Andrew Urquhart
@wolfeagle1989.bsky.social
PhD in Space Physics. Hobbyist SARS-CoV-2 lineage hunter. I will block trolls, misinformers, and disinformers at my personal discretion.
Reposted by Andrew Urquhart
GISAID is now blocking genomic sequencing access to critical resources like Nextstrain, Covspectrum, Outbreak-info, & others.
This makes us less safe, as live tracking of viral evolution remains critical for assessment of emerging threats. This needs to be escalated.
This makes us less safe, as live tracking of viral evolution remains critical for assessment of emerging threats. This needs to be escalated.
Bad. No justification, no communication, no standard procedures for making changes—just arbitrary pronouncements cutting off access to some of the most valuable resources we have.
And now NextStrain as well.
Next up, will GISAID start charging open-source community tools to have access?
That would completely shaft users who contributed to GISAID, where we never agreed to that and assumed GISAID would be good custodians of the data we contributed. They're not.
Next up, will GISAID start charging open-source community tools to have access?
That would completely shaft users who contributed to GISAID, where we never agreed to that and assumed GISAID would be good custodians of the data we contributed. They're not.
October 30, 2025 at 10:53 PM
GISAID is now blocking genomic sequencing access to critical resources like Nextstrain, Covspectrum, Outbreak-info, & others.
This makes us less safe, as live tracking of viral evolution remains critical for assessment of emerging threats. This needs to be escalated.
This makes us less safe, as live tracking of viral evolution remains critical for assessment of emerging threats. This needs to be escalated.
The US Government shutdown is already disrupting air traffic in the USA. And if the shutdown doesn’t end, a program to provide air service to smaller communities runs out of money this coming Sunday. Source: www.wfaa.com/article/synd....
Transportation secretary says government shutdown adds stress on air traffic controllers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the government shutdown is putting more stress on air traffic controllers who already have an extremely stressful job.
www.wfaa.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The US Government shutdown is already disrupting air traffic in the USA. And if the shutdown doesn’t end, a program to provide air service to smaller communities runs out of money this coming Sunday. Source: www.wfaa.com/article/synd....
How is this going to play in farm country in the USA where Trump was so popular?
From Fortune via MSN, “Farmer says ‘we’re in a very dire situation’ ahead of harvest—with zero soybean orders from China, historically the largest buyer”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
From Fortune via MSN, “Farmer says ‘we’re in a very dire situation’ ahead of harvest—with zero soybean orders from China, historically the largest buyer”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
MSN
www.msn.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:19 PM
How is this going to play in farm country in the USA where Trump was so popular?
From Fortune via MSN, “Farmer says ‘we’re in a very dire situation’ ahead of harvest—with zero soybean orders from China, historically the largest buyer”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
From Fortune via MSN, “Farmer says ‘we’re in a very dire situation’ ahead of harvest—with zero soybean orders from China, historically the largest buyer”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
Recent Pango lineage designation note updates such as github.com/cov-lineages... brought my attention to the emergence of the N.iORF3 aka N*M210 aka N* extended Transcription Regulation Sequence (TRS-B) enhancing mutations A28877T, G28878C several times in XFG. (1/3)
github.com
August 26, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Recent Pango lineage designation note updates such as github.com/cov-lineages... brought my attention to the emergence of the N.iORF3 aka N*M210 aka N* extended Transcription Regulation Sequence (TRS-B) enhancing mutations A28877T, G28878C several times in XFG. (1/3)
From The Atlantic, “COVID Revisionism Has Gone Too Far” www.msn.com/en-us/news/w...
And the pendulum swings…
And the pendulum swings…
MSN
www.msn.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:36 AM
From The Atlantic, “COVID Revisionism Has Gone Too Far” www.msn.com/en-us/news/w...
And the pendulum swings…
And the pendulum swings…
A question: How is requiring posting of the Ten Commandments in Texas public school classrooms consistent with Article 1, Section 6 of the Texas Constitution: “no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship.” statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/...?
THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 1. BILL OF RIGHTS
statutes.capitol.texas.gov
August 19, 2025 at 6:11 PM
A question: How is requiring posting of the Ten Commandments in Texas public school classrooms consistent with Article 1, Section 6 of the Texas Constitution: “no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship.” statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/...?
This is interesting: A second COVID protein, the main protease, triggers blood clotting. This protein is *not* in vaccines used in developed countries, but it is highly conserved in coronaviruses including common cold coronaviruses. Ref Pagotto et al, www.nature.com/articles/s42....
The main protease (Mpro) from SARS-CoV-2 triggers plasma clotting in vitro by activating coagulation factors VII and FXII - Communications Biology
SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) directly activates coagulation by cleaving factors VII and XII, showing a broader protease specificity and revealing a novel mechanism linking COVID-19 infection to thr...
www.nature.com
August 4, 2025 at 12:49 AM
This is interesting: A second COVID protein, the main protease, triggers blood clotting. This protein is *not* in vaccines used in developed countries, but it is highly conserved in coronaviruses including common cold coronaviruses. Ref Pagotto et al, www.nature.com/articles/s42....
Don’t miss that *influenza* awakens dormant cancer cells in lungs (Chia et al, “Respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs”, Nature (2025), www.nature.com/articles/s41...).
Maybe we need to be more concerned about *all* respiratory viruses.
Maybe we need to be more concerned about *all* respiratory viruses.
Respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs - Nature
Mouse models show that respiratory infections from viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 can trigger metastasis of dormant breast cancer cells in the lungs, a finding supported by epidemiological d...
www.nature.com
August 2, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Don’t miss that *influenza* awakens dormant cancer cells in lungs (Chia et al, “Respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs”, Nature (2025), www.nature.com/articles/s41...).
Maybe we need to be more concerned about *all* respiratory viruses.
Maybe we need to be more concerned about *all* respiratory viruses.
America, we may be approaching a Strauss-Howe “second regeneracy”. Current Republican vs Democrat, rural vs urban polarization may be changing to alignment by accountability vs impunity, justice vs exploitation, for vs against release of the Epstein Files. 1/6
July 29, 2025 at 9:28 PM
America, we may be approaching a Strauss-Howe “second regeneracy”. Current Republican vs Democrat, rural vs urban polarization may be changing to alignment by accountability vs impunity, justice vs exploitation, for vs against release of the Epstein Files. 1/6
SARS-CoV-2 isn’t the only neurotropic betacoronavirus. Common cold human betacoronavirus OC43 is also neurotropic. Reference Arbour et al, "Neuroinvasion by human respiratory coronaviruses", Journal of Virology (2000), doi.org/10.1128/jvi.....
Neuroinvasion by Human Respiratory Coronaviruses | Journal of Virology
ABSTRACT Human coronaviruses (HCoV) cause common colds but can also infect neural cell cultures. To provide definitive experimental evidence for the neurotropism and neuroinvasion of HCoV and its possible association with multiple sclerosis (MS), we have ...
doi.org
July 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM
SARS-CoV-2 isn’t the only neurotropic betacoronavirus. Common cold human betacoronavirus OC43 is also neurotropic. Reference Arbour et al, "Neuroinvasion by human respiratory coronaviruses", Journal of Virology (2000), doi.org/10.1128/jvi.....
Recently I’ve been examining the question “On a per-case basis for the same acute severity, is the rate of post-acute cognitive or neurological syndromes, or post-acute syndromes in general, significantly higher after COVID than after other infectious illnesses such as flu?” 1/8
July 6, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Recently I’ve been examining the question “On a per-case basis for the same acute severity, is the rate of post-acute cognitive or neurological syndromes, or post-acute syndromes in general, significantly higher after COVID than after other infectious illnesses such as flu?” 1/8
If this trend continues, it could be huge. If Republicans start losing Texas, they probably can’t win the Presidency. And this might also put pressure on Texas’s Senate seats. www.newsweek.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump's approval rating goes negative in Texas
A new poll delivered a warning sign to Republicans about Trump's approval in the Lone Star State.
www.newsweek.com
June 26, 2025 at 7:48 PM
If this trend continues, it could be huge. If Republicans start losing Texas, they probably can’t win the Presidency. And this might also put pressure on Texas’s Senate seats. www.newsweek.com/donald-trump...
Reposted by Andrew Urquhart
June 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Reposted by Andrew Urquhart
Actually, from the last period that was not nowcasted, 26th of April - 10th of May, there are 815 non GBW samples on GISAID. Of those 28 were NB.1.8.1*, 64 XFG* and only 5 XFC*.
California had 16 NB.1.8.1*, 7 XFG*
New York City, 3 NB.1.8.1, 53 XFG*
So, the region matters!
New
California had 16 NB.1.8.1*, 7 XFG*
New York City, 3 NB.1.8.1, 53 XFG*
So, the region matters!
New
June 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Actually, from the last period that was not nowcasted, 26th of April - 10th of May, there are 815 non GBW samples on GISAID. Of those 28 were NB.1.8.1*, 64 XFG* and only 5 XFC*.
California had 16 NB.1.8.1*, 7 XFG*
New York City, 3 NB.1.8.1, 53 XFG*
So, the region matters!
New
California had 16 NB.1.8.1*, 7 XFG*
New York City, 3 NB.1.8.1, 53 XFG*
So, the region matters!
New
Newsweek headline “Why Are So Many Children Getting Long COVID?” www.newsweek.com/why-are-so-m...
I’m old enough to remember when the general public was assured that COVID wouldn’t harm children. Apparently that assurance was false.
I’m old enough to remember when the general public was assured that COVID wouldn’t harm children. Apparently that assurance was false.
June 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Newsweek headline “Why Are So Many Children Getting Long COVID?” www.newsweek.com/why-are-so-m...
I’m old enough to remember when the general public was assured that COVID wouldn’t harm children. Apparently that assurance was false.
I’m old enough to remember when the general public was assured that COVID wouldn’t harm children. Apparently that assurance was false.
Los Angeles, all protesters need to stay peaceful no matter the provocation. The Administration is likely trying to provoke violence. Don’t give it to them. Model your inner MLK Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela. Heed Robert Reich in this article www.msn.com/en-us/news/p....
MSN
www.msn.com
June 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Los Angeles, all protesters need to stay peaceful no matter the provocation. The Administration is likely trying to provoke violence. Don’t give it to them. Model your inner MLK Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela. Heed Robert Reich in this article www.msn.com/en-us/news/p....
I recommend paying attention to NB.1.8.1 “Nimbus” while not ignoring XFG.
After a long relative lull, world probably has at least 2 rising variants which may battle especially in Europe and the Americas.
After a long relative lull, world probably has at least 2 rising variants which may battle especially in Europe and the Americas.
I have made an overview of the battle between XFG and NB.1.8.1 in the world
Samples collected on/after the 12th of May
NB.1.8.1 with a very high percentage in some SouthEast-Asian countries, and big in Oceania as well
XFG big in India/Pakistan/Bangladesh
Mixed in North America and Europe
1/2
Samples collected on/after the 12th of May
NB.1.8.1 with a very high percentage in some SouthEast-Asian countries, and big in Oceania as well
XFG big in India/Pakistan/Bangladesh
Mixed in North America and Europe
1/2
June 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I recommend paying attention to NB.1.8.1 “Nimbus” while not ignoring XFG.
After a long relative lull, world probably has at least 2 rising variants which may battle especially in Europe and the Americas.
After a long relative lull, world probably has at least 2 rising variants which may battle especially in Europe and the Americas.
As NB.1.8.1 “Nimbus” and XFG rise, people need to realize the risk of COVID-induced organ damage in all ages. This graphic is from Ewing et al, “Review of organ damage from COVID and Long COVID: a disease with a spectrum of pathology”, Medical Review (2024), www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi....
May 31, 2025 at 5:49 PM
As NB.1.8.1 “Nimbus” and XFG rise, people need to realize the risk of COVID-induced organ damage in all ages. This graphic is from Ewing et al, “Review of organ damage from COVID and Long COVID: a disease with a spectrum of pathology”, Medical Review (2024), www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi....
As NB.1.8.1 “Nimbus” and XFG rise, despite the gaslighting propaganda yes children can be impacted especially by post-acute illness. This graphic is from Gross et al, “Long COVID in Young Children, School-Aged Children, and Teens”, JAMA Pediatrics (2025), jamanetwork.com/journals/jam....
May 31, 2025 at 4:56 AM
As NB.1.8.1 “Nimbus” and XFG rise, despite the gaslighting propaganda yes children can be impacted especially by post-acute illness. This graphic is from Gross et al, “Long COVID in Young Children, School-Aged Children, and Teens”, JAMA Pediatrics (2025), jamanetwork.com/journals/jam....
US legacy national news network CBS has a story up on COVID variant NB.1.8.1. www.cbsnews.com/news/us-repo...
U.S. reports cases of new COVID variant NB.1.8.1 behind surge in China
Authorities in Hong Kong say COVID-19 levels are the worst in at least a year.
www.cbsnews.com
May 23, 2025 at 1:30 AM
US legacy national news network CBS has a story up on COVID variant NB.1.8.1. www.cbsnews.com/news/us-repo...
Reposted by Andrew Urquhart
Sars cov 2 variant update:
In this week @corneliusroemer.bsky.social and XZ spotted a couple of lineages with very divergent spikes:
In this week @corneliusroemer.bsky.social and XZ spotted a couple of lineages with very divergent spikes:
April 29, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Sars cov 2 variant update:
In this week @corneliusroemer.bsky.social and XZ spotted a couple of lineages with very divergent spikes:
In this week @corneliusroemer.bsky.social and XZ spotted a couple of lineages with very divergent spikes:
Designation of lineage NB.1.8.1 as Nextstrain Clade 25B has been merged to the main branch. I would consider this the official designation of Clade 25B. See github.com/nextstrain/n....
github.com
April 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Designation of lineage NB.1.8.1 as Nextstrain Clade 25B has been merged to the main branch. I would consider this the official designation of Clade 25B. See github.com/nextstrain/n....
I’m looking more deeply at SARS-CoV-2 lineage XFG since it appears it might be growing. It has two branches: a minor one with S:H445P and a major one with S:H445R. The 445R branch also has a subbranch with ORF1b:K2557R which from Bloom and Neher estimates may be significant. 1/6
April 21, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I’m looking more deeply at SARS-CoV-2 lineage XFG since it appears it might be growing. It has two branches: a minor one with S:H445P and a major one with S:H445R. The 445R branch also has a subbranch with ORF1b:K2557R which from Bloom and Neher estimates may be significant. 1/6
Texas #measles cases from the West Texas outbreak are up to 597 with 62 hospitalized. Source Dallas’s WFAA local news www.wfaa.com/article/news.... Note that the Collin County exposures maybe from a resident of a different county, and there is a known case in an adjacent county.
Person with measles visited three North Texas stores while still infectious, officials warn
A person who tested positive for measles visited three stores in Plano over a two-day period.
www.wfaa.com
April 18, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Texas #measles cases from the West Texas outbreak are up to 597 with 62 hospitalized. Source Dallas’s WFAA local news www.wfaa.com/article/news.... Note that the Collin County exposures maybe from a resident of a different county, and there is a known case in an adjacent county.
And the West Texas #measles outbreak may have spread to Dallas-Fort Worth. From Dallas’s WFAA local news. www.wfaa.com/article/news...
Measles case reported in Rockwall County may be connected to West Texas outbreak, officials say
A confirmed case of measles was identified in Rockwall County, health officials said. The case may be connected to the outbreak in West Texas.
www.wfaa.com
April 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
And the West Texas #measles outbreak may have spread to Dallas-Fort Worth. From Dallas’s WFAA local news. www.wfaa.com/article/news...