中东呼吸综合征 z-bo 2020-11-10 320

　　In a recent study by researchers in Spain and the Netherlands, researchers need to experiment with camels in advanced protection laboratories.

　　Scientists are trying to test an experimental vaccine designed to protect camels from the coronavirus that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (commonly known as MERS). Their research shows that the development of this vaccine may slow the spread of the virus from camels to people.

　　I used to experiment with white mice, but now there are eight camels? !

　　In this study on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Joaquim Segalés, as the director of the Barcelona Animal Health Research Center (CReSA), had to face these difficulties.

　　"The camel is not a thing, how can I say it, an animal willing to cooperate." Saigares said. “It’s not easy to get them off the truck, it’s not easy to get them into the experimental facility, and it’s not easy to drive them into the barn. Sometimes it’s quite difficult to push them in, but the worst thing is to take them from the barn. come out."

　　From the very beginning, challenges followed. However, as the designer of this study, Dutch virologist Bart Haagmans knew that there are camels on the Canary Islands, which are bordering the coast of Africa but are legally Spanish territory. In the past few years, he and some colleagues have tested the blood of camels here in order to find antibodies to the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus.

　　There is no need to cross the border, and camels from the Canary Islands can be sent to Barcelona. In addition, the laboratory where Segares works (Spanish abbreviation CReSA) is equipped with a high biological safety protection experimental area specially designed for large animals.

　　Then, eight young camels were bought by the researchers and transported by sea to the European continent.

　　It didn’t take long for them to discover that letting camels take orders from humans is never easy. "Sometimes, some things that were supposed to be done in half an hour ended up taking nearly two hours," Cergares said. "They are pretty stubborn."

　　To be safe, the researchers need at least two people to work together, especially when wiping the camel's nose. Eight camels (four vaccinated and four unvaccinated) were blown into the nose of the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus. Later, the experimenters need to wipe their noses with a swab to see if the virus is released.

　　Although the vaccine now seems to be effective, it still needs to be tested on other animals. This research was funded by an EU project aimed at preventing zoonotic diseases. The project will also fund another set of tests to see if other more manageable animals, such as alpacas, can replace camels.