Chinese scientists have conducted research on a mutant strain of coronavirus that proved to be 100 percent lethal in mice. The study, which was reported by the news has raised concerns about the potential for another pandemic to emerge from such experiments.
The scientists, who are affiliated with the Chinese military, cloned a Covid-like virus found in pangolins, known as GX_P2V, and infected mice with it. These mice had been genetically modified to express a protein found in humans, allowing the researchers to study how the virus might behave in human hosts. Shockingly, every mouse infected with the pathogen died within just eight days, highlighting the rapidity with which it caused fatalities.
The researchers were also surprised to find high levels of the virus in the mice’s brains and eyes, suggesting that this particular virus multiplies and spreads through the body in a unique manner, distinct from the original Covid strain. The scientists behind this study have warned that the findings indicate a potential risk of the GX_P2V virus spilling over into humans.
It is worth noting that the GX_P2V virus was originally discovered in pangolins in Malaysia. These scaly mammals are known to carry coronaviruses and were widely speculated to be the intermediate host that transmitted Covid from bats to humans. However, some experts have criticised this study, calling it scientifically pointless and raising concerns about the lack of information regarding biosafety precautions taken during the research.
According to the study, which was conducted by the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, the virus was discovered in 2017, before the Covid pandemic. The researchers cloned the virus and stored multiple copies in their lab in Beijing, where it continued to evolve. It remains unclear when exactly this newly surfaced study was conducted. However, the researchers suggest that the virus may have undergone a mutation that enhanced its virulence while in storage, making it more deadly.
These results suggest that the GX_P2V virus primarily infects the respiratory system and then migrates to the brain, unlike the original Covid strain, which primarily causes lower lung infections and pneumonia in severe cases. However, it is worth noting that there have been instances of Covid being found in the brain tissue of severely ill patients. The researchers concluded that severe brain infection during the later stages of the GX_P2V virus infection may be the primary cause of death in these mice. They also highlighted that this study is the first to demonstrate that a SARS-CoV-2-related pangolin coronavirus can cause 100 percent mortality in mice genetically modified to express the human ACE2 protein, indicating a potential risk of spillover into humans.
It is important to note, however, that previous studies have shown that the original strain of Covid also caused 100 percent mortality in mice in certain experiments. Therefore, these new findings may not directly apply to human infections. Nonetheless, some experts have expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with this research. They argue that the lack of information regarding biosafety containment and practices raises concerns that this research, like the research conducted in Wuhan between 2016 and 2019, which likely led to the Covid-19 pandemic, may have been conducted without adequate precautions for handling potential pandemic pathogens.
This study brings to light the ongoing debate surrounding gain-of-function research, which involves purposefully making viruses more deadly or infectious to study their evolution.
The implications of these research findings and ongoing debates surrounding gain-of-function research are significant. They highlight the importance of robust biosafety protocols and responsible scientific practices to prevent the accidental release of potentially dangerous pathogens. As the scientific community continues to investigate the origins of Covid and strives to prevent future pandemics, it is crucial to strike a balance between scientific progress and the potential risks associated with certain research activities.
