Daily Business Report: Monday, May 1, 2023
Long COVID in California:
‘A pandemic of loneliness
and social isolation and rejection’
By Kristen Hwang | CalMatters
A bout with COVID-19 two years ago left Mindy Lym with such severe sensitivities to light and sound that she and her partner left their San Francisco home and moved to rural Washington, where there were fewer triggers. In the past two months, she has paid more than $7,500 out-of-pocket for medical care. Although she can afford it, she knows few people can do the same.
Stephen Mintz gets just $60 per week from disability, which he receives after the chronic fatigue from COVID-19 kept him from regular work. He spent all of his savings and borrowed money from family. Without more relief payments from the state, he doesn’t know how he’ll pay his bills.
COVID-19 sent Janine Loftis to the hospital in 2020. She relies on a caretaker after lingering symptoms like brain fog, pain and fatigue keep her from cooking or cleaning. But when Loftis’ caretaker took a month-long leave of absence, shortages ravaging the health care workforce made it impossible to find a replacement.
These are three out of countless stories of long COVID among Californians. Recent CDC surveys suggest 5.5 percent of California adults — roughly 1.5 million people — currently experience the ill-defined, mysterious and often debilitating collection of symptoms that make up long COVID. A majority of them, 82 percent, have some limits on their activity. While most of society rushes eagerly back to pre-pandemic life, these patients, known as “long haulers,” have been largely left behind by their communities, doctors and policymakers.
Mindy Lym has been living with long COVID since the summer of 2022. After months of bed rest, she’s now living in Camas, Washington, where her symptoms are improving but are still a day-to-day challenge. (Photo by Celeste Noche for CalMatters)
Even as SARS-COV-2 mutates,
some human antibodies fight back
By Madeline McCurry-Schmidt, science writer
An anonymous San Diego resident has become a fascinating example of how the human immune system fights SARS-CoV-2. In a new investigation, scientists from La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have shown how antibodies, collected from this clinical study volunteer, bind to the SARS-CoV-2 “Spike” protein to neutralize the virus.
Although studies have shown antibodies bound to Spike before, this new research reveals how the original Moderna SARS-CoV-2 vaccine could prompt the body to produce antibodies against the later Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. The researchers also capture highly detailed, 3D structures of three promising neutralizing antibodies bound to Spike.
This important work shows exactly where Spike is vulnerable to human antibodies—and how future vaccines and antibody therapeutics might exploit these weaknesses. In fact, studies in mice suggest some of these antibodies may help prevent severe cases of COVID-19.
“To blunt the next pandemic and protect people from seasonal re-emergence of this one, we need antibodies of the broadest possible capacity—ones that are not escaped,” says LJI President and CEO Erica Ollmann Saphire, senior author of the new Cell Reports study.
“We found those in a vaccinated San Diegan.”
Scientists slow aging by engineering longevity in cells
By Mario Aguilera | UC San Diego
Human lifespan is related to the aging of our individual cells. Three years ago a group of University of California San Diego researchers deciphered essential mechanisms behind the aging process. After identifying two distinct directions that cells follow during aging, the researchers genetically manipulated these processes to extend the lifespan of cells.
As described April 28, 2023 in Science, they have now extended this research using synthetic biology to engineer a solution that keeps cells from reaching their normal levels of deterioration associated with aging. Cells, including those of yeast, plants, animals and humans, all contain gene regulatory circuits that are responsible for many physiological functions, including aging.
“These gene circuits can operate like our home electric circuits that control devices like appliances and automobiles,” said Professor Nan Hao of the School of Biological Sciences’ Department of Molecular Biology, the senior author of the study and co-director of UC San Diego’s Synthetic Biology Institute.
Charles Spruck awarded $1.7 million to advance
‘ancient virus’ treatment for prostate cancer
With the help of a new grant from the U.S. Department of Defense for more than $1.7 million, Associate Professor Charles Spruck at Sanford Burnham Prebys will advance an innovative therapeutic approach for metastatic prostate cancer. Known as viral mimicry, the approach tricks the body into thinking that it has a viral infection, stimulating an immune response that can help the body fight cancer.
“In viral mimicry, the body thinks there’s an infection, which kicks the immune system into high gear,” says Spruck. “With the immune system activated, cancer cells are more responsive to treatment, and tumor growth slows. All of this can happen without triggering treatment resistance, which could be a huge benefit for treating prostate cancer.”
Prostate cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in men worldwide and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men. According to the World Health Organization, there were an estimated 1.4 million new cases of prostate cancer and more than 375,000 deaths from the disease in 2020 alone.
Cubic awarded contract extension
to support training for British Army
Cubic Defence UK, operating as part of Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions (CMPS), was awarded a contract extension to continue to support training for the British Army. The contract entails supporting and repairing the Area Weapons Effects Simulator (AWES) system at Salisbury Plain Training Area in the United Kingdom and for select overseas deployment as required.
AWES and its integrated Tactical Engagement Simulation (TES) system simulates large-scale force-on-force combat exercises, including the effects of direct fire, artillery, mortar fire, mines and air-delivered munitions, as well as nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
The contract extension will allow Cubic to continue delivering world-class combined arms maneuver training from the sub-unit to battalion level and permit a flexible delivery model that allows the British Army to deliver its training wherever it is required.
Theater Review: ‘Murder on the Links’
By Martin Kruming
If you’re looking for love, danger, intrigue and laughs as only famed British novelist Agatha Christie can deliver, spend two hours or so with a modern day rendition of her “Murder on the Links.”
But be ready for a roller coaster ride of clues and one liners as six actors play some 25 roles in this delightful yet intricate who-done-it adapted by Director/Playright Steven Dietz at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach.
Set on a private golf course in a fictitious village in France a century ago, it’s up to the famed and brilliant Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (played by actor Omri Schein) to unravel the mystery as only he can do – witty, unassuming and relentless.
“It’s very entertaining. We loved it,” said Derek Wood, who grew up in Stafford, England and attended the performance with Diana, his wife of 68 years and a native of Manchester, England. “Most of the play is so complex with so many parts.”
As for Schein, who grew up in South Africa and earned an MFA from San Diego State University, “He was amazing.”
The Woods have been attending productions at the North Coast Rep for the past seven years. “It’s so intimate to be right there (near the stage),” said Derek Wood. “Every production they seem to excel at.”
As for this play, one theater-goer remarked, “That was so good.”
Murder on the Links runs through May 21 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. For tickets, contact the box office at (858) 481-1055 or www.northcoastrep.org.
Martin Kruming is a retired attorney and journalist who chairs the Global Neighborhood Project, a cultural and educational non-profit with partners in several countries, including Azerbaijan, Botswana, Latvia, Mongolia, Morocco, Scotland and Uzbekistan.
Store closing sales begins at Bed Bath & Beyond
OCEANSIDE and SAN DIEGO — Store closing sales have started across all Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide, including the store at 2120 Vista Way in Oceanside, and the store at 1750 Camino Del Rio North in San Diego. The Bed Bath & Beyond sales event offers a vast selection of home goods with discounts across all household items, including bedding, bath, décor, window curtains, furniture, kitchenware, cookware, small appliances, cleaning tools, storage and organization solutions in addition to personal care items, luggage, and more.
BAE Systems awarded $537 million contract with NAVWAR
SAN DIEGO — Global defense giant BAE Systems has been awarded a $537 million contract from the U.S. Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR). BAE will provide needed upgrades to command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence services crucial for fleet operations to coordinate with surface vessels.
Famous Tokyo ramen chain
is coming to San Diego
SAN DIEGO — A big-name noodle shop from Japan is prepping to open its first restaurant in San Diego. With locations across Tokyo, Ramen Nagi is arriving early this summer at Westfield UTC where it’ll slot in between Raised by Wolves and the Winery at the Pointe, the mall’s restaurant row. Founder and master ramen chef Satoshi Ikuta launched Ramen Nagi as a pop-up in 2004, building a popular brand that has reached beyond Japan to several other Asian countries.
Navy expands low carbon fuel credits
agreement with Port of San Diego
SAN DIEGO — The Navy has expanded a first-of-its-kind agreement with the Port of San Diego that gives the U.S. Navy access to participate in California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) market. Funds generated from the sale of LCFS credits are used to begin significant upgrades to the electrical infrastructure at Naval Base San Diego and the Port of San Diego. Since the signing of that agreement, $4.5 million has been generated from the sale of LCFS credits. The new agreement allows the Navy to generate credits at two additional bases, Naval Base Coronado and Naval Base Point Loma.
Port of San Diego joins the
California Port Data Partnership
SAN DIEGO — The Port of San Diego has joined Los Angeles, Long Beach, Hueneme, and Oakland in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch the California Port Data Partnership. The collaborative data system will improve the movement of goods in California, enhance freight system resilience, and boost emissions reduction technologies. The MOU represents the first step in the standardization of data in the supply chain.
Function Oncology snags
$28 million in Series A funding
SAN DIEGO — San Diego-based Function Oncology has secured $28 million in Series A funding for its CRISPR-powered functional genomics platform. This technology moves beyond gene sequencing and focuses on gene function, allowing doctors to address cancer details present in patients and permit optimized, more advanced treatments.
New app allows nurses to pick up
open shifts at short-staffed hospitals
SAN DIEGO — In response to the nursing shortage, hospitals are turning to an app for help. That app is called “Shifts,” which nurses can download directly to their phone to pick up shifrs at hospitals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a shortage of nearly 200,000 nurses nationwide by 2025.
American College of Physicians announces
initiative on equitable access to obesity
SAN DIEGO — The American College of Physicians (ACP) announced a new initiative aimed at advancing equitable access to obesity care. ACP plans to utilize physician education, advocacy, and partnerships to advance a stigma-free culture in which patients and clinicians collaborate to prevent and manage this increasingly common chronic condition, to ensure equitable access to care for patients and to help counter public misinformation about the causes of obesity, the stigma around it and the equity issues around how it’s treated.
Registration opens for
CALSTART’s 2023 national conference
SAN DIEGO — CALSTART’s national conference will be held in the San Diego Convention Center on May 17 and will focus on the next 30 years in clean transportation. It will trace the organization’s evolution as a changemaker in the zero-emission transportation industry. The organization also will present the winners of the Blue Sky Award, which recognizes outstanding market contributions to advance sustainable transportation. Register here
NextNav Z-Axis technology now
available on Hot Pepper Mobile phone
SAN DIEGO — Mobile phone developer Hot Pepper Mobile has debuted its Tabasco flip feature phone, bringing NextNav’s Pinnacle vertical location technology to new customers nationwide. This development builds off of Hot Pepper Mobile’s agreement with NextNav, announced in 2022, that allows for Pinnacle’s use on Hot Pepper devices across major wireless carriers – enabling 3D z-axis geolocation capabilities, which are increasingly critical for 911 emergency services, search and rescue, and lone worker safety.
