{"id":269269,"date":"2021-06-08T18:18:04","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T15:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/a-vital-tool-to-study-virus-evolution-in-the-test-tube\/"},"modified":"2021-06-08T18:18:04","modified_gmt":"2021-06-08T15:18:04","slug":"a-vital-tool-to-study-virus-evolution-in-the-test-tube","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/a-vital-tool-to-study-virus-evolution-in-the-test-tube\/","title":{"rendered":"#A vital tool to study virus evolution in the test tube"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#A vital tool to study virus evolution in the test tube<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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\"SARS-CoV-2
\n Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH
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Variants of viruses, such as that causing COVID-19, can now be quickly studied in the laboratory, even before they emerge in nature and become a major public health challenge.<\/p>\n


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The University of Queensland, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Monash University, and Queensland Health have developed a technology<\/a> to manipulate viruses synthetically allowing rapid analysis and mapp<\/a>ing of new potential virus variants.<\/p>\n

UQ’s lead researcher Professor Alexander Khromykh said the technology was ideal for use during a global pandemic such as COVID-19.<\/p>\n

“This technique should give us the ability to answer questions about whether potential virus variants are susceptible to a particular drug or vaccine, even before they emerge in nature,” Professor Khromykh said.<\/p>\n

“Up until now, we’ve mostly just waited and reacted to viral variants as they emerge, and in the case of SARS-CoV-2 the world has been hit by Indian, UK and South African variants, just to name a few. Now we can mimic the massive ‘experiment’ going on in nature\u2014where these mutations pop up due to natural selection\u2014but we can do it safely in a strictly controlled and highly regulated biosecurity laboratory environment.”<\/p>\n

The UQ-developed process uses copies of fragments from the viral genetic material to assemble the functional viral genome in a test tube.<\/p>\n

This allows scientists to rapidly generate virus variants and assess their potential to evade antiviral treatments and vaccine-induced immunity.<\/p>\n

QIMR Berghofer helped to evaluate infection and disease caused by the ‘test tube’-made virus in pre-clinical models to ensure the technology was able to generate authentic viruses.<\/p>\n

Professor Andreas Suhrbier from QIMR Berghofer said the research was essential, as viruses were changing all the time.<\/p>\n

“We can now monitor changes in viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and can see which variants may not respond to certain vaccines and anti-viral treatments. We can also investigate whether potential variants are more or less virulent in mice, and find out which drugs and vaccines will be effective. It’s great to finally have this vital tool and start tackling these challenging questions.”<\/p>\n\n

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‘Supercharged’ cells help scientists analyze SARS-CoV-2 variants faster\n <\/p><\/div>\n

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\n More information:<\/strong>
\n Alberto A. Amarilla et al, A versatile reverse genetics platform for SARS-CoV-2 and other positive-strand RNA viruses, Nature Communications<\/i> (2021). DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-021-23779-5<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n
\n Provided by
\n University of Queensland
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Citation<\/strong>:
\n A vital tool to study virus evolution in the test tube (2021, June 8)
\n retrieved 8 June 2021
\n from https:\/\/phys.org\/news<\/a>\/2021-06-vital-tool-virus-evolution-tube.html<\/p>\n

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
\n part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n