动物实验,中东呼吸综合征,MERS z-bo 2020-08-21 726

　　Scientists are trying to test an experimental vaccine designed to protect camels from the coronavirus, which 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 use white mice, but now I have 8 camels!

　　In this study on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Joaquin Segalles, head of the Barcelona Center for Animal Health Research (CReSA), must face these challenges.

　　"Camels are not the same thing. What do you do, a cooperative animal," Saigales said. “It’s not easy to unload them from the truck. It’s not easy to bring them to the laboratory facility. It’s not easy to bring them to the barn. Pushing it can be very difficult, but the worst thing is to take them. Get out of the barn. Get out."

　　From the beginning, challenges have always existed. However, as the designer of this study, Dutch virologist Bad Haguemans (Bad Haguemans) knows that camels are on the Canary Islands, which border the African coast, but are legally Spanish territory. .. In the past few years, he and some colleagues have tested camel blood for antibodies to the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus here.

　　no need to cross boundaries. You can send camels from the Canary Islands to Barcelona. In addition, the laboratory where Segales works (Spanish abbreviation CReSA) has a biosafety laboratory area specially designed for large animals.

　　Therefore, the researchers purchased eight baby camels and shipped them to Europe by sea. They soon discovered that it was not easy to accept orders from human camels. Sergas said: "Sometimes the work that should be done in 30 minutes is nearly two hours." "They are very stubborn."

　　For safety, the researcher needs to work with at least two people, especially when wiping the camel’s nose. Blow eight camels (4 vaccinated and 4 unvaccinated) into the nose of the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus. Then, the experimenter should wipe the nose with a cotton swab to see if the virus has been released.

　　The vaccine seems to be effective now, but it still needs to be tested on other animals. The research was funded by an EU project aimed at preventing zoonotic diseases. The project will also fund another set of test equipment to see if other animals that are easier to manage (such as alpacas) can replace camels.