edward Said, Judith Butler, and David Graeber, and devote their brains instead to the race science and rape apologetics'
The billionaires' eugenics project: how Epstein infiltrated Harvard, muzzled the humanities and preached master-race science
Edge - Jeffrey Epstein's favourite intellectual salon - was sold to me as a gathering of the world's finest minds, writes Virginia Heffernan. The files reveal it was something far darker: a decades-lo...
www.thenerve.news
February 15, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
The US administration is going to kill its people while they cheer.

In January, Moderna’s announced the company will no longer invest in new Phase 3 vaccine trials for infectious diseases: “You cannot make a return on investment if you don’t have access to the U.S. market.”

1/4
February 13, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Stop the monitarisation of social media accounts spreading misinformation and hate. Many accounts exist for only that reason: to profit.

These selfish accounts owners hugely damage trust and society.
“The next time someone shares with you some anti-London b******t, be sure to send them this video"

Excellent explainer from @evanedinger.bsky.social, countering hate and lies about London www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDky...

#racism #hateforprofit #stopfundinghate
Why The Internet Is Terrified of London
YouTube video by Evan Edinger
www.youtube.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Some antidote against all those "London is terifying" videos.

Again: don't fall for the propaganda.
“The next time someone shares with you some anti-London b******t, be sure to send them this video"

Excellent explainer from @evanedinger.bsky.social, countering hate and lies about London www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDky...

#racism #hateforprofit #stopfundinghate
Why The Internet Is Terrified of London
YouTube video by Evan Edinger
www.youtube.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Great to expose this weeks hypocrisy in a funny way.
Who is actually in charge of uniting the country, and does he? Is Spanish a dead language? Why are country musicians hit so hard? Who has fake outrage? Who brought the six-pack of yoghurt to the party?
Trump Defends Racist Obama Meme & MAGA Rages Over Bad Bunny’s Spanish Halftime Show | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart digs into MAGA's hair-trigger outrage at anything that doesn't align with their narrow set of values, from boycotting Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show with TPUSA's own "English"-language mediocrity fest, to the president setting a new racism high score with a social media post dehuma
youtu.be
February 15, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
Hmm.... No, "health freedom advocate", that is all total nonsense.
February 14, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Marc Veldhoen
The headlines:
"Rubio says US, Europe ‘belong together’ at Munich Security Conference
Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a conciliatory tone at the Munich Security Conference, saying that the U.S. and Europe "belong together.""

The actual assessment:
US outlines new vision for Europe at security conference
Marco Rubio has told European leaders at the Munich Security Conference that the continent 'belongs with' the US, as the two have a 'spiritual' tie. Matt Frei spoke to journalist Lindsey Hilsum, who is in Munich, to find out more. Listen to the full show on the all-new LBC App: https://app.af.lbc.
youtu.be
February 14, 2026 at 9:50 PM