#HKU #Research
Coronavirus could survive on masks for 7 days; Ambient temperature affects the virus
A research by the University of Hong Kong found that coronavirus could survive in the outer environment for a prolonged period of time. It is 7 days on masks, and 2 days on the surface of clothes.
The research also found that the coronavirus diminishes faster at high temperature. The virus could survive for 14 days at 22°C, 2 days at 37°C, 30 mins at 56°C, and only 5 mins at 70°C.
In addition, if soaked in 1:49 or 1:99 diluted bleach for 5 mins, the virus will lose its infectivity.
Prof. Leo Poon, who is in charge of this research at the HKU School of Public Health, said that it is not recommended to reuse surgical masks, as the coronavirus could survive on the outer surface. In case of high risk factors such as being in contact with a COVID-19 patient, clothes can be soaked in hot water for 30 mins before washing.
The research has not been formally published yet.
Source: MingPao #Apr1
Coronavirus could survive on masks for 7 days; Ambient temperature affects the virus
A research by the University of Hong Kong found that coronavirus could survive in the outer environment for a prolonged period of time. It is 7 days on masks, and 2 days on the surface of clothes.
The research also found that the coronavirus diminishes faster at high temperature. The virus could survive for 14 days at 22°C, 2 days at 37°C, 30 mins at 56°C, and only 5 mins at 70°C.
In addition, if soaked in 1:49 or 1:99 diluted bleach for 5 mins, the virus will lose its infectivity.
Prof. Leo Poon, who is in charge of this research at the HKU School of Public Health, said that it is not recommended to reuse surgical masks, as the coronavirus could survive on the outer surface. In case of high risk factors such as being in contact with a COVID-19 patient, clothes can be soaked in hot water for 30 mins before washing.
The research has not been formally published yet.
Source: MingPao #Apr1
#Research #HKU
HKU Study : SARS-COV-2 replicates 3 times faster than SARS-COV, capable of infecting without triggering immune responses
SARS-COV-2 (aka Wuhan Pneumonia or COVID-19) is harder to contain than SARS-COV from 17 years ago. The danger in SARS-COV-2 is marked by its efficient transmission and asymptomatic infection. However, very little is known about how SARS-COV-2 acquired such a rapid rate of transmission without triggering symptoms in some patients.
The viral transmission rate and symptoms can be linked to its replication rate and host immune responses respectively. Hence, a study conducted by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) investigated the SARS-COV-2 replication rate and host immune responses. The study compared findings between SARS-COV-2 and SARS-COV. To ensure the results accurately reflect the condition in human lungs, the same amount of SARS-COV-2 and SARS-CoV were used to infect lung tissues extracted from human donors.
The study shows that SARS-COV-2 replicated 3.2 folds faster than SARS-COV in human lung tissues. The faster replication of SARS-COV-2 explains why SARS-COV-2 transmits faster than SARS-CoV.
Moreover, upon infection by SARS-COV-2, human lung tissues produced fewer interferons (molecules that activate a stronger immune response) and fewer cytokines (molecules that trigger symptoms such as inflammation) than when infected by SARS-COV. Hence, the results suggest SARS-COV-2 can infect but avoid triggering any noticeable immune responses.
In a follow-up press conference, Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung (leading expert in SARS) and two other HKU researchers described SARS-COV-2 as a “ninja” for being difficult to notice. Such "stealthiness", along with its rapid replication rate, allow SARS-COV-2 to quickly spread among human population with some patients being difficult to identify due to the lack of symptoms.
In addition, the HKU researchers also highlighted a few important points in the press conference:
1. The findings suggest one potential treatment for SARS-COV-2 by supplementing patients with interferons. Ongoing trials are testing the possibility of using interferons supplements as anti-SARS-COV-2 drugs.
2. The death rate in Hong Kong is lower than that in Europe for several reasons. For instance, patients in Hong Kong tend to receive earlier treatment, while European patients receive treatment much later after the infection.
Another reason is that most people in Hong Kong wear masks in public. Hence, an infected individual is less likely to pass on the virus to other members in the public. Masks also lower the amount of virus that could infect mask-wearers.
3. A vaccine is unlikely to be ready anytime soon, so expect to coexist with the virus in the coming months. Restrictions may be adjusted from time to time. Schools and universities may reopen, but that needs to be accompanied by increased testing capacity; continued practice of social distancing within the classroom; wearing masks and good hygiene.
4. The researchers pointed out a few limitations of this study. For instance, the lung tissues were extracted and grown outside human bodies. Hence data from extracted tissues may not completely reflect things that happen inside human bodies. Also, extracted tissues can only survive for about 48 hours. Such duration is not long enough for conducting vaccine trials.
Sources:
1 Research Paper - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32270184
2 Press conference
HKU Study : SARS-COV-2 replicates 3 times faster than SARS-COV, capable of infecting without triggering immune responses
SARS-COV-2 (aka Wuhan Pneumonia or COVID-19) is harder to contain than SARS-COV from 17 years ago. The danger in SARS-COV-2 is marked by its efficient transmission and asymptomatic infection. However, very little is known about how SARS-COV-2 acquired such a rapid rate of transmission without triggering symptoms in some patients.
The viral transmission rate and symptoms can be linked to its replication rate and host immune responses respectively. Hence, a study conducted by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) investigated the SARS-COV-2 replication rate and host immune responses. The study compared findings between SARS-COV-2 and SARS-COV. To ensure the results accurately reflect the condition in human lungs, the same amount of SARS-COV-2 and SARS-CoV were used to infect lung tissues extracted from human donors.
The study shows that SARS-COV-2 replicated 3.2 folds faster than SARS-COV in human lung tissues. The faster replication of SARS-COV-2 explains why SARS-COV-2 transmits faster than SARS-CoV.
Moreover, upon infection by SARS-COV-2, human lung tissues produced fewer interferons (molecules that activate a stronger immune response) and fewer cytokines (molecules that trigger symptoms such as inflammation) than when infected by SARS-COV. Hence, the results suggest SARS-COV-2 can infect but avoid triggering any noticeable immune responses.
In a follow-up press conference, Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung (leading expert in SARS) and two other HKU researchers described SARS-COV-2 as a “ninja” for being difficult to notice. Such "stealthiness", along with its rapid replication rate, allow SARS-COV-2 to quickly spread among human population with some patients being difficult to identify due to the lack of symptoms.
In addition, the HKU researchers also highlighted a few important points in the press conference:
1. The findings suggest one potential treatment for SARS-COV-2 by supplementing patients with interferons. Ongoing trials are testing the possibility of using interferons supplements as anti-SARS-COV-2 drugs.
2. The death rate in Hong Kong is lower than that in Europe for several reasons. For instance, patients in Hong Kong tend to receive earlier treatment, while European patients receive treatment much later after the infection.
Another reason is that most people in Hong Kong wear masks in public. Hence, an infected individual is less likely to pass on the virus to other members in the public. Masks also lower the amount of virus that could infect mask-wearers.
3. A vaccine is unlikely to be ready anytime soon, so expect to coexist with the virus in the coming months. Restrictions may be adjusted from time to time. Schools and universities may reopen, but that needs to be accompanied by increased testing capacity; continued practice of social distancing within the classroom; wearing masks and good hygiene.
4. The researchers pointed out a few limitations of this study. For instance, the lung tissues were extracted and grown outside human bodies. Hence data from extracted tissues may not completely reflect things that happen inside human bodies. Also, extracted tissues can only survive for about 48 hours. Such duration is not long enough for conducting vaccine trials.
Sources:
1 Research Paper - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32270184
2 Press conference
PubMed
Comparative Replication and Immune Activation Profiles of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV in Human Lungs: An Ex Vivo Study With Implications…
Our study provides the first quantitative data on the comparative replication capacity and immune activation profile of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infection in human lung tissues. Our results provide important insights into the pathogenesis, high transmissibility…
#Research
HKU estimates 232,000 infected in Wuhan in mid-February, 2.8 times the reported total for China
There are more than a million cases of Wuhan coronavirus in Europe and the United States and yet the epidemic has not even peaked. In stark contrast, mainland China, the country where the outbreak started, has only about 82,000 cases, leading the public to question the true scale of the outbreak. The Hong Kong University School of Public Health's WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases has found that had mainland China broadened its case definition criteria earlier; and screened all those with respiratory symptoms, who have been to Wuhan and surrounds, or who have been in contact with suspected cases; it is estimated that by 20 February, the number of patients with Wuhan pneumonia would have reached 232,000, about 2.8 times the current reported total cases in the mainland.
//The study further pointed out that the mainland officially announced 1 January as the date of disease onset for 114 patients. However had the mainland adopted the fifth edition of the criteria at that point in time, 11,000 patients would have been identified with onset on 1 January, an increase of 96 times.//
Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/HKU-estimates-232000-infected-in-Wuhan-in-mid-February-28-times-the-reported-total-for-China-04-28
Sources: Apple Daily HK ; The Lancet, April 2020
#Coronavirus #Wuhan #China #Infected #Data
HKU estimates 232,000 infected in Wuhan in mid-February, 2.8 times the reported total for China
There are more than a million cases of Wuhan coronavirus in Europe and the United States and yet the epidemic has not even peaked. In stark contrast, mainland China, the country where the outbreak started, has only about 82,000 cases, leading the public to question the true scale of the outbreak. The Hong Kong University School of Public Health's WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases has found that had mainland China broadened its case definition criteria earlier; and screened all those with respiratory symptoms, who have been to Wuhan and surrounds, or who have been in contact with suspected cases; it is estimated that by 20 February, the number of patients with Wuhan pneumonia would have reached 232,000, about 2.8 times the current reported total cases in the mainland.
//The study further pointed out that the mainland officially announced 1 January as the date of disease onset for 114 patients. However had the mainland adopted the fifth edition of the criteria at that point in time, 11,000 patients would have been identified with onset on 1 January, an increase of 96 times.//
Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/HKU-estimates-232000-infected-in-Wuhan-in-mid-February-28-times-the-reported-total-for-China-04-28
Sources: Apple Daily HK ; The Lancet, April 2020
#Coronavirus #Wuhan #China #Infected #Data
Telegraph
HKU estimates 232,000 infected in Wuhan in mid-February, 2.8 times the reported total for China
There are more than a million cases of Wuhan coronavirus in Europe and the United States and yet the epidemic has not even peaked. In stark contrast, mainland China, the country where the outbreak started, has only about 82,000 cases, leading the public to…
#Research
Cheap Heartburn remedy might provide a cheap alternative against the Wuhan Virus
Most news headlines on Wuhan Virus treatment have focused on remdesivir, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. However, such early coverage has drawn premature popularity for those drugs. For instance, Donald Trump has promoted the use of chloroquine before the completion of clinical trials, and some patients suffered from side effects after taking chloroquine without medical supervision (https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-touts-chloroquine-for-covid-19-but-dismisses-risks-2020-4). Moreover, drug candidates tend to have higher demand from the public and hospitals after gaining public popularity. As a result, there is insufficient stockpile left for clinical trials and treatments for other diseases.
In contrast to the aforementioned drug candidates, clinical trails are quietly conducted for a cheap heartburn remedy called famotidine. Researches on famotidine have been kept in low profile to avoid drawing premature attention and reserving sufficient stockpile for clinical trials.
Infectious disease doctor named Michael Callahan and doctors from Wuhan first noticed the potential clinical effect of famotidine. Callahan and colleagues noticed poor peasants seem to have a higher survival rate. After further investigation of patient's records, Callahan and colleagues realised the higher survival rate coincides with stomach illness treatment by famotidine, a cheap medicine taken by poorer people.
The initial observation of famotidine was reported to Robert Malone, a chief medical officer of Florida-based Alchem Laboratories. Malone and computational chemist Joshua Pottel later computationally predicted that famotidine can target a protein the Wuhan Virus, which is a sign that famotidine may prevent Wuhan Virus from replicating. Adding to that, later observations have seen infected hospital staffs showing improved recovery after taking famotidine.
While famotidine may provide a low-cost and safe alternative against the Wuhan Virus, it is still too early to assign famotidine as a routine treatment against the Wuhan Virus. The potential of famotidine requires further examinations with an ongoing clinical trial involving 1174 participants.
Source: ScienceMag
#Coronavirus #WuhanVirus #Trump #Treatment #famotidine
Cheap Heartburn remedy might provide a cheap alternative against the Wuhan Virus
Most news headlines on Wuhan Virus treatment have focused on remdesivir, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. However, such early coverage has drawn premature popularity for those drugs. For instance, Donald Trump has promoted the use of chloroquine before the completion of clinical trials, and some patients suffered from side effects after taking chloroquine without medical supervision (https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-touts-chloroquine-for-covid-19-but-dismisses-risks-2020-4). Moreover, drug candidates tend to have higher demand from the public and hospitals after gaining public popularity. As a result, there is insufficient stockpile left for clinical trials and treatments for other diseases.
In contrast to the aforementioned drug candidates, clinical trails are quietly conducted for a cheap heartburn remedy called famotidine. Researches on famotidine have been kept in low profile to avoid drawing premature attention and reserving sufficient stockpile for clinical trials.
Infectious disease doctor named Michael Callahan and doctors from Wuhan first noticed the potential clinical effect of famotidine. Callahan and colleagues noticed poor peasants seem to have a higher survival rate. After further investigation of patient's records, Callahan and colleagues realised the higher survival rate coincides with stomach illness treatment by famotidine, a cheap medicine taken by poorer people.
The initial observation of famotidine was reported to Robert Malone, a chief medical officer of Florida-based Alchem Laboratories. Malone and computational chemist Joshua Pottel later computationally predicted that famotidine can target a protein the Wuhan Virus, which is a sign that famotidine may prevent Wuhan Virus from replicating. Adding to that, later observations have seen infected hospital staffs showing improved recovery after taking famotidine.
While famotidine may provide a low-cost and safe alternative against the Wuhan Virus, it is still too early to assign famotidine as a routine treatment against the Wuhan Virus. The potential of famotidine requires further examinations with an ongoing clinical trial involving 1174 participants.
Source: ScienceMag
#Coronavirus #WuhanVirus #Trump #Treatment #famotidine
Business Insider
Trump is touting experimental drugs for COVID-19, saying they're 'not going to hurt' people. But the drugs have severe side effects…
"It can help them, but it's not going to hurt them," President Donald Trump argued Sunday. But as with most drugs, there are side effects.
#Research
A study finds the Wuhan coronavirus strain prevalent in Hong Kong to be less virulent than the European and US strains
Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Hong-Kongs-first-genomic-study-of-the-virus-reveals-lower-virulence-than-European-and-US-strains-05-10-2
#Coronavirus #VirusOrigin #HongKong
A study finds the Wuhan coronavirus strain prevalent in Hong Kong to be less virulent than the European and US strains
Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Hong-Kongs-first-genomic-study-of-the-virus-reveals-lower-virulence-than-European-and-US-strains-05-10-2
#Coronavirus #VirusOrigin #HongKong
Telegraph
Hong Kong's first genomic study of the virus reveals lower virulence than European and US strains
In Europe, the United States and other areas, Wuhan pneumonia has infected around 800,000 people and killed at least 80,000. These figures and ratios [to their respective populations] far surpass those of Hong Kong, which could be due to genetic mutation…
#Research
"Something We've Never Seen Before": Scientists Still Trying to Understand Baffling, Unpredictable Coronavirus
"This gets into every major biological process in our cells," said Nevan J. Krogan, a molecular biologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who has studied HIV, Ebola, Zika, dengue and other viruses over the past 13 years.
"At the molecular level, it's something we've never seen before, and then look at what it does to the body – the long list of symptoms – we've never seen that before."
At first, the virus was thought to be mostly a risk to older adults and people with chronic illnesses; its primary point of attack, the lungs. Then 30- and 40-years-olds with the virus began dying of strokes. Recently, a small number of infected children have died of a mysterious illness resembling Kawasaki disease.
Symptoms of COVID-19 range from fever, coughing and shortness of breath to the loss of smell and taste and the angry red swelling that has come to be known as "COVID toes." Studies have found that damage from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, isn't limited to the lungs; it can include the heart, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system and bowels.
Source: COVID19 Report, USA Today
#Coronavirus
"Something We've Never Seen Before": Scientists Still Trying to Understand Baffling, Unpredictable Coronavirus
"This gets into every major biological process in our cells," said Nevan J. Krogan, a molecular biologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who has studied HIV, Ebola, Zika, dengue and other viruses over the past 13 years.
"At the molecular level, it's something we've never seen before, and then look at what it does to the body – the long list of symptoms – we've never seen that before."
At first, the virus was thought to be mostly a risk to older adults and people with chronic illnesses; its primary point of attack, the lungs. Then 30- and 40-years-olds with the virus began dying of strokes. Recently, a small number of infected children have died of a mysterious illness resembling Kawasaki disease.
Symptoms of COVID-19 range from fever, coughing and shortness of breath to the loss of smell and taste and the angry red swelling that has come to be known as "COVID toes." Studies have found that damage from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, isn't limited to the lungs; it can include the heart, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system and bowels.
Source: COVID19 Report, USA Today
#Coronavirus
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
'Something we've never seen before': Scientists still trying to understand baffling, unpredictable coronavirus
As Americans debate reopening, the\u00a0nation is still averaging about 1,000 COVID-19 deaths a day, roughly\u00a0two 9/11 attacks every week.
#WuhanPneumonia #WHO
Hong Kong Microbiologist Prof. Yuen Kwok-Yung’s research proves WHO is wrong about masks
During the hot summer, a lot of citizens will feel discomfort wearing face masks. WHO has doubted on multiple occasions the effectiveness of using face masks to prevent the spread of Wuhan Pneumonia. Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung and his research team from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong were the first to use the golden Syrian hamster model to show that using face masks can reduce the chance of contracting Wuhan Pneumonia. They also found that infected hamsters with a face mask was more effective at reducing the transmission rate than healthy hamsters with a face mask.
The research team performed three rounds of testing on 13 infected hamsters and 39 healthy hamsters. They put the two groups of hamsters in a cage and used a fan to create airflow from the infected hamsters towards the healthy hamsters. Surgical masks were used to filter the virus. In the first group, there was no surgical mask placed between the two cages of hamsters. In the second group, a surgical mask was placed outside the cage of the infected hamsters to simulate infected hamsters using face masks. In the third group, a face mask was placed outside the cage of the healthy hamsters to simulate healthy hamsters using face masks. Each experiment lasted 7 days and overall the experiment took 1 month to complete.
The results showed with no face mask as a barrier, 66.7% of healthy hamsters got infected after 7 days. In the healthy hamsters with a face mask, the infection rate was 33.3%. In the case of the infected hamsters with a face mask, only 16.7% of healthy hamsters got infected. This indicates the use of face masks by infected patients would result in a lower rate of infection than healthy patients with face masks on who are not carrying the virus.
Professor Yuen points out this experiment scientifically proved that using face masks can effectively prevent the spread of Wuhan Pneumonia. He understands that demanding Hong Kongers to use face masks for an extended period of time is difficult during the summer. Recently, (a survey showed that) less than 90% of adults were using a face mask. He hopes that Hong Kongers will continue to use a face mask. “With face masks on, even if you get infected, the viral load will be lower, it will take longer for symptoms to develop and with less severity. This buys us time to provide treatment, thus reducing mortality and leads to better recovery.” He also calls for citizens who have mild symptoms to get tested in government clinics to reduce the chance of creating an invisible transmission chain in the community.
Source: Apple Daily #May17
#YuenKwokYung #FaceMasks #Research
Hong Kong Microbiologist Prof. Yuen Kwok-Yung’s research proves WHO is wrong about masks
During the hot summer, a lot of citizens will feel discomfort wearing face masks. WHO has doubted on multiple occasions the effectiveness of using face masks to prevent the spread of Wuhan Pneumonia. Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung and his research team from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong were the first to use the golden Syrian hamster model to show that using face masks can reduce the chance of contracting Wuhan Pneumonia. They also found that infected hamsters with a face mask was more effective at reducing the transmission rate than healthy hamsters with a face mask.
The research team performed three rounds of testing on 13 infected hamsters and 39 healthy hamsters. They put the two groups of hamsters in a cage and used a fan to create airflow from the infected hamsters towards the healthy hamsters. Surgical masks were used to filter the virus. In the first group, there was no surgical mask placed between the two cages of hamsters. In the second group, a surgical mask was placed outside the cage of the infected hamsters to simulate infected hamsters using face masks. In the third group, a face mask was placed outside the cage of the healthy hamsters to simulate healthy hamsters using face masks. Each experiment lasted 7 days and overall the experiment took 1 month to complete.
The results showed with no face mask as a barrier, 66.7% of healthy hamsters got infected after 7 days. In the healthy hamsters with a face mask, the infection rate was 33.3%. In the case of the infected hamsters with a face mask, only 16.7% of healthy hamsters got infected. This indicates the use of face masks by infected patients would result in a lower rate of infection than healthy patients with face masks on who are not carrying the virus.
Professor Yuen points out this experiment scientifically proved that using face masks can effectively prevent the spread of Wuhan Pneumonia. He understands that demanding Hong Kongers to use face masks for an extended period of time is difficult during the summer. Recently, (a survey showed that) less than 90% of adults were using a face mask. He hopes that Hong Kongers will continue to use a face mask. “With face masks on, even if you get infected, the viral load will be lower, it will take longer for symptoms to develop and with less severity. This buys us time to provide treatment, thus reducing mortality and leads to better recovery.” He also calls for citizens who have mild symptoms to get tested in government clinics to reduce the chance of creating an invisible transmission chain in the community.
Source: Apple Daily #May17
#YuenKwokYung #FaceMasks #Research
#Research
Did China lie about COVID-19 death numbers in Wuhan? 1/3
The official figures provided by China have attracted queries and questions regarding their creditability, reliability and truthfulness. Whistleblowers, investigative reporters, and local and international communities have all provided evidence to question Chinese officials for their reluctance to disclose truthful and timely details about the epidemic.
The Chinese government threatened doctors and victims to remain silent while prohibiting foreign experts to enter China for investigation. They also launched a large scale propaganda globally and nationally to deceive and mislead the public. This series show how even the official figures and data provided by China can indirectly reveal the extent of how the reality was distorted.
Source: https://bit.ly/2Xgx8bE
#Coronavirus #ChinaLiedPeopleDied
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️Continue
Did China lie about COVID-19 death numbers in Wuhan? 1/3
The official figures provided by China have attracted queries and questions regarding their creditability, reliability and truthfulness. Whistleblowers, investigative reporters, and local and international communities have all provided evidence to question Chinese officials for their reluctance to disclose truthful and timely details about the epidemic.
The Chinese government threatened doctors and victims to remain silent while prohibiting foreign experts to enter China for investigation. They also launched a large scale propaganda globally and nationally to deceive and mislead the public. This series show how even the official figures and data provided by China can indirectly reveal the extent of how the reality was distorted.
Source: https://bit.ly/2Xgx8bE
#Coronavirus #ChinaLiedPeopleDied
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️Continue
Telegraph
空穴來風：細探中共於武漢肺炎之謊言與假賬
武漢肺炎一役，世人理應對被中國共產黨（下稱「中共」）所瞞騙而憤怒，更不需懼怕這股怒火。因受騙而憤怒，並無違背自由世界秉持之基本普世價值。中共瞞騙了全球，使人類 ──包括華裔和亞洲人 ──付出無可置疑的沉重代價。有見近日全球開始愈加質疑中共曲解事實、扭曲論述之詭辯，本文乃望綜觀各方例證，依數據分析，細審中共於此場全球瘟疫中不容推卸之責任。同時，本文亦會分析中共對武肺一役之政治話術，辯明「地理責任論」（the geography of blame）對文化差異之解讀，繼而明確區分國家責任和種族主義之不同論述。…
#Research
HKUMed researchers: SARS-CoV2 can infect more efficiently then SARS-CoV in human airways and eyes
The research team at of the School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) developed methods for culturing tissues from the human respiratory tract and eyes in the laboratory and applied them to study respiratory viruses such as avian flu H5N1, H5N6, H7N9, the 2009 pandemic H1N1 and MERS-CoV from the past 15 years.
By applying these methods, the team discovered that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can remain alive for days on smooth surfaces such as stainless steel, glass and plastic. Its latest study proved that SARS-CoV-2 is much more efficient in infecting both the upper human airways and conjunctiva (the cells lining the surface of the eye) than the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Its level of infection is comparable to what was observed in the 2009 pandemic H1N1. All this explains that SARS-CoV-2 has higher transmissibility than SARS-CoV, and that the eyes may be an important route of SARS-CoV-2 human infection. This implicates the prevention of accidentally transferring SARS-CoV-2 from contaminated surfaces to human eyes and noses. It is vital to avoid touching the eyes when in public areas. Clean hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol hand rub. These findings are now published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, a leading prestigious journal.
Source: http://www.med.hku.hk/en/News/HKUMed-Novel-coronavirus-can-infect-more-efficiently-than-SARS-CoV-in-human-airways-and-eyes
HKUMed researchers: SARS-CoV2 can infect more efficiently then SARS-CoV in human airways and eyes
The research team at of the School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) developed methods for culturing tissues from the human respiratory tract and eyes in the laboratory and applied them to study respiratory viruses such as avian flu H5N1, H5N6, H7N9, the 2009 pandemic H1N1 and MERS-CoV from the past 15 years.
By applying these methods, the team discovered that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can remain alive for days on smooth surfaces such as stainless steel, glass and plastic. Its latest study proved that SARS-CoV-2 is much more efficient in infecting both the upper human airways and conjunctiva (the cells lining the surface of the eye) than the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Its level of infection is comparable to what was observed in the 2009 pandemic H1N1. All this explains that SARS-CoV-2 has higher transmissibility than SARS-CoV, and that the eyes may be an important route of SARS-CoV-2 human infection. This implicates the prevention of accidentally transferring SARS-CoV-2 from contaminated surfaces to human eyes and noses. It is vital to avoid touching the eyes when in public areas. Clean hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol hand rub. These findings are now published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, a leading prestigious journal.
Source: http://www.med.hku.hk/en/News/HKUMed-Novel-coronavirus-can-infect-more-efficiently-than-SARS-CoV-in-human-airways-and-eyes
#Research
Antibodies may not provide immunity for long enough to prevent second infection
The Wuhan Virus pandemic has forced countries into lockdown. To return to normality, countries such as Italy, Britain and the US are considering issuing "Immunity certificate" to free people from the lockdown. This policy assumes an individual can retain long-lasting immunity after the first infection. However, this assumption has yet to be validated.
Recent studies cast even more doubts on this assumption. One study (not peer-reviewed yet) showed that 10% of recovered patients did not produce antibodies against the Wuhan Virus after 21 days, hinting to an immune response that lasts for less than a month after among some patients. Another study (published in Nature Medicine) demonstrated showed a reduced level of antibodies from 81% of asymptomatic patients 8 weeks after their recoveries, in contrast to 62% of symptomatic patients. The results highlighted asymptomatic patients are more likely to suffer from a second infection.
Both sets of results demonstrated that immunity against the Wuhan Virus is short-lived, and thus invalidate the assumption behind issuing "Immunity certificate". Instead, the Nature Medicine team suggests prolonging public health intervention such as social distancing, sanitisation, quarantining and widespread testing.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-antibodies-lost-10-wuhan-study-patients-within-21-days-1511850
#WuhanVirus
Antibodies may not provide immunity for long enough to prevent second infection
The Wuhan Virus pandemic has forced countries into lockdown. To return to normality, countries such as Italy, Britain and the US are considering issuing "Immunity certificate" to free people from the lockdown. This policy assumes an individual can retain long-lasting immunity after the first infection. However, this assumption has yet to be validated.
Recent studies cast even more doubts on this assumption. One study (not peer-reviewed yet) showed that 10% of recovered patients did not produce antibodies against the Wuhan Virus after 21 days, hinting to an immune response that lasts for less than a month after among some patients. Another study (published in Nature Medicine) demonstrated showed a reduced level of antibodies from 81% of asymptomatic patients 8 weeks after their recoveries, in contrast to 62% of symptomatic patients. The results highlighted asymptomatic patients are more likely to suffer from a second infection.
Both sets of results demonstrated that immunity against the Wuhan Virus is short-lived, and thus invalidate the assumption behind issuing "Immunity certificate". Instead, the Nature Medicine team suggests prolonging public health intervention such as social distancing, sanitisation, quarantining and widespread testing.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-antibodies-lost-10-wuhan-study-patients-within-21-days-1511850
#WuhanVirus
Newsweek
10 percent of Wuhan study patients lose coronavirus antibodies within weeks
Scientists have questioned the use of immunity passports if protection from re-infection after catching the coronavirus isn't guaranteed.
#Newspaper
Hong Kong’s contentious national security law concerns some academics
China’s plan to introduce a new security law in Hong Kong has prompted mixed reactions from scientists there. Some fear that such a law could lead to government interference in research, restrict participation in international collaborations and increase self-censorship, whereas others are confident that research will be unaffected.
“Academics in Hong Kong are very concerned about possible changes,” says an administrator at a university in Hong Kong who requested anonymity because they think their university is under pressure to publicly support the security law. They worry that a national security law could be used to restrict the publication of sensitive research, such as studies on the new coronavirus. Scientists on the mainland need government approval to publish research relating to the origins of the pandemic.
A Hong Kong-based editorial board member for a scientific journal who also requested anonymity because they need permission to speak to the press, says they are worried that foreign research grants or international collaborations — particularly with the United States — could be defined as foreign interference and restricted under the law.
Some academics think that one of the greatest effects the new law will have on research will be an increase in self-censorship. Researchers are already wary about making comments or publishing research that could upset the central government — work that could distress financial markets, for example, such as negative results from a large vaccine trial... whether or not they’re at risk of breaking the law...
A foreign researcher who studies science and ethics at a university in Hong Kong, who requested anonymity for fear their comments could jeopardize their work visa, says they no longer feel able to criticize the science and technology practices of the central government while living in Hong Kong, and worry that the security law could bring the risk of prison sentences for such criticisms... a visiting environmental researcher at the City University of Hong Kong, says she doesn’t think her research on environment management and governance in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan is particularly sensitive. But she has decided that she will do less work focusing on mainland China — and work on existing data sets rather than generating her own — to avoid the risk of her work being classified as subversive under the security law.
Full Article: Nature, (12-Jun)
#NationalSecurityLaw #Academic #SelfCensorship #Research
Hong Kong’s contentious national security law concerns some academics
China’s plan to introduce a new security law in Hong Kong has prompted mixed reactions from scientists there. Some fear that such a law could lead to government interference in research, restrict participation in international collaborations and increase self-censorship, whereas others are confident that research will be unaffected.
“Academics in Hong Kong are very concerned about possible changes,” says an administrator at a university in Hong Kong who requested anonymity because they think their university is under pressure to publicly support the security law. They worry that a national security law could be used to restrict the publication of sensitive research, such as studies on the new coronavirus. Scientists on the mainland need government approval to publish research relating to the origins of the pandemic.
A Hong Kong-based editorial board member for a scientific journal who also requested anonymity because they need permission to speak to the press, says they are worried that foreign research grants or international collaborations — particularly with the United States — could be defined as foreign interference and restricted under the law.
Some academics think that one of the greatest effects the new law will have on research will be an increase in self-censorship. Researchers are already wary about making comments or publishing research that could upset the central government — work that could distress financial markets, for example, such as negative results from a large vaccine trial... whether or not they’re at risk of breaking the law...
A foreign researcher who studies science and ethics at a university in Hong Kong, who requested anonymity for fear their comments could jeopardize their work visa, says they no longer feel able to criticize the science and technology practices of the central government while living in Hong Kong, and worry that the security law could bring the risk of prison sentences for such criticisms... a visiting environmental researcher at the City University of Hong Kong, says she doesn’t think her research on environment management and governance in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan is particularly sensitive. But she has decided that she will do less work focusing on mainland China — and work on existing data sets rather than generating her own — to avoid the risk of her work being classified as subversive under the security law.
Full Article: Nature, (12-Jun)
#NationalSecurityLaw #Academic #SelfCensorship #Research
Nature
China is tightening its grip on coronavirus research
Some scientists welcome government vetting because it could stop poor-quality COVID-19 papers being published – others fear it is an attempt to control information.
#Newspaper
Stanley Ng Chau-peo criticized and accused Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung after Yuen's mentioned live animal market in China again in his academic article
(15 Jun) Stanley Ng Chau-peo, the chairmen of Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU), criticized and accused Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung , Chair of Infectious Diseases for the microbiology department at the University of Hong Kong, to apply the science and "U.S. knowledge" to frame China. The latest scientific research paper released by Dr. Yuen continued to mention mainland Chinese habit of buying and eating wild animals. Yuen also warned the cases in Lek Yuen Estate Luk Chuen House may be the sign of super-spreader and advise Hong Kong not to let the guard down.
Yuen and Dr. To Kai Wah Kelvin, associated professor, published an article in "Hong Kong Medical Journal". Coronavirus can mutate quickly and because of the culture of consuming wild animals in southeast China, it was prepared and expected "severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) will happen again.
In the research article, it actively addressed not to be self-satisfied on the epidemic prevention in Hong Kong. During SARS in 2003, the incident of super spread in Amoy Gardens paralysis the Hong Kong medical system. Fortunately, it didn't happen in Hong Kong this time. However, cases in this month already alert the people in Hong Kong to examine the apartment building pipeline maintenance issue.
Yuen's article mentioned the situation at Luk Chuen House that patients were living in 6 different units at different floors. It may be the sign of super spreader. He didn't suggest to handle these cases as different cluster infection. In order to reduce super spreader risk, we should increase testing in Hong Kong. At least one out of 1000 people who is having syndrome respiratory infectious disease should be tested daily.
The article also mentioned that disease could continue to survive in the summer. The outbreak may happen again in winter due to low herd immunity. A safe and effective vaccine is still not available widely in the next 12 months.
Research team leading by Yuen published a report on 3 June in Lancet Microbe. The report mentioned 2.2 million people in China Hubei province had infected Covid-19 based on an exploration of 59 million population there. Stanley criticized Yuen a few days ago on Facebook that Yuen received substantial amount of foreign aid from the U.S and using his research data to frame against China. Stanley accused Yuen's for sidetracking the number of deaths in the U.S. during the pandemic.
Source: Stand News
Further reading:
How should we reflect upon the pandemic's spread?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/21125
#YuenKwokyung #research #Censorship #CultureRevolutionHK #Coronavirus #LiveAnimalMarket #Academic
Stanley Ng Chau-peo criticized and accused Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung after Yuen's mentioned live animal market in China again in his academic article
(15 Jun) Stanley Ng Chau-peo, the chairmen of Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU), criticized and accused Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung , Chair of Infectious Diseases for the microbiology department at the University of Hong Kong, to apply the science and "U.S. knowledge" to frame China. The latest scientific research paper released by Dr. Yuen continued to mention mainland Chinese habit of buying and eating wild animals. Yuen also warned the cases in Lek Yuen Estate Luk Chuen House may be the sign of super-spreader and advise Hong Kong not to let the guard down.
Yuen and Dr. To Kai Wah Kelvin, associated professor, published an article in "Hong Kong Medical Journal". Coronavirus can mutate quickly and because of the culture of consuming wild animals in southeast China, it was prepared and expected "severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) will happen again.
In the research article, it actively addressed not to be self-satisfied on the epidemic prevention in Hong Kong. During SARS in 2003, the incident of super spread in Amoy Gardens paralysis the Hong Kong medical system. Fortunately, it didn't happen in Hong Kong this time. However, cases in this month already alert the people in Hong Kong to examine the apartment building pipeline maintenance issue.
Yuen's article mentioned the situation at Luk Chuen House that patients were living in 6 different units at different floors. It may be the sign of super spreader. He didn't suggest to handle these cases as different cluster infection. In order to reduce super spreader risk, we should increase testing in Hong Kong. At least one out of 1000 people who is having syndrome respiratory infectious disease should be tested daily.
The article also mentioned that disease could continue to survive in the summer. The outbreak may happen again in winter due to low herd immunity. A safe and effective vaccine is still not available widely in the next 12 months.
Research team leading by Yuen published a report on 3 June in Lancet Microbe. The report mentioned 2.2 million people in China Hubei province had infected Covid-19 based on an exploration of 59 million population there. Stanley criticized Yuen a few days ago on Facebook that Yuen received substantial amount of foreign aid from the U.S and using his research data to frame against China. Stanley accused Yuen's for sidetracking the number of deaths in the U.S. during the pandemic.
Source: Stand News
Further reading:
How should we reflect upon the pandemic's spread?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/21125
#YuenKwokyung #research #Censorship #CultureRevolutionHK #Coronavirus #LiveAnimalMarket #Academic
#Research #OpinionArticle
UK National Archives: Chinese Offices in Hong Kong Should Be Regulated by Basic Law Article 22
Image Source: Liber Research Community
⬇️⬇️⬇️ Continue
UK National Archives: Chinese Offices in Hong Kong Should Be Regulated by Basic Law Article 22
Image Source: Liber Research Community
⬇️⬇️⬇️ Continue
#Research #OpinionArticle
UK National Archives: Chinese Offices in Hong Kong Should Be Regulated by Basic Law Article 22
(23 Jun) The National Security Law will soon be enacted. Initial details of the "national security agency" to be established in Hong Kong [1] clearly states that it will not be restricted by Basic Law Article 22 like the other two offices [Hong Kong Liaison Office and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office]. This means it can arbitrarily intervene without adhering to Hong Kong's laws. However, this agency will apparently conflict with extraterritorial jurisdiction, as the British ruling class had concluded based on an in-depth investigation prior to 1997. The UK is surreptitiously keeping mum on the issue, feigning ignorance, but it is worth revisiting now.
Six months ago, a British document about stationing a Chinese foreign ministry in Hong Kong [2] was declassified. It revealed that China had made plans in the 1990s to establish a Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong after 1997, which immediately alerted the UK government to discuss Basic Law Article 22. Of particular interest was whether the Chinese government had to pay rent per Hong Kong's land tenure system or if the land could be ceded rent-free because China would have owned the land and it would not be subject to the Basic Law.
This caused N.J. Cox, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official, to specify, "Although Article 13 of the [Basic Law] provides that 'the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China shall establish an office in Hong Kong to deal with foreign affairs' there is no indication that Article 22 shall not also apply in this case." This meant that the UK knew all along that Article 22 was necessary to impose restrictions on any Chinese State Council's offices established in Hong Kong. To the UK, any authority that bypasses the Basic Law was invalid.
In fact, during the drafting of the Basic Law, a British legal advisor repeatedly took issue with the wording of Article 22 and the need to "make express provision" to "The CPG [Central People's Government] and its departments, and other executive organs the State..." [3] i.e. all official Chinese organisations and departments should be regulated under Article 22.
Moreover, the UK even proposed that "the CPG shall not interfere in the affairs which the HKSAR administers on its own in accordance with his Law", and that the "staff of Central Organizations in Hong Kong shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Courts" [4]. It is apparent that the UK wanted to tighter restrictions on arbitrary Chinese intervention that could undermine Hong Kong's future relative autonomy. Clearer and more detailed provisions were put in place to prevent people from playing smart. Of course, the story finishes with China paying no heed to the Basic Law amendments, which results in today's situation where Chinese agencies can exist in Hong Kong without any checks and balances.
This declassified document on agencies with Hong Kong land grant issues provides a first look into the UK's clear-cut perspective on Basic Law Article 22 from official records. The original intentions of Article 22 are now distorted. Does the UK not have at least some responsibility in defending that and their original stance on the issue to maintain the integrity of the Sino-British Joint Declaration under international law?
#ThePowerCorruptingHongKong
#BasicLawArticle22
#TotalGovernmentControl
#HongKongNationalSecurityLaw
#ResearchChinaHKDocs
References:
[1] The Stand News： Tam Yiu-chung: National security agency not bound by Basic Law Article 22, mechanisms present to determine if suspects should be sent Mainland for trial
[2] 1991 FCO 40 3412 Future of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Hong Kong. The National Archives.
[3] 1990 FCO 40 2995 Future of Hong Kong Exchanges with the Chinese on the Basic Law. The National Archives.
[4] 1989 FCO 40 2643 Future of Hong Kong Basic Law General. The National Archives.
Source: Stand News
UK National Archives: Chinese Offices in Hong Kong Should Be Regulated by Basic Law Article 22
(23 Jun) The National Security Law will soon be enacted. Initial details of the "national security agency" to be established in Hong Kong [1] clearly states that it will not be restricted by Basic Law Article 22 like the other two offices [Hong Kong Liaison Office and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office]. This means it can arbitrarily intervene without adhering to Hong Kong's laws. However, this agency will apparently conflict with extraterritorial jurisdiction, as the British ruling class had concluded based on an in-depth investigation prior to 1997. The UK is surreptitiously keeping mum on the issue, feigning ignorance, but it is worth revisiting now.
Six months ago, a British document about stationing a Chinese foreign ministry in Hong Kong [2] was declassified. It revealed that China had made plans in the 1990s to establish a Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong after 1997, which immediately alerted the UK government to discuss Basic Law Article 22. Of particular interest was whether the Chinese government had to pay rent per Hong Kong's land tenure system or if the land could be ceded rent-free because China would have owned the land and it would not be subject to the Basic Law.
This caused N.J. Cox, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official, to specify, "Although Article 13 of the [Basic Law] provides that 'the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China shall establish an office in Hong Kong to deal with foreign affairs' there is no indication that Article 22 shall not also apply in this case." This meant that the UK knew all along that Article 22 was necessary to impose restrictions on any Chinese State Council's offices established in Hong Kong. To the UK, any authority that bypasses the Basic Law was invalid.
In fact, during the drafting of the Basic Law, a British legal advisor repeatedly took issue with the wording of Article 22 and the need to "make express provision" to "The CPG [Central People's Government] and its departments, and other executive organs the State..." [3] i.e. all official Chinese organisations and departments should be regulated under Article 22.
Moreover, the UK even proposed that "the CPG shall not interfere in the affairs which the HKSAR administers on its own in accordance with his Law", and that the "staff of Central Organizations in Hong Kong shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Courts" [4]. It is apparent that the UK wanted to tighter restrictions on arbitrary Chinese intervention that could undermine Hong Kong's future relative autonomy. Clearer and more detailed provisions were put in place to prevent people from playing smart. Of course, the story finishes with China paying no heed to the Basic Law amendments, which results in today's situation where Chinese agencies can exist in Hong Kong without any checks and balances.
This declassified document on agencies with Hong Kong land grant issues provides a first look into the UK's clear-cut perspective on Basic Law Article 22 from official records. The original intentions of Article 22 are now distorted. Does the UK not have at least some responsibility in defending that and their original stance on the issue to maintain the integrity of the Sino-British Joint Declaration under international law?
#ThePowerCorruptingHongKong
#BasicLawArticle22
#TotalGovernmentControl
#HongKongNationalSecurityLaw
#ResearchChinaHKDocs
References:
[1] The Stand News： Tam Yiu-chung: National security agency not bound by Basic Law Article 22, mechanisms present to determine if suspects should be sent Mainland for trial
[2] 1991 FCO 40 3412 Future of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Hong Kong. The National Archives.
[3] 1990 FCO 40 2995 Future of Hong Kong Exchanges with the Chinese on the Basic Law. The National Archives.
[4] 1989 FCO 40 2643 Future of Hong Kong Basic Law General. The National Archives.
Source: Stand News
立場新聞 Stand News
《立場新聞》編採獨立自主，不受任何贊助人、財團、權力機構及黨派左右。我們以非牟利原則營運，所有經營盈餘和贊助，只會用於傳媒事業。
#Research #PNAS
Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19
By Renyi Zhang, Yixin Li, Annie L. Zhang, Yuan Wang, and Mario J. Molina
Published by Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS) on June 11, 2020
//Our results show that the airborne transmission route is highly virulent and dominant for the spread of COVID-19.
The mitigation measures are discernable from the trends of the pandemic.
Our analysis reveals that the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the trends of the pandemic.
This protective measure significantly reduces the number of infections. Other mitigation measures, such as social distancing implemented in the United States, are insufficient by themselves in protecting the public.
Our work also highlights the necessity that sound science is essential in decision-making for the current and future public health pandemics.//
Full Article Available in
https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/06/10/2009637117
Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19
By Renyi Zhang, Yixin Li, Annie L. Zhang, Yuan Wang, and Mario J. Molina
Published by Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS) on June 11, 2020
//Our results show that the airborne transmission route is highly virulent and dominant for the spread of COVID-19.
The mitigation measures are discernable from the trends of the pandemic.
Our analysis reveals that the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the trends of the pandemic.
This protective measure significantly reduces the number of infections. Other mitigation measures, such as social distancing implemented in the United States, are insufficient by themselves in protecting the public.
Our work also highlights the necessity that sound science is essential in decision-making for the current and future public health pandemics.//
Full Article Available in
https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/06/10/2009637117
PNAS
Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Various mitigation measures have been implemented to fight the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including widely adopted social distan...
2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including widely adopted social distan...
#PublicOpinion
HKPORI: Level of Concern over politics reached the highest in 15 years; Residents don't blindly trust the government
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institue (#HKPORI) published research results of social situation. Ratings of civilians' concern over politics and livelihood achieved the highest score since 2005.
Dr Chung Kim-wah, Deputy CEO of HKPORI, stated Hong Kongers "do not believe other problems can be sorted out by solely imprvoing the economy", according to the statistics. Residents don't blindly trust the words from the government.
Source: InMedia HK #Jul7
#Research #Poll
HKPORI: Level of Concern over politics reached the highest in 15 years; Residents don't blindly trust the government
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institue (#HKPORI) published research results of social situation. Ratings of civilians' concern over politics and livelihood achieved the highest score since 2005.
Dr Chung Kim-wah, Deputy CEO of HKPORI, stated Hong Kongers "do not believe other problems can be sorted out by solely imprvoing the economy", according to the statistics. Residents don't blindly trust the words from the government.
Source: InMedia HK #Jul7
#Research #Poll
#Research #COVID19
The pandemic virus is slowly mutating. But is it getting more dangerous?
Early in the pandemic, the genome of SARS-CoV-2 made a single mutation which has since spread around the world. Six months have passed and virologists are unsure if the virus would evolve to become more virulent or benign. They also question if it was already well adapted to humans when it first broke out in late 2019.
On average, the coronavirus accumulates about two changes per month in its genome. SARS-CoV-2 changes more slowly than most other viruses, giving virologists fewer mutations to study. Its sequencing helps them follow how it spreads. Most changes do not affect its behaviour but a few may change the disease's transmissibility or severity.
One of the earliest changes was the deletion of 382 base pairs in a gene called ORF8, whose function is unknown. This was first reported in Singapore and then in Taiwan. A deletion in the same gene occurred in the 2003 SARS outbreak; experiments later showed that the variant replicated less efficiently than its parent, suggesting the mutation may have slowed the SARS epidemic. This mutation does not have the same benign effect in SARS-CoV-2 but it may cause milder symptoms in patients.
A specific mutation that changes the virus' spike (i.e. its surface protein that attaches to human cells) changed the amino acid at position 614 of the spike from an aspartic acid (abbreviated D) to a glycine (G), giving its name, G614. G614 has become more common while D614 is virtually gone. This may be a sign that D614 was outcompeted by G614, or simply, a very common coincidence in biology. The COVID-19 Genomics Consortium in the UK estimated that the lineages carrying the G614 mutation grew 1.22 times faster than the D614 but the statistical significance was low. The G614 variant also appeared to be about 3-10 times more efficient at entering cells in experiments. However, this does not mean the mutation has an effect in the real world. An increased ability to infect a laboratory cell line may not translate to the billions of diverse cells in a human body. Whether G614 is more transmissible or not, it has become the dominant strain and the world is living with it.
Likely because of insufficient selection pressure from the millions of immunologically receptive people, there are fewer mutations that affect the virus' behaviour. However, this could change with the advent of vaccines or new therapies, forcing it to evolve. However, it could also indicate that the virus has been around for longer and was spreading before the first known cases in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. There is suspicion that a version of the virus may have circulated earlier in humans in southern Asia but avoided detection because it did not cause severe disease.
Source:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/pandemic-virus-slowly-mutating-it-getting-more-dangerous
The pandemic virus is slowly mutating. But is it getting more dangerous?
Early in the pandemic, the genome of SARS-CoV-2 made a single mutation which has since spread around the world. Six months have passed and virologists are unsure if the virus would evolve to become more virulent or benign. They also question if it was already well adapted to humans when it first broke out in late 2019.
On average, the coronavirus accumulates about two changes per month in its genome. SARS-CoV-2 changes more slowly than most other viruses, giving virologists fewer mutations to study. Its sequencing helps them follow how it spreads. Most changes do not affect its behaviour but a few may change the disease's transmissibility or severity.
One of the earliest changes was the deletion of 382 base pairs in a gene called ORF8, whose function is unknown. This was first reported in Singapore and then in Taiwan. A deletion in the same gene occurred in the 2003 SARS outbreak; experiments later showed that the variant replicated less efficiently than its parent, suggesting the mutation may have slowed the SARS epidemic. This mutation does not have the same benign effect in SARS-CoV-2 but it may cause milder symptoms in patients.
A specific mutation that changes the virus' spike (i.e. its surface protein that attaches to human cells) changed the amino acid at position 614 of the spike from an aspartic acid (abbreviated D) to a glycine (G), giving its name, G614. G614 has become more common while D614 is virtually gone. This may be a sign that D614 was outcompeted by G614, or simply, a very common coincidence in biology. The COVID-19 Genomics Consortium in the UK estimated that the lineages carrying the G614 mutation grew 1.22 times faster than the D614 but the statistical significance was low. The G614 variant also appeared to be about 3-10 times more efficient at entering cells in experiments. However, this does not mean the mutation has an effect in the real world. An increased ability to infect a laboratory cell line may not translate to the billions of diverse cells in a human body. Whether G614 is more transmissible or not, it has become the dominant strain and the world is living with it.
Likely because of insufficient selection pressure from the millions of immunologically receptive people, there are fewer mutations that affect the virus' behaviour. However, this could change with the advent of vaccines or new therapies, forcing it to evolve. However, it could also indicate that the virus has been around for longer and was spreading before the first known cases in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. There is suspicion that a version of the virus may have circulated earlier in humans in southern Asia but avoided detection because it did not cause severe disease.
Source:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/07/pandemic-virus-slowly-mutating-it-getting-more-dangerous
www.science.org
The pandemic virus is slowly mutating. But is it getting more dangerous?
Determining whether genetic changes have increased transmission of COVID-19 is surprisingly hard
#Research #COVID19 #Liver
#CUHK School of Medicine: 20% of COVID-19 patients have liver damage, and the risk of deterioration and death is 8 times more
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24013
#CUHK School of Medicine: 20% of COVID-19 patients have liver damage, and the risk of deterioration and death is 8 times more
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24013
#Research #COVID19 #Liver
#CUHK School of Medicine: 20% of COVID-19 patients have liver damage, and the risk of deterioration and death is 8 times more
The study was conducted by the School of Medicine of the Hong Kong Chinese University (CUHK).The sameple covered 1,040 COVID19 patients in Honv Kong diagnosed from January 23 to May 1 this year, with a median age of 35 years.
The research team collected liver function indexes from these patients during their hospitalization and found that 22.5% (234 people) had liver damage. In the sample, 5.1% (53 people) had been in the intensive care unit, and 2.1% (22 people) had needed equipment to assist breathing. Another 0.4% (4 people) died, of which 71% were patients with liver damage.
Professor Wong Lai-hung, specializing in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Department of Internal Medicine and Drug Therapy of CUHK, said that the patient’s liver function is impaired, which may be caused by the inflammation caused by COVID-19, excessive blood pressure and oxygen content, or the effect of drugs used in treatment, as patients treated with more types of drugs are 90% more likely to have liver function problems than other patients.This means that patients who have to take multiple drugs due to a more severe pneumonia are at higher risk.
Prof. Wong suggested that the liver function of patients should be monitored so that any illness can be detected at an early stage.
Source: InMedia #Aug5
#CUHK School of Medicine: 20% of COVID-19 patients have liver damage, and the risk of deterioration and death is 8 times more
The study was conducted by the School of Medicine of the Hong Kong Chinese University (CUHK).The sameple covered 1,040 COVID19 patients in Honv Kong diagnosed from January 23 to May 1 this year, with a median age of 35 years.
The research team collected liver function indexes from these patients during their hospitalization and found that 22.5% (234 people) had liver damage. In the sample, 5.1% (53 people) had been in the intensive care unit, and 2.1% (22 people) had needed equipment to assist breathing. Another 0.4% (4 people) died, of which 71% were patients with liver damage.
Professor Wong Lai-hung, specializing in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Department of Internal Medicine and Drug Therapy of CUHK, said that the patient’s liver function is impaired, which may be caused by the inflammation caused by COVID-19, excessive blood pressure and oxygen content, or the effect of drugs used in treatment, as patients treated with more types of drugs are 90% more likely to have liver function problems than other patients.This means that patients who have to take multiple drugs due to a more severe pneumonia are at higher risk.
Prof. Wong suggested that the liver function of patients should be monitored so that any illness can be detected at an early stage.
Source: InMedia #Aug5