“The most promising prototypes will be determined”: Russian scientists began testing a vaccine against COVID-19

At the State Scientific Center for Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" began testing prototypes of the vaccine against coronavirus infection COVID-19. This was stated by the press service of Rospotrebnadzor. The department noted that vaccine prototypes, which are based on six different technological platforms, were developed "in the shortest possible time."

“As of March 16, scientists of the State Research Center of the World Bank“ Vector ”of Rospotrebnadzor began immunogenicity studies on sensitive laboratory animals, including lower primates, of all developed vaccine prototypes. Within the framework of the research, the most promising and safe prototypes will be determined, which ensure the formation of both a cellular and a humoral immune response. The composition, dose, route of administration of the future vaccine will be determined, ”the report said.

Russian scientists expect that the vaccine can be introduced already in the fourth quarter of 2020.

We add that on the eve of the SSC VB "Vector" made the first pictures of coronavirus particles. This happened after the specialists of the National Research Institute (Research Institute) of influenza named after A.A. The Smorodintsev Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation was able to sequence the first complete gene of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 from material from a patient with COVID-19.

At the same time, Christian Andersen, a specialist at the Scripps American Research Institute, together with a group of international researchers, reported that SARS-CoV-2 arose as a result of natural evolution.

“By comparing the available genome sequence data for known coronavirus strains, we can firmly determine that SARS-CoV-2 arose as a result of natural processes,” says the journal Nature Medicine.

According to RIA Novosti, the World Health Organization is studying data on the transmission of coronavirus to patients with no apparent symptoms of the disease. However, he noted that the fastest way to transmit COVID-19 is by airborne droplets through sneezing and coughing.

“WHO is aware of the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 from sick people before they show symptoms of the disease. Detailed infection history data was collected to better understand the pre-asymptomatic phase of infection and how the virus was transmitted in these several cases, ”said Tarik Yazarevich, WHO spokesman.

According to the latest data, 199 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection are registered in the Russian Federation, including 11 foreigners. At the same time, five are recovered.

In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, all 85 constituent entities of the Russian Federation switched to high alert mode. In addition, the regional leaders were instructed "to ensure the isolation of all persons arriving in Russia for a duration of 14 calendar days from the day they arrived." They will also have to monitor compliance with the quarantine and submit daily reports to the territorial bodies of the Rospotrebnadzor. At the same time, we recall that from March 18 to May 1, 2020, the entry into the country of foreign citizens and stateless persons is temporarily restricted.

In addition, from March 23, all Russian schools will go on a three-week spring break.

Meanwhile, the Russian government indicated that Russia has a significant resource for responding to threats like the coronavirus pandemic, which has become one of the worst global health crises in the last 50 years. At the same time, the cabinet did not exclude that, if necessary, they can strengthen restrictive measures in the framework of the fight against the spread of coronavirus infection COVID-19.

“The decisions and recommendations made, especially regarding prohibitions and restrictions, may seem excessive to many. However, they, according to scientists, are effective in countering the epidemic, ”the government said.

In total, more than 244 thousand confirmed cases of the disease are known in the world. Over the past day, the first cases of infection have been recorded in Niger and Chad.

At the same time, the situation in China, a country that has become a source of infection, is noticeably improving.

Over the past 24 hours, only 39 cases of infection have been detected there, all of them imported. At the same time, only 6,569 patients remain in the country, of which 282 in the province of Hubei, which was the focus of the epidemic. In total, there were 80,967 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in China, of which 71,150 recovered. Killed - 3,248 people.