The novel coronavirus has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation. So how are scientists responding? And what can science doto help control the outbreak? A top priority is epidemiology. Epidemiologists are on the front line, tryingto understand how and why the virus is spreading. They gather data on the timingand location of new cases, where new infections are coming from and how long symptoms take to appear. These data go into models that can predicthow fast the infection might spread. This is critical for both creating containment plans, and assessing whether counter-measuresare actually working. By looking at the patterns of spread, epidemiologists can infer the mode of transmission, such as in saliva or through the air. Epidemiologists also need to know whetherpeople who are infected but not showing symptoms could still pass on the disease, something which would make thiscoronavirus harder to wipe out. Understanding the source of the virus is also important. The virus likely originated in an animal before jumping to a human host. Genetic analysis of samples taken from the market in Wuhan, where the outbreak started, could tell scientists which animaland help prevent future outbreaks. Understanding how the virus spreadsis a vital first step for containing it, but scientists also need to knowhow the virus itself functions.
And that is the job of virologists. Across the world, virologists are scramblingto get their hands on physical samples of the novel coronavirus. This work involves growing the virus in culturedcells and infecting animals in order to study it closely. There’s lots to learn. Virologists can measure the survival timeof the virus in droplets like those from a cough or a sneeze. Animal models may show how the infectionactually gets passed between individuals. And working out the structure of viral proteinsand the identity of the receptors they use to enter cells could inform potential treatments. The genome of the virus can also hold clues.
Genetic sequences from dozens of patient samplesare publicly available and have already been used to develop diagnostic tests. But actual samples – in human cell culturesand animal models - will be needed to test vaccines and drugs. This is where biomedical science comes in. Drug development is a slow process, so researchersare having to work fast to find therapies for this new threat. One of the most powerful tools biomedicalscientists could develop is a vaccine, but this is a longer term solution. A more imminent possibility is to inject patients with antibodies against the virus. Finding antibodies that recognise it might not be so difficult, but mass producing enough antibodies, even for trials, could take months. Antiviral drugs are also an option. These are small molecules thatinterfere with viral replication, but developing them from scratch takes years.
So researchers are hoping that drugs already developed to treat things like HIV, could prove effective and trials have already started. If counter-measures fail, coronavirus couldbecome what’s called ‘endemic’, recurring regularly like the flu. That would make it extremely hard to eradicate. Fighting this outbreak will requirea range of scientific tools, from genetic sequencing to mathematical modelling. And for all of that, researchers need data. Many publishers and labs have made commitmentsto make all research free to access, encouraging collaboration andprioritising global health. Time will tell how successful it will be.
And that is the job of virologists. Across the world, virologists are scramblingto get their hands on physical samples of the novel coronavirus. This work involves growing the virus in culturedcells and infecting animals in order to study it closely. There’s lots to learn. Virologists can measure the survival timeof the virus in droplets like those from a cough or a sneeze. Animal models may show how the infectionactually gets passed between individuals. And working out the structure of viral proteinsand the identity of the receptors they use to enter cells could inform potential treatments. The genome of the virus can also hold clues.
Genetic sequences from dozens of patient samplesare publicly available and have already been used to develop diagnostic tests. But actual samples – in human cell culturesand animal models - will be needed to test vaccines and drugs. This is where biomedical science comes in. Drug development is a slow process, so researchersare having to work fast to find therapies for this new threat. One of the most powerful tools biomedicalscientists could develop is a vaccine, but this is a longer term solution. A more imminent possibility is to inject patients with antibodies against the virus. Finding antibodies that recognise it might not be so difficult, but mass producing enough antibodies, even for trials, could take months. Antiviral drugs are also an option. These are small molecules thatinterfere with viral replication, but developing them from scratch takes years.
So researchers are hoping that drugs already developed to treat things like HIV, could prove effective and trials have already started. If counter-measures fail, coronavirus couldbecome what’s called ‘endemic’, recurring regularly like the flu. That would make it extremely hard to eradicate. Fighting this outbreak will requirea range of scientific tools, from genetic sequencing to mathematical modelling. And for all of that, researchers need data. Many publishers and labs have made commitmentsto make all research free to access, encouraging collaboration andprioritising global health. Time will tell how successful it will be.
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