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Billions Of Copies Of Residual DNA In A Single Dose Of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine: Preprint

Billions Of Copies Of Residual DNA In A Single Dose Of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine: Preprint

Authored by Marina Zhang via The Epoch Times (emphasis…

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4 months ago

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Billions Of Copies Of Residual DNA In A Single Dose Of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine: Preprint

Authored by Marina Zhang via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

A new preprint study up for peer review finds billions of residual DNA fragments in the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine vials.

(Cryptographer/Shutterstock)

The lead author of the study, molecular virologist David Speicher, who has a doctorate in virology, told The Epoch Times that their study is "the largest study" on residual DNA in COVID-19 vaccines to date.

"In our study, we measured DNA copies of spike, ori (origin of replication), and SV40 enhancer genes," he told The Epoch Times. "The loads of SV40 enhancer-promoter, ori, and virus spike in Pfizer are up to 186 billion copies per dose."

The spike he refers to is the DNA sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which can be transcribed to spike mRNA to be used in the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines to be translated to spike protein. The other two DNAs—SV40 enhancer genes and ori—help facilitate the replication of spike DNA.

However, the final mRNA vaccines should only include RNA and not residual DNA instructions for spike production.

The researchers sequenced the gene material in 27 mRNA vaccine vials from 12 different lots. Nineteen vials were from Moderna, and eight were from Pfizer.

"Further work is needed to investigate if anything in these vaccines is actually integrating into the human genome and what effect that may have," the lead author wrote.

Why Would There Be DNA in mRNA Vaccines?

The mRNA vaccines are made from DNA.

Initially, Pfizer reported that it would use a PCR machine to produce the DNA for the mRNA vaccines. The PCR machine would first make many copies of DNA, and then the same DNA would be sequenced into RNA.

However, because this process would not be fast enough to meet demands, Pfizer announced it would use bacteria to mass produce the spike DNA instead. The DNA produced from the bacteria would then be harvested and sequenced to RNA in a machine.

Moderna's manufacturing report submitted to the European Medicine Agency also showed that the company used plasmid DNA to produce the vaccines. A plasmid is a strand of circular DNA common to bacteria and certain parasites. Plasmids are circular, while human DNA is linear.

Using bacteria to produce genes and proteins is a standard biotechnological process employed in the production of pharmaceuticals.

To have the bacteria replicate spike protein DNA, scientists first have to introduce spike protein DNA into the bacteria. As the bacteria multiply, so do the spike protein DNA they carry.

However, the spike DNA cannot be introduced alone; other sequences—such as the ori, which signals for DNA replication; the SV40 enhancer gene, which encourages more DNA replication; and an antibiotic resistance gene, which helps scientists identify the bacteria that have taken up the gene—would all be introduced together in a circular bacterial DNA.

It should be noted that the SV40 enhancer gene is a genetic sequence from the polyomavirus simian virus 40 (SV40), a DNA virus known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. The gene is not the SV40 virus itself.

Once the mRNA and DNA are harvested from the bacteria, the DNA is then supposed to be removed.

However, it wasn't cleared efficiently, as the billions of copies of spike, ori, and SV40 enhancer DNA detected in the Pfizer vials suggest. Several millions of copies of ori and spike DNA were also found in the Moderna vials, but the SV40 enhancer gene was not detected.

Why DNA Impurities in mRNA Vaccines Are Concerning

Foreign DNA introduced into the cell alongside the mRNA is at risk of being mistaken as human DNA. If it is, it can then be integrated into the cell's blueprint.

The presence of SV40 enhancer genes increases the risk of DNA integration, said the lead author, citing a study published in 1999 that found maximal transport of DNA using the SV40 enhancer. The peak period for SV40 publications, in terms of the overall rate of publication, spanned from the 1980s to 1999.

If the DNA for spike protein is integrated into the host genome, cells will forever contain spike protein sequences. Integration of foreign DNA into the human genome can also cause cancer, as shown in studies of viral DNA integration.

The SV40 enhancer gene is highly controversial in the field of vaccination because it comes from a virus linked to cancer.

Some of the polio vaccines administered between 1955 and 1963 were found to be contaminated with the complete SV40 virus. However, even so, studies have concluded that those vaccinated with the entire SV40 gene are not at a higher risk of developing cancer.

Vials With More DNA Fragments Related to More Adverse Events

The research paper further suggested that vials with higher doses of DNA content could potentially cause more adverse reactions like those found on the Vaccine Adverse Reaction Reports System (VAERS).

These vaccines tended to be the purple-top vials that required dilution before administration. If pharmacists forget to dilute the vials, they may accidentally inoculate children with five times the recommended dose. Therefore, the higher adverse events could also be linked to incorrect dosing of the vaccines.

The researchers used two techniques to determine DNA content dosage: fluorometry and qPCR.

The fluorometry test showed that the DNA content exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits of 10 nanograms per dose by 188 to over 500 times. However, the qPCR test indicated that the DNA levels detected were below the regulatory standard.

Kevin McKernan, one of the study's authors with 20 years of experience in genomic sequencing who previously worked on the Human Genome Project and who is currently the chief scientific officer and founder of Medicinal Genomics, explained that the discrepancy in tests was because while fluorometry can detect double-stranded DNA of any size, qPCR can only detect DNA that has 100 base pairs or more.

However, while the qPCR tests rendered a result below regulatory standards, Mr. McKernan explained previously that the FDA standards were published at a time when residual DNA in the vial would only be naked DNA that would have difficulty entering cells. This is different from the current mRNA vaccines; now, DNA can be packaged into lipid nanoparticles, transporting it directly into the cell.

What's Next?

The lead author told The Epoch Times that far more research is needed to be done investigating DNA contamination in the COVID-19 vaccines.

Other laboratories also need to trial his team's tests and reproduce their work to come to a more accurate conclusion on the effect DNA dosage has on post-vaccination symptoms.

Other unanswered questions include whether the SV40 sequence in the vaccines is triggering "turbo cancer," according to the lead author. Animal studies must also be done to determine whether residual DNA is causing an immune response.

As noted in recent Epoch Times reports, the FDA refused to recall Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines despite vaccine experts like Dr. Robert Malone speaking out about the vials' DNA contamination. The European Medicines Agency also told The Epoch Times that Pfizer did not highlight that its vials included SV40 genes.

Tyler Durden Thu, 11/09/2023 - 03:30

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Angry Shouting Aside, Here’s What Biden Is Running On

Angry Shouting Aside, Here’s What Biden Is Running On

Last night, Joe Biden gave an extremely dark, threatening, angry State of the Union…

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2 hours ago

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March 8, 2024

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Angry Shouting Aside, Here's What Biden Is Running On

Last night, Joe Biden gave an extremely dark, threatening, angry State of the Union address - in which he insisted that the American economy is doing better than ever, blamed inflation on 'corporate greed,' and warned that Donald Trump poses an existential threat to the republic.

But in between the angry rhetoric, he also laid out his 2024 election platform - for which additional details will be released on March 11, when the White House sends its proposed budget to Congress.

To that end, Goldman Sachs' Alec Phillips and Tim Krupa have summarized the key points:

Taxes

While railing against billionaires (nothing new there), Biden repeated the claim that anyone making under $400,000 per year won't see an increase in their taxes.  He also proposed a 21% corporate minimum tax, up from 15% on book income outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% (which would promptly be passed along to consumers in the form of more inflation). Goldman notes that "Congress is unlikely to consider any of these proposals this year, they would only come into play in a second Biden term, if Democrats also won House and Senate majorities."

Biden also called on Congress to restore the pandemic-era child tax credit.

Immigration

Instead of simply passing a slew of border security Executive Orders like the Trump ones he shredded on day one, Biden repeated the lie that Congress 'needs to act' before he can (translation: send money to Ukraine or the US border will continue to be a sieve).

As immigration comes into even greater focus heading into the election, we continue to expect the Administration to tighten policy (e.g., immigration has surged 20pp the last 7 months to first place with 28% in Gallup’s “most important problem” survey). As such, we estimate the foreign-born contribution to monthly labor force growth will moderate from 110k/month in 2023 to around 70-90k/month in 2024. -GS

Ukraine

Biden, with House Speaker Mike Johnson doing his best impression of a bobble-head, urged Congress to pass additional assistance for Ukraine based entirely on the premise that Russia 'won't stop' there (and would what, trigger article 5 and WW3 no matter what?), despite the fact that Putin explicitly told Tucker Carlson he has no further ambitions, and in fact seeks a settlement.

As Goldman estimates, "While there is still a clear chance that such a deal could come together, for now there is no clear path forward for Ukraine aid in Congress."

China

Biden, forgetting about all the aggressive tariffs, suggested that Trump had been soft on China, and that he will stand up "against China's unfair economic practices" and "for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

Healthcare

Lastly, Biden proposed to expand drug price negotiations to 50 additional drugs each year (an increase from 20 outlined in the IRA), which Goldman said would likely require bipartisan support "even if Democrats controlled Congress and the White House," as such policies would likely be ineligible for the budget "reconciliation" process which has been used in previous years to pass the IRA and other major fiscal party when Congressional margins are just too thin.

So there you have it. With no actual accomplishments to speak of, Biden can only attack Trump, lie, and make empty promises.

Tyler Durden Fri, 03/08/2024 - 18:00

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United Airlines adds new flights to faraway destinations

The airline said that it has been working hard to "find hidden gem destinations."

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10 hours ago

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March 8, 2024

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Since countries started opening up after the pandemic in 2021 and 2022, airlines have been seeing demand soar not just for major global cities and popular routes but also for farther-away destinations.

Numerous reports, including a recent TripAdvisor survey of trending destinations, showed that there has been a rise in U.S. traveler interest in Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and Vietnam as well as growing tourism traction in off-the-beaten-path European countries such as Slovenia, Estonia and Montenegro.

Related: 'No more flying for you': Travel agency sounds alarm over risk of 'carbon passports'

As a result, airlines have been looking at their networks to include more faraway destinations as well as smaller cities that are growing increasingly popular with tourists and may not be served by their competitors.

The Philippines has been popular among tourists in recent years.

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United brings back more routes, says it is committed to 'finding hidden gems'

This week, United Airlines  (UAL)  announced that it will be launching a new route from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Morocco's Marrakesh. While it is only the country's fourth-largest city, Marrakesh is a particularly popular place for tourists to seek out the sights and experiences that many associate with the country — colorful souks, gardens with ornate architecture and mosques from the Moorish period.

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"We have consistently been ahead of the curve in finding hidden gem destinations for our customers to explore and remain committed to providing the most unique slate of travel options for their adventures abroad," United's SVP of Global Network Planning Patrick Quayle, said in a press statement.

The new route will launch on Oct. 24 and take place three times a week on a Boeing 767-300ER  (BA)  plane that is equipped with 46 Polaris business class and 22 Premium Plus seats. The plane choice was a way to reach a luxury customer customer looking to start their holiday in Marrakesh in the plane.

Along with the new Morocco route, United is also launching a flight between Houston (IAH) and Colombia's Medellín on Oct. 27 as well as a route between Tokyo and Cebu in the Philippines on July 31 — the latter is known as a "fifth freedom" flight in which the airline flies to the larger hub from the mainland U.S. and then goes on to smaller Asian city popular with tourists after some travelers get off (and others get on) in Tokyo.

United's network expansion includes new 'fifth freedom' flight

In the fall of 2023, United became the first U.S. airline to fly to the Philippines with a new Manila-San Francisco flight. It has expanded its service to Asia from different U.S. cities earlier last year. Cebu has been on its radar amid growing tourist interest in the region known for marine parks, rainforests and Spanish-style architecture.

With the summer coming up, United also announced that it plans to run its current flights to Hong Kong, Seoul, and Portugal's Porto more frequently at different points of the week and reach four weekly flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai by August 29.

"This is your normal, exciting network planning team back in action," Quayle told travel website The Points Guy of the airline's plans for the new routes.

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Walmart launches clever answer to Target’s new membership program

The retail superstore is adding a new feature to its Walmart+ plan — and customers will be happy.

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10 hours ago

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March 8, 2024

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It's just been a few days since Target  (TGT)  launched its new Target Circle 360 paid membership plan. 

The plan offers free and fast shipping on many products to customers, initially for $49 a year and then $99 after the initial promotional signup period. It promises to be a success, since many Target customers are loyal to the brand and will go out of their way to shop at one instead of at its two larger peers, Walmart and Amazon.

Related: Walmart makes a major price cut that will delight customers

And stop us if this sounds familiar: Target will rely on its more than 2,000 stores to act as fulfillment hubs. 

This model is a proven winner; Walmart also uses its more than 4,600 stores as fulfillment and shipping locations to get orders to customers as soon as possible.

Sometimes, this means shipping goods from the nearest warehouse. But if a desired product is in-store and closer to a customer, it reduces miles on the road and delivery time. It's a kind of logistical magic that makes any efficiency lover's (or retail nerd's) heart go pitter patter. 

Walmart rolls out answer to Target's new membership tier

Walmart has certainly had more time than Target to develop and work out the kinks in Walmart+. It first launched the paid membership in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, when many shoppers sheltered at home but still required many staples they might ordinarily pick up at a Walmart, like cleaning supplies, personal-care products, pantry goods and, of course, toilet paper. 

It also undercut Amazon  (AMZN)  Prime, which costs customers $139 a year for free and fast shipping (plus several other benefits including access to its streaming service, Amazon Prime Video). 

Walmart+ costs $98 a year, which also gets you free and speedy delivery, plus access to a Paramount+ streaming subscription, fuel savings, and more. 

An employee at a Merida, Mexico, Walmart. (Photo by Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Jeff Greenberg/Getty Images

If that's not enough to tempt you, however, Walmart+ just added a new benefit to its membership program, ostensibly to compete directly with something Target now has: ultrafast delivery. 

Target Circle 360 particularly attracts customers with free same-day delivery for select orders over $35 and as little as one-hour delivery on select items. Target executes this through its Shipt subsidiary.

We've seen this lightning-fast delivery speed only in snippets from Amazon, the king of delivery efficiency. Who better to take on Target, though, than Walmart, which is using a similar store-as-fulfillment-center model? 

"Walmart is stepping up to save our customers even more time with our latest delivery offering: Express On-Demand Early Morning Delivery," Walmart said in a statement, just a day after Target Circle 360 launched. "Starting at 6 a.m., earlier than ever before, customers can enjoy the convenience of On-Demand delivery."

Walmart  (WMT)  clearly sees consumers' desire for near-instant delivery, which obviously saves time and trips to the store. Rather than waiting a day for your order to show up, it might be on your doorstep when you wake up. 

Consumers also tend to spend more money when they shop online, and they remain stickier as paying annual members. So, to a growing number of retail giants, almost instant gratification like this seems like something worth striving for.

Related: Veteran fund manager picks favorite stocks for 2024

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