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Pancreatitis drug trials to a wastewater test for tracking virus — top research on Covid-19

From using empty virus shells to research on how genes may affect Covid-19 patients, ThePrint brings you top 5 developments on the coronavirus front.

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New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 37,000 lives globally and several countries are now attempting to curb further spread of the infectious disease by imposing lockdowns or encouraging social distancing.

Scientists, meanwhile, are trying to understand the virus and develop effective treatment plans.

ThePrint brings you the top five research developments on Covid-19 from across the globe.


Also read: Forget the pandemic models, just isolate, test, trace, hope


Pancreatitis drug may block coronavirus infection

An existing drug, Nafamostat mesylate, which is used to treat acute pancreatitis may effectively block the process used by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) to spread and cause illness.

Researchers from the University of Tokyo have found that Nafamostat can prevent fusion of the virus’ envelope with the surface membranes of the host cell, which is the first step in infection.

Nafamostat can inhibit the membrane fusion at a concentration less than one-tenth that of Camostat mesylate, which was recently identified by a German group as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the researchers said.

Both Nafamostat and Camostat were developed in Japan as treatments for pancreatitis and some other diseases.

The University of Tokyo now plans to launch clinical trials in April in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these two drugs for treating Covid-19.

Empty virus shells can prevent infection

Scientists are developing empty, non-infectious shells of viruses that can attach to lung cells in such a way that it becomes impossible for pathogens to cause an infection.

This approach may pave the way for new therapeutic approaches of suppressing viral infections.

Although this research by scientists from Germany was conducted on influenza viruses, they are now using the results to develop similar ‘shells’ for the novel coronavirus.

This therapy has shown promising results in pre-clinical trials, also involving human lung tissue. Their findings were published in the Nature Nanotechnology.


Also read: Why bats are huge reservoirs of viruses and how humans remain at high risk of infection


Wastewater test could provide early warning of Covid-19 

A new test to detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater of communities infected with the virus could help quickly predict the potential spread of Covid-19.

Researchers at UK’s Cranfield University are developing rapid testing kits using paper-based devices that can pick up on biomarkers in faeces and urine from disease carriers that enter the sewer system.

The test could be used on-site at wastewater treatment plants to trace sources and determine whether there are potential Covid-19 carriers in local areas.

Researchers have said that in the case of asymptomatic infections in a community, or when people are not sure whether they are infected, real-time community sewage detection could determine whether there are Covid-19 carriers in an area to enable rapid screening, quarantine and prevention.

Simulation to predict how policies will affect pandemic

A team led by scientists at the Umea University in Sweden is developing a coronavirus modelling framework that can help predict the effects of possible interventions in a simulated world.

The framework can help policy makers explore a wide range of possible scenarios, gain an understanding of the connections between health, economy and well-being. It will prepare authorities to take better decisions on policies to implement.

The model simulates how a population might behave in a given set of policies — such as during a lockdown or voluntary isolation. This enables researchers to study the effects on both the spread of the contagion and on how people can be expected to react to such policies.

Researchers map how genetic factors affect Covid-19 patients

Researchers in the Netherlands are conducting a large scale research on over 1.3 lakh residents in an attempt to map the hereditary and environmental factors that may determine if someone will fall seriously ill due to the coronavirus or simply develop mild symptoms.

The residents will receive a weekly questionnaire and their answers will be linked to a database of their location and genetic information.

The project may help identify whether there are differences between the DNA of people who have fallen seriously ill due to the coronavirus and those who have experienced mild symptoms.

The extent to which the novel coronavirus influences people’s mental health will also be studied.

The insights gathered over the next few months will be mapped and is likely to accurately predict things that can be expected to take place during an outbreak in the future.


Also read: Most vaccines go through years of tests, 12-18 months would be extraordinarily fast: Experts


 

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1 COMMENT

  1. The article is good and viability and transmission
    Study will give further information.
    I will like to see more work especially on preventive
    and prophylactic aspects.
    I have applied couple of grandma’s remedies to get
    rid of cold and breathing problems. Please let me
    know if are interested to try as a preventive and prophylactic treatment of Covid virus

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