copenlu/druid huggingface dataset:
Claim: Poppers are the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma (Robert Willner, 2023-03-31)
Evidence (2024-06-29): In particular, information is lacking on the individual and social experience of young people with HIV who use poppers and whether poppers influence HIV care outcomes (such as viral suppression). The limited availability of current data underscores the rationale for our current study, indicates that poppers are often overlooked, minimized or under assessed by researchers and clinicians as drugs of abuse, and little is understood about social and environmental contexts for use. Even medical providers with experience providing HIV and addiction care to MSM may not be aware of the risks of popper use [27]. Speculation early in the epidemic that popper use caused AIDS or Kaposi sarcoma has been disproven [28, 29], but gaps remain in our knowledge of their mechanism for HIV risk. There is some evidence that popper use among persons living with HIV is associated with immunosuppression [30, 31] and elevated cancer risk [32], but a richer understanding of the context for behavioral risks associated with popper use is needed and represents an unmet opportunity to reduce new HIV transmissions. Further, the impact of popper use on HIV care engagement (e.g., attending medical visits) and treatment adherence is unknown.
Claim: Poppers are the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma (Robert Willner, 2023-03-31)
Evidence (2023-06-20): Poppers Cause AIDS, the Environment Makes Boys Trans, Says Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [...] A second video getting a lot of attention shows Kennedy making wild claims about the beginnings of the AIDS crisis, blaming it on gay men and the use of poppers, an inhalant that relaxes muscles and generates a brief head rush and sensation of euphoria. "There’s a lot of people that said it is not a virus," Kennedy said. "The virus is a passenger virus, and these people are dying mainly because of poppers. A hundred percent of the people who died in the first thousand [with] AIDS were people who were addicted to poppers, which are known to cause Kaposi sarcoma in rats. And they were people who were part of a gay lifestyle where they were burning the candle at both ends."
Claim: Poppers are the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma (Robert Willner, 2023-03-31)
Evidence (2019-03-12): Immune System Suppression "First, they said poppers caused AIDS. Then in 1983 the federal Public Health Service printed a booklet that said nitrites didn’t cause immune system suppression. In 1985 they revise the booklet to say ‘don’t use inhalants.’ No wonder there is so much confusion," said Wilson, who has spearheaded the effort in California to place restrictions on their sale. [...] And the debate is heating up in California, where county supervisors in San Francisco and Los Angeles and the City Council in West Hollywood are considering similar actions. The Los Angeles board Tuesday is expected to order a study on a recommendation of the Public Health Commission to ban sales of poppers, according to aides of Supervisor Edmund D. Edelman. [...] In early 1981, when the AIDS epidemic began, doctors noticed almost all the victims used poppers. With not much else to go on, they first believed that the chemicals might be the cause. But that theory dissolved when the HTLV-III virus was isolated in 1984. However, because 90% of those exposed to the AIDS virus do not develop AIDS, the search for co-factors--social or medical conditions that make some more susceptible to contracting the disease--continues.
Claim: Poppers are the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma (Robert Willner, 2023-03-31)
Evidence (2017-05-15): Recreational drug use is common among MSM who engage in high-risk sexual behavior [12–14]. One of the most commonly used recreational drugs is nitrite inhalants (amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite; commonly referred to as ‘poppers’) [15,16]. Previous studies have reported significant associations between popper use and higher rates of high-risk sexual behavior and more frequent acquisition of HIV [12,14,15,17–19]. Despite their potential for harmful effects at high doses [15,16,20–22], popper use remains prevalent among MSM around the world, ranging from 20–40% among MSM cohorts in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and China [12,14,19,23–26]. Unlike stimulants and other recreational drugs that correlate with high-risk behavior among MSM, poppers have transient immunosuppressive effects in animal models, particularly at high doses with frequent exposure [21,27–29]. Poppers gained notoriety early in the AIDS epidemic as a potential cause of AIDS and Kaposi sarcoma [16,30], but these notions were later debunked [31,32]. Thereafter, poppers were associated with increased risk of Kaposi sarcoma in some pre-HAART cohorts [33–35], although other studies did not find this association [23,36]. In subsequent studies, popper use was associated with risk of HHV-8 seroconversion or anal cancer precursor lesions among HIV-uninfected MSM [37–39].
Claim: Poppers are the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma (Robert Willner, 2023-03-31)
Evidence (2024-02-26): New analysis of old data suggests that "poppers" -- chemical inhalant stimulants used by some homosexuals -- may trigger Kaposi's sarcoma, a kind of cancer commonly associated with AIDS. [...] The only significant difference discovered was that those who developed Kaposi's sarcoma used the most poppers, or amyl nitrite, as a sexual stimulant. "Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer of blood vessels, and nitrites cause the blood vessels to dilate, so you have the product having an effect in roughly the same place you're getting the cancer," he explains.
Claim: Poppers are the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma (Robert Willner, 2023-03-31)
Evidence (2023-04-07): As an example for his claim that AIDS deaths are actually caused by drugs, Willner claimed that Kaposi’s sarcoma is due to poppers. Poppers, or amyl nitrate, are an inhaled party drug that’s associated with the club scene and the LGBTQ community. While poppers can cause serious adverse reactions, such as sudden drops in blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms and tachycardia that may prove fatal, there is no connection between poppers and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Early in the AIDS epidemic, the possibility that poppers were the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma was raised, but this was debunked by later studies. [...] Lastly, as evidence for his claim connecting poppers to Kaposi’s sarcoma, Willner said that "it’s very rare that you see a case of Kaposi’s sarcoma in Africa because they don’t use poppers". This claim, however, is false.
Claim: Poppers are the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma (Robert Willner, 2023-03-31)
Evidence (2021-07-01): Poppers, by Inducing HHV-8 Virion Production, Can Act as a Promoter for HHV-8 Transmission in Men Who Have Sex With Men , [...] Aude Jary, Adélie Gothland, Romain Palich, Valentin Leducq, Gentiane Monsel, Sébastien Imbert, Luminita Schneider, Anne Simon, Jean-Philippe Spano, Christine Katlama, Islam Amine Larabi, Jean-Claude Alvarez, Vincent Calvez, Anne-Geneviève Marcelin, Poppers, by Inducing HHV-8 Virion Production, Can Act as a Promoter for HHV-8 Transmission in Men Who Have Sex With Men, Open Forum Infectious Diseases, Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2021, ofab166, https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofab166 [...] Twenty-five oral drugs, intravenous drugs, or inhaled pentyl nitrite (poppers), provided by the pharmacological-toxicological department of Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France, were tested on BC-3 cells (American Type Culture Collection [ATCC], CRL-2277) (Supplementary Table 1).
Claim: Poppers are the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma (Robert Willner, 2023-03-31)
Evidence (2017-06-26): Previous research has shown that use of poppers may be associated with transient immunosuppression in animal models and may facilitate infection with cancer-causing viruses such as human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8), which causes Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS). A new report from the prospective observational Multicentre AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) suggests that heavy use of poppers might be associated with increased risk of individual virus-associated cancers. This link was observed in HIV negative men but not in men who were HIV positive. Heavy use was defined as daily or weekly for at least a year. The study was reported by Anupriya Dutta and colleagues from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. [1] [...] This research provides evidence that heavy use of poppers (daily or weekly for at least 1 year), is significantly associated with the risk of virus-related cancers in MSM who are HIV negative and this risk becomes greater over the age of 50.
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2020-12-10): The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the first COVID-19 vaccine approved by health agencies in the U.K. and the U.S. The clinical trials proved that the vaccine is safe and efficient at preventing COVID-19 infection. The main ingredient is a messenger RNA that encodes the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is used to trigger an immune response. The other ingredients, including the lipids that allow the mRNA to enter human cells, are common in drug formulation.
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2021-08-25): Pfizer and BioNTech co-developed five mRNA vaccine candidates that encode variants of the spike protein antigen119. The two lead candidates, BNT162b1 and BNT162b2, use LNPs that are formulated using Acuitas Therapeutics’ ionizable lipid ALC-0315 and a nucleoside-modified mRNA in which all uridines are replaced by N1-methylpseudouridine to enhance mRNA translation. BNT162b1 encodes a trimerized, secreted version of the spike protein’s receptor-binding domain, whereas BNT162b2 encodes the full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein with two proline substitutions in the S2 subunit, which lock the protein in its prefusion conformation120,121. In preclinical studies in rhesus macaques, two 100 μg doses of BNT162b2 delivered 21 days apart elicited neutralizing antibody titres 10.2–18.0 times higher than convalescent patient serum as well as strong CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses122. In phase I trials of the two candidates, two 30 μg doses delivered 21 days apart induced high antibody and neutralizing titres and a robust CD4+ and CD8+ response with mild to moderate adverse events27,28,123,124. Both candidates were well tolerated and efficacious, but only the BNT162b2 vaccine advanced to phase II/III trials owing to its milder systemic and local adverse reactions124. [...] Pfizer and BioNTech Announce an Agreement with U.S. Government for up to 600 Million Doses of mRNA-based Vaccine Candidate Against SARS-CoV-2:https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-agreement-us-government-600
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2024-09-13): The Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, sold under the brand name Comirnaty,[2][33] is an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine developed by the German biotechnology company BioNTech. For its development, BioNTech collaborated with the American company Pfizer to carry out clinical trials, logistics, and manufacturing.[45][46] It is authorized for use in humans to provide protection against COVID-19, caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.[2][31] The vaccine is given by intramuscular injection.[35] It is composed of nucleoside-modified mRNA (modRNA) that encodes a mutated form of the full-length spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which is encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles.[47] Initial guidance recommended a two-dose regimen, given 21 days apart;[35][48][49][50] this interval was subsequently extended to up to 42 days in the United States,[35][51] and up to four months in Canada.[52][53] [...] The Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is used to provide protection against COVID-19, caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, by eliciting an immune response to the S antigen.[1][2][31][40] The vaccine is used to reduce morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.[35]
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2023-10-11): Whereas both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines encode the identical spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, their nucleotide sequences, especially at the wobble position, are substantially different due to the different codon optimization strategies used (Fig. 6a). Moderna has replaced most of the adenine and thymine at wobble position with guanine and cytosine, which leads to 14.5% higher GC content at the wobble position of the spike gene than that of Pfizer-BioNTech. Although high GC content might be beneficial for mRNA translation46,47 or stabilization48, it reduces the content of uridine in mRNA that can be replaced by m1Ψ during in vitro transcription. M1Ψ enhances vaccine efficacy by stabilizing mRNA and facilitating evasion from host innate immunity30,31. To explore whether m1Ψ content, especially that at the wobble position (wobble m1Ψ), influences vaccine efficacy, three mRNAs encoding the identical Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike but containing varying levels of wobble m1Ψ were generated (Fig. 6b). Briefly, RBD-V5 mRNA contains the highest wobble m1Ψ (29.7%), while RBD-V6 (10.8%) and -V7 (0%) mRNAs contain wobble m1Ψ content close to that of Pfizer-BioNTech (10.9%) and Moderna (2.6%) spike mRNA, respectively.
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2021-01-14): Domains and Functions of Spike Protein in Sars-Cov-2 in the Context of Vaccine Design - PMID: 33466921 - PMCID: PMC7829931 - DOI: 10.3390/v13010109 Domains and Functions of Spike Protein in Sars-Cov-2 in the Context of Vaccine Design The spike protein in SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2-S) interacts with the human ACE2 receptor to gain entry into a cell to initiate infection. Both Pfizer/BioNTech's BNT162b2 and Moderna's mRNA-1273 vaccine candidates are based on stabilized mRNA encoding prefusion SARS-2-S that can be produced after the mRNA is delivered into the human cell and translated. SARS-2-S is cleaved into S1 and S2 subunits, with S1 serving the function of receptor-binding and S2 serving the function of membrane fusion. Here, I dissect in detail the various domains of SARS-2-S and their functions discovered through a variety of different experimental and theoretical approaches to build a foundation for a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of how SARS-2-S works to achieve its function of mediating cell entry and subsequent cell-to-cell transmission. The integration of structure and function of SARS-2-S in this review should enhance our understanding of the dynamic processes involving receptor binding, multiple cleavage events, membrane fusion, viral entry, as well as the emergence of new viral variants. I highlighted the relevance of structural domains and dynamics to vaccine development, and discussed reasons for the spike protein to be frequently featured in the conspiracy theory claiming that SARS-CoV-2 is artificially created.
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2022-04-09): The newly identified coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the worldwide pandemic COVID-19. Considerable efforts have been devoted for the development of effective vaccine strategies against COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has been identified as the major antigen candidate for the development of COVID-19 vaccines. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine comirnaty is a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA encoding a full-length and prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. In the present study, synthetic peptide-based ELISA assays were performed to identify linear B-cell epitopes into the spike protein that contribute to elicitation of antibody response in comirnaty-vaccinated individuals. The synthetic S2P6 peptide containing the spike residues 1138/1169 and to a lesser extent, the synthetic S1P4 peptide containing the spike residues 616/644 were recognized by the immune sera from comirnaty vaccine recipients but not COVID-19 recovered patients. We assume that the synthetic S2P6 peptide and to a lesser extent the synthetic S1P4 peptide, could be of interest to measure the dynamic of antibody response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. The S2P6 peptide has been identified as immunogenic in adult BALB/c mice that received protein-peptide conjugates in a prime-boost schedule. [...] The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine comirnaty, a mRNA-based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection, is highly effective at preventing serious illness and death among individuals of diverse ages. With the aim to identify specific antibody epitopes in comirnaty vaccine, a set of potential linear B-cell epitope peptides in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was assayed for its antigenic reactivity against serum samples from comirnaty vaccine recipients and COVID-19 recovered patients.
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2021-07-12): 4. Salvatori G, Luberto L, Maffei M, Aurisicchio L, Aurisicchio L, Roscilli G, et al. SARS-Cov-2 Spike Protein: An Optimal Immunological Target for Vaccines. J Transl Med (2020) 18:1–3. doi: 10.1186/s12967-020-02392-y 5. Walls AC, Park YJ, Tortorici MA, Wall A, McGuire AT, Veesler D. Structure, Function, and Antigenicity of the SARS-Cov-2 Spike Glycoprotein. Cell (2020) 181:281–292.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.058 6. Kyriakidis NC, López-Cortés A, González EV, Grimaldos AB, Prado EO. SARS-Cov-2 Vaccines Strategies: A Comprehensive Review of Phase 3 Candidates. NPJ Vaccines (2021) 6:28. doi: 10.1038/s41541-021-00292-w 7. Amanat F, Krammer F. SARS-Cov-2 Vaccines: Status Report. Immunity (2020) 52:583–9. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.03.007 8. Krammer F. SARS-Cov-2 Vaccines in Development. Nature (2020) 586:516–27. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2798-3 9. Chen WH, Strych U, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME. The SARS-Cov-2 Vaccine Pipeline: An Overview. Curr Trop Med Rep (2020) 7:61–4. doi: 10.1007/s40475-020-00201-6 10. FDA. Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 Vaccine. US FOOD DRUG Adm (2021) Available at: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine [Accessed March 9, 2021].
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2023-09-13): Domain-based mRNA vaccines encoding spike protein N-terminal and receptor binding domains confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 - PMID: 37703353 - DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adf4100 Domain-based mRNA vaccines encoding spike protein N-terminal and receptor binding domains confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 With the success of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019, strategies can now focus on improving vaccine potency, breadth, and stability. We designed and evaluated domain-based mRNA vaccines encoding the wild-type spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) or N-terminal domain (NTD) alone or in combination. An NTD-RBD-linked candidate vaccine, mRNA-1283, showed improved antigen expression, antibody responses, and stability at refrigerated temperatures (2° to 8°C) compared with the clinically available mRNA-1273, which encodes the full-length spike protein. In BALB/c mice administered mRNA-1283 as a primary series, booster, or variant-specific booster, similar or greater immune responses from viral challenge were observed against wild-type, beta, delta, or omicron (BA.1) viruses compared with mRNA-1273-immunized mice, especially at lower vaccine dosages. K18-hACE2 mice immunized with mRNA-1283 or mRNA-1273 as a primary series demonstrated similar degrees of protection from challenge with SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants at all vaccine dosages. These results support clinical assessment of mRNA-1283, which has now entered clinical trials (NCT05137236).
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2023-05-25): - Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines which are mRNA vaccines. [...] Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines mRNA vaccines use mRNA created in a laboratory to teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. The mRNA from the vaccines is broken down within a few days after vaccination and discarded from the body. [...] - If you are allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG), you should not get Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2021-09-17): - Schoenmaker, L.; Witzigmann, D.; Kulkarni, J.A.; Verbeke, R.; Kersten, G.; Jiskoot, W.; Crommelin, D.J.A. mRNA-lipid nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccines: Structure and stability. Int. J. Pharm. 2021, 601, 120586. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] - European Medicines Agency. More Flexible Storage Conditions for BioNTech/Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine. Available online: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/more-flexible-storage-conditions-biontechpfizers-covid-19-vaccine (accessed on 17 May 2021). - Rauch, S.; Roth, N.; Schwendt, K.; Fotin-Mleczek, M.; Mueller, S.O.; Petsch, B. mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate CVnCoV induces high levels of virus-neutralising antibodies and mediates protection in rodents. NPJ Vaccines 2021, 6, 1–9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Claim: The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine contains mRNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, lipids, sucrose, and salts. (Facebook users, 2020-12-10)
Evidence (2021-03-03): This is to be noted in the current pandemic situation that the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2 vaccine) and Moderna vaccine (mRNA-1273 vaccine), both of which are the mRNA vaccines (whereby the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S) antigen is encoded by the mRNA and then devised in the lipid nanoparticles or the LNPs) with more than 90% effectiveness in candidates 16 years of age or older with 2 days within 21 days [13,14,15]. Descriptively, the mRNA-1273 vaccine (whereby the mRNA encoding the S-2P antigen, containing the SARS-CoV-2 glycoprotein attached to a transmembrane anchor, and an intact S1–S2 cleavage site, and is enclosed by a 4 subunit lipid nanoparticle) which has undergone the first-in-human dose-dependent (25 or 30, 100, and 250 μg), open-label phase II clinical trial NCT04283461 (with the fast-track approval from the USFDA as stated above) successfully detected the elevated neutralizing antibody titers and the required T cell responses [3, 6, 11, 13]. A unique characteristic of this vaccine is that this one is free from any preservative [12].