Oranienburg (MOZ)
Born in Oberhaveler, Jörg Jores has headed the Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology at the University of Bern (Switzerland) for three and a half years, and the virologist Volker Thiel’s group has now succeeded in cloning the new corona virus. “This is a big step forward for the development of new drugs, including vaccines,” said Professor Jores on Tuesday of this newspaper.
These synthetically produced clones are now being used by research groups worldwide to test corona samples, find antiviral drugs and develop vaccines as quickly as possible. After publications in specialist publications “we have been contacted by the largest universities worldwide who want these clones,” said the scientist. Also because the method developed in Bern can in future also be used to fight other highly infectious viruses.
Everything about the corona virus and its consequences for Brandenburg and Berlin in our Corona blog.
In the high-security laboratory of the Institute for Virology and Immunology (IVI) of the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Science BLV in Mittelhäuser and at the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Bern, the researchers succeeded in reconstructing the coronavirus from synthetic DNA. To do this, DNA copies containing parts of the coronavirus genome were introduced into yeast cells and assembled into a complete copy. The researchers were then able to use them to produce infectious coronaviruses.
Before working in Bern, Jörg Jores had already researched animal diseases in Kenya for eleven years and developed the yeast cell method. In Bern, the researchers “replicated the coronavirus within a week,” said Professor Volker Thiel from the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI). The researchers used a yeast cell system that was developed in Bern and has now proven itself for the first time in an epidemic. “We have optimized this system so that we can clone coronaviruses and other viruses quickly,” adds veterinary bacteriologist Professor Jörg Jores. The virus was also labeled with a green dye. “This makes it easier to test.” This Bern method enables a quick reaction to new and rapidly spreading viruses and their properties in real time – i.e. even during an outbreak.
The provisional results of the study, which the World Health Organization (WHO) was also interested in, had already been made available to the scientific discussion on a so-called preprint server. The definitive results have now been published in the Journal Nature.
Scientists in Switzerland have so far supported numerous diagnostic laboratories worldwide with synthetic clones, which can therefore carry out more accurate and faster tests on corona samples. In addition, the Bern researchers receive numerous inquiries from companies and other researchers to test possible agents against the virus in the high-security laboratory on the clones. “No virus has to be sent back and forth for this. The sequence is easy to reconstruct,” says Professor Jörg Jores.
Already in January, epidemiologists from the Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) at the University of Bern calculated the spread of the coronavirus. The findings of the current study were sent to the WHO before publication and were used there to assess the global situation.
Jörg Jöres is 50 years old. He grew up in Neuholland, where he also went to primary school. After his time at the high school in Liebenwalde, he graduated from Oranienburger Runge-Gymnasium. He regularly visits his parents, who live in Liebenwalde, and his twin brother Jesco Jores, who lives in Lehnitz and is chief surgeon in Hennigsdorf. The last time he visited Oberhavel was in January. “Home is home,” says Jöres. When he is visiting and has time, he likes to relax while fishing or hunting with his brother and father. Jörg Jores is married to Anne Fischer (from Alsace) and has two daughters (six and eight years).
Everything about the corona virus and its consequences for Brandenburg and Berlin in our Corona blog.
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