International Center / Reported by Huang Yunxuan
The British “Daily Mail” reported on the 17th that the paper house, scientists from Boston University in the United States recently conducted an experiment, the group to synthesize a new “new coronavirus strain”, the variant strain Omicron and the Wuhan’s original COVID-19 virus strain, combined into a mixed virus, which in laboratory studies has been shown to kill 80% of mice. After the experiment was exposed, it was criticized as “playing with fire”.
The report mentioned that Boston University scientists took the spinal protein from the Omicron virus strain in the laboratory and transplanted it to the original COVID-19 virus strain in Wuhan and observed that the lab mice were infected with the virus. Omicron variant strain and from the new viral strain combined viral strains, what are the performance.
Studies have shown that if lab mice become infected with the Omicron virus strain, they will have mild, non-lethal infections, but if they become infected with the original Wuhan virus strain that carries the spike protein of the Omicron virus strain, lab mice they will make him seriously ill and die. The rate goes up to 80%.
“This study shows that although the spike protein is responsible for viral infectivity, if its structure changes with other parts, it determines the lethality of the virus,” the researchers noted.
▲ Boston University research has been criticized for “practically playing with fire.” (Photo / Recovered from Academia Sinica, Academia Sinica)
However, this study drew criticism from scholars. Professor Shmuel Shapira, the Israeli government’s chief scientist, bluntly said: “This should be completely banned. He’s just playing with fire.” Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey University chemist Dr. Richard Ebright believes that “intensified research surveillance of potential pandemic pathogens is necessary if we are to avoid the next laboratory-induced pandemic.”
However, Boston University released a statement clarifying that the report directly pointed out that the “Daily Mail” report was “false and inaccurate,” which skewed the researchers’ actual findings and said the study “reduces risk. of the virus “”, and the study was also reviewed and approved by the relevant units and the Boston Public Health Commission also approved the study.
And he pointed out that the mice used in the study were special “highly sensitive mice” that would not have the same lethality in humans and said the study would be useful for fighting the pandemic in the future.
