[New Year Chronicle] Tsinghua Dr. Shan Sisi who decoded the virus: scientific research "war epidemic" is like a 100-meter sprint running a marathon
[Concurrent] Shan Sisi, PhD student, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
After the emergence of a new virus, the first thing is to not be afraid of it, and then to do some research on it immediately to find some ways to overcome it.
This is actually a responsibility and mission of our virology research.
I am Shan Sisi, a direct Ph.D student at Tsinghua University School of Medicine. I am currently researching antibodies and vaccines related to the new coronavirus.
【Explanation】White coat and blue gloves, as usual, Shan Sisi is holding experimental samples and shuttles between the various laboratories.
[Explanation] In the winter vacation of 2020, after learning about the epidemic, Shan Sisi's tutor, Professor Zhang Linqi, urgently formed a scientific research team.
Shan Sisi, who received the news, was the first to ask Ying to join. After returning home from the holiday, he hurried back to campus and raced against time to start the experiment.
[Concurrent] Shan Sisi, PhD student, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
The membrane protein on the surface of the virus is equivalent to a "key". It must find the "lock" on the surface of the cell. After it is opened, it can enter the cell.
We must first find out which "key" it is combined with, and then how it is combined.
The second task is to screen for antibodies that can block the virus from entering cells.
[Explanation] For two months, Shan Sisi would "soak" in the laboratory for nearly 12 hours every day, and the laboratory lights were always off at the latest.
The campus under the epidemic was a little deserted. On New Year’s Eve, Dan Sisi held the dumplings sent by her senior sister and spent the Spring Festival in the laboratory for the first time.
[Concurrent] Shan Sisi, PhD student, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
Everyone is busy in the laboratory, so when I am the only one in the entire laboratory, it feels particularly deserted.
Last year (2020) the Spring Festival was spent in the laboratory. At that time, the experiment was done very late and there was no food in the canteen. So the senior sister brought me a bowl of dumplings, and I ate them directly in the laboratory. , Spent the Spring Festival while watching the Spring Festival Gala.
After I closed all the doors in the evening, it snowed heavily, and then I walked in the snow. There was only my footprints on the very long road.
[Explanation] After numerous failures, Shan Sisi and his team members finally analyzed the key structure of the virus and protein binding, and successfully isolated more than 200 strains of monoclonal antibodies against the new coronavirus and their coding genes.
[Concurrent] Shan Sisi, PhD student, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
I remember that scene very clearly, it was a sunny afternoon, because the sunlight happened to pass through the glass and then came in.
At that time, the senior sister greeted us and said "come here", and then we saw a chart on the computer screen, just calculated data, we can see a particularly beautiful s-shaped curve, this curve means that the antibody has Particularly good neutralization effect.
We were very excited at the time, so we said we wanted to record this moment, so we took a group photo together in front of the computer screen.
[Explanation] Shan Sisi and the team's research results laid a key foundation for subsequent vaccine development and other work, but they did not stop there.
At present, Shan Sisi and his colleagues are studying the impact of the new crown mutant strain on antibodies and vaccines; the chimpanzee adenovirus vector new crown vaccine that the team has participated in is also about to enter the clinical trial stage.
[Concurrent] Shan Sisi, PhD student, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
As a young scientific researcher, we are first to be creative and passionate, and then we have the responsibility and obligation to transform our own knowledge into these "hard-core" scientific research results.
Like the SARS back then, adults may have been protecting us, but at the current time of the epidemic, our generation of young students has grown up, and we have also stood up and made the contributions and efforts we should do.
[Explanation] Shan Sisi said that this year's scientific research experience is like running an unfinished marathon at a sprint speed of 100 meters.
In a blink of an eye, the winter vacation came again. This Spring Festival, Shan Sisi will once again spend in the laboratory.
But this time, her mood was different.
[Concurrent] Shan Sisi, PhD student, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University
Last year (2020), when I was celebrating the New Year in the laboratory, because there were still so many unknowns, I felt more anxious and anxious.
This year (2021) New Year's mood is different, because we now have a lot of understanding of the new crown, the whole mood is more peaceful, and we are also very confident in the prevention and control of the epidemic.
This year (2021), many students will not go home during the Chinese New Year. You should continue to do experiments during the day and eat dumplings in the laboratory at night. Everyone will spend the year together like family.
Our subject is still in progress, and there is still a lot of research waiting for us to explore.
I hope that our scientific research can also produce more results and defeat the new crown epidemic as soon as possible.
Cheng Yu reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】