The role of the laboratory in handling the coronavirus that causes covid

There are various allegations circulating about the origins of the coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 outbreak. One of them comes from an article published by a researcher from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, early February. According to the authors, the coronavirus likely originated from a laboratory leak in Wuhan.

A number of researchers had suspected that 2019-nCoV was carried by snakes and bats, before finally believing the virus originated from pangolins sold in wild animal markets. Then, does the article refute the notion that the coronavirus originated from wild animals? What is the role of virus laboratories in the spread of the coronavirus outbreak?

The initial suspicion of the coronavirus came from a laboratory leak

In early February, two researchers named Botao Xiao and Lei Xiao published articles about the origin of the coronavirus which is now officially named SARS-CoV-2. This article is based on the findings of several previous studies.

One of the studies in the journal Nature originally mentioned that SARS-CoV-2 shares an 89-96% similarity with the Bat CoV ZC45. This is a coronavirus that is naturally found in horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus affinis).

However, they are not sure that the horseshoe bats carried the coronavirus in Wuhan. The reason is, these bats are more commonly found in Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces, about 900 kilometers away from the Huanan Market which is thought to be the origin of SARS-CoV-2.

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They then combed the area and found two laboratories that were researching the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Both belong to the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention (WHCDC) and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, respectively.

Botao and Lei believe that the coronavirus that is currently endemic to 30 countries comes from the waste of the two laboratories. However, claims related to this laboratory leak cannot be ascertained.

They also emphasized that further research is needed to obtain solid evidence. Not long after it was circulated, the article they had written was nowhere to be found.

Laboratory functions in handling coronavirus

Before examining the function of the virus laboratory, you need to first become familiar with the term virology. Virology is a branch of science that studies viruses and similar organisms that are similar to viruses. A laboratory designed to study viruses is called a virology laboratory.

Viruses are always considered to be disease-carrying agents that must be controlled or destroyed. Naturally, if this is the case, considering that there are many diseases caused by viral infections. Call it influenza, AIDS, dysentery, and others.

However, viruses also have the property of a genetic code that can be used for human welfare. In this year's coronavirus outbreak, for example, the existence of a virology laboratory allows researchers to recognize and study the virus.

Even virology laboratories are not only used to recognize coronavirus. This facility also assists researchers in studying classification, disease-carrying properties, genetics, and how to produce replicas of the viruses under study.

The following are some of the roles of laboratories in handling viruses:

1. Making vaccines

Once cases of viral infection emerge, researchers will collect samples of the disease-causing virus to study. They then put the virus in special conditions so that it can thrive in the laboratory. This method will produce a replica of the virus.

By creating a virus replica, researchers can study the genetic code that makes up the antigen. Antigen is a special protein that can stimulate an immune system response. The virus antigen and genetic code are needed as the basis for making vaccines.

Researchers around the world are currently developing a vaccine for the coronavirus, and they need a virology laboratory to make it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the vaccine may not be available 18 months from now.

Although it has been a long time, several researchers have succeeded in growing the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in the laboratory. This is a big step that will help researchers create a vaccine. It is possible, the vaccine may be available earlier.

2. Gene therapy

Gene therapy is a method of treatment for diseases caused by genetic errors. Through this therapy, doctors will inject normal genes into the patient's cells to repair missing or mutated genes.

Genes that are injected directly into the body's cells cannot function immediately. Doctors need a vector, a carrier that has been specially designed so that it can carry and transmit genes into cells.

One of the vectors used in gene therapy is a virus. The virus can be injected directly or put into the body through an IV. The doctor can also take a sample of the patient's body cells, introduce it to the vector virus, then insert it back into the patient's body.

3. Diagnosing disease

The existence of a laboratory is important in dealing with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, because health workers need this facility to diagnose coronavirus infection. Without an accurate diagnosis, the treatment of the patient will also not be appropriate.

If someone is suspected of being infected with the coronavirus, the medical personnel on duty are obliged to take samples of the patient's body fluids for examination in the laboratory. Researchers in the laboratory will then perform several tests to determine the type of virus.

The news about the leak of the coronavirus from the laboratory in Wuhan is still in the suspected status. Until there is more promising new research, the best step that can be done at this time is to take preventative measures and stop consuming wild animals.

No need to panic, just make it a habit to wash your hands regularly and use a mask when traveling. Maintain your immune system by eating a nutritionally balanced diet and temporarily, limiting close contact with people who are sick.