Chinese scientists have warned of a type of corona virus called "NeoCoV", so why?

What is the reason for their fear of him?

The answers are in this comprehensive report with the latest data on Corona treatments, and the fourth dose of the vaccine.

What is the NeoCoV virus?

NeoCoV is a virus detected in bats and is a close relative of the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus (MERS-CoV).

What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome?

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is a viral respiratory disease caused by a type of Corna virus called "Mers-Cove", which has been identified in many countries in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

In total, 27 countries have reported cases since 2012, resulting in 858 known deaths from infection and related complications, according to the World Health Organization.

The origins of the virus are not completely known, but according to the analysis of the various genomes of the virus, it is believed that it may have originated in bats and then later transmitted to camels at some point.

It is estimated that 35% of patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome have died, meaning that the virus leads to the death of one out of every 3 people who become infected.

Who conducted the study on the New Cove virus?

Chinese scientists, mostly from Wuhan University, according to a report on the Russia Today website.

Where was the study published?

The study was published on the "biorxiv" website in pre-print mode, meaning that it has not yet been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, and has not been reviewed by other scientists.


What did the researchers find?

The researchers said they unexpectedly found that the "New Cove" and its relative, the "PDF-2180-CoV" virus (PDF-2180-CoV), can efficiently use some types of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) specific to bats, and less preferably. , for human angiotensin II to enter into cells.

What is the importance of angiotensin converting enzyme 2?

The emerging corona virus that causes the current Covid-19 pandemic - whose scientific name is "Sars Cov 2" - uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors to enter cells.

Can the New Cove virus infect humans?

The researchers didn't say so, but said the main concern was whether the NewCoV and PDF-2180-CoV viruses could jump the species barrier and infect humans.

"Our study provided evidence that Neo-Cove like PDF-2180-Cove uses bat-specific angiotensin II for effective cellular entry," the researchers said, adding that although the two viruses cannot use human angiotensin II efficiently, the study revealed that it can lead A mutation at site 510 in viruses enables them to infect human cells carrying angiotensin II.

What do scientists fear from the New Cove virus?

The researchers said that this unexpected use of ACE from these two viruses: New Cove and BDF-2180-CoV highlights the risks of a mutation that leads to the combination of two dangerous characteristics: high mortality associated with MERS virus, and high rate of transmission and infection associated with the virus. COVID-19.

Furthermore, the study shows that current COVID-19 vaccines are insufficient to protect humans from the possibility of infection caused by these viruses.

What is the latest data on COVID-19 treatments?

Yesterday, Thursday, the European Medicines Regulatory Authority approved the use of Pfizer anti-Covid tablets, in the first oral treatment of its kind to be taken for the disease to obtain a license in Europe.

Studies have shown that the drug Paxlovid reduces the odds of hospitalization and death in patients with severe symptoms of Covid, and may also be effective against the mutated Omikron.

The European Medicines Agency said - in a statement - that it had "recommended the use of Baxlovid for the treatment of Covid-19 in adults who are at increased risk of developing more severe symptoms of the disease."

The European Commission must now formally authorize the drug, a routine procedure that usually takes hours or days.

The European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, said - in a statement - that "Baxulovide is the first anti-viral drug in our portfolio to be taken at home, and it can make a real difference for those at risk of developing advanced to severe Covid-19."

"We also found promising evidence regarding the efficacy of baxlovid against omicron and other mutant mutants," she added.

Pfizer's treatment is a mixture of a new compound, "PF-07321332" (PF-07321332) and the anti-HIV drug ritonavir, which is taken as two tablets.

The agency said that it "recommends the authorization of Baxlovid to treat COVID-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of developing more severe symptoms of the disease."

The agency’s experts reviewed a study that “showed that treatment with Baxilovide significantly reduces the chances of hospitalization or death in those who already suffer from at least a disease, which puts them at risk of developing severe Covid-19 symptoms.”

The patients were given the drug within 5 days of the onset of symptoms, and in the following month, only 0.8% of the 1,039 people included in the study were transferred to the hospital, compared to 6.3% of those who received a placebo.

No deaths were recorded in the group that received baxlovid compared to 8 deaths in the group that received the placebo.

Unlike vaccines, Fayez's treatment does not target the constantly evolving "Spike" protein that the Corona virus uses to invade cells.

So in theory, the drug should be more resistant to the mutant, and the company said it has preliminary laboratory studies that support this hypothesis.

Is a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine needed?

The French Council for the Steering of the Vaccine Strategy considered that there is currently no justified need to receive a fourth dose of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine, but it may review its position if scientific data develops.

However, the only exception is "those with severely weakened immunity who have been advised by the council to receive a second booster dose", according to a statement by the council dated January 19, which was carried by Agence France-Presse on Thursday.