Possibility of using the same protein therapeutic drug as SARS for the new virus February 4 12:16
Researchers in China have argued that a protein called a “receptor” that the virus uses to infect human cells is a virus that spread 17 years ago, in the context of a new type of coronavirus that spreads mainly in China. And published a paper in a British scientific journal stating that it was the same.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted an experiment to infect cells of bats and other animals with a new coronavirus collected from seven infected individuals in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and reported the results on the 3rd in the British science magazine Nature. ".
The researchers found that the proteins used by the virus to infect human cells, called "receptors," on the surface of the cells, are the same as those used by the SARS virus.
Regarding the significance of the finding that the new coronavirus and SARS virus use the same protein, researchers said, "Therapies developed for SARS while other effective treatments are not yet known. Drugs and vaccines may also be used for the new coronavirus. "
In addition, when the gene sequence of the new coronavirus was analyzed, it was 96% consistent with coronavirus found in bats in the past and 79.5% identical to SARS virus.
Researchers have pointed out that future challenges include clarifying the infection cycle and clarifying whether there is any change in the ability to transmit from person to person.