Although the new Corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) is rapidly spreading; However, the currently prevalent mutants of its original strain and its offshoots are not fatal. On the contrary, the brother of the new Corona virus, which is descended from the coronavirus family, is the “Mers-Cove” virus, which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome disease, very deadly, but it does not spread quickly. A recent study conducted in China warns of the possibility of a merger of two respiratory viruses, each more dangerous than the other. The study concluded that the world must prepare for such a possibility by preparing a vaccine that is very effective. And science has proven that two viruses from one viral family can merge through a process called “recombination”. Reintegration requires sharing a specific mechanism of infection. In the Chinese study, the researchers identified the mechanism by which the SARS and MERS viruses might interact, by penetrating human cells through specific receptors. The study stated that if a person is infected with the SARS and Mers viruses at the same time, the world will face a new and dangerous global epidemic. The good news is that scientists are currently developing a vaccine for every virus. However, the bad news is that this development is still a long way off until it reaches the stage of clinical trials in humans. After that, the regulatory authorities’ approval of the new vaccine begins, with the data and accurate tests it requires. The Chinese study, which was supervised by Qiao Wang, a virologist at the Shanghai Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Biosecurity, explains the ways in which the SARS-CoV-2 and MERS viruses are likely to merge. She indicated that the SARS-Cove-2 virus (the new corona) prefers to invade human cells through a receptor known as ACE2, while the Mers-Cove virus (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) prefers to dock with cells through a receptor known as DPP4. There is usually one, but not both, in a human cell. In the event that a person is infected with both viruses at the same time, each of the two viruses will remain in the cell that it invaded. What is new in this study is that Wang and his co-workers were able to discover a small number of cells in the lungs and intestines that possess both types of the aforementioned receptors. Therefore, it is ready to be infected with both viruses. The Chinese researchers concluded that this hypothetical double infection may result in the emergence of a new “combined” virus, which the Chinese team named “SARS-CoV-3” or “MERS-CoV-2”. And they suggested that the most important characteristic of the hybrid virus would be that it takes from the new Corona virus its ability to spread rapidly, and from the Middle East syndrome virus its ability to destroy its victims. If this hybrid virus materializes, it is expected that it will lead to the death of millions of people. This requires devising an effective vaccine against all viruses belonging to the coronavirus (Coronavirus) family. However, non-Chinese scientists believe that the possibility of this hybridization is out of the question, because it did not occur in the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak, so why should it occur now or in the future?
in Britain; Scientists are developing unprecedented technology to monitor genetic changes in respiratory viruses around the world. The new system will be used to identify dangerous viral variants. Thus, it will be an early warning system for the emergence of new viruses, and the possibility of a new global epidemic. The scientists, who are carrying out this project at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the county of Cambridgeshire in Britain, said that they intend to make a technology that is cheap and easy to use, capable of tracking a wide range of viruses, especially influenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, corona viruses, and unknown viruses. previously. The project – called the "Respiratory Virus and Microbiome Initiative" – aims to create a system that allows the dissemination of technology to determine the genetic sequence of all viruses, bacteria and fungi from a single swab taken from the nose of a person. The project supervisor, Dr. Ewan Harrison, said that Britain has advanced the countries of the world in monitoring the genetic evolution of the Covid-19 virus, and has succeeded in reaching the genetic map of about 20% of the genetic sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. He added that the knowledge available to Britain allowed it to determine the genetic sequence of the virus with high accuracy and record speed, especially knowing its genetic evolution. This had a major role in the success of the war on the global epidemic. He added that the goal now is to build a genome monitoring system for all respiratory viruses, as the tool that could cause a new global pandemic. Corona family viruses are the clearest example of the threat of global epidemics that could threaten the world in the future. Over the past 20 years, three coronaviruses have spread among humans, starting with the outbreak of SARS in China and its neighboring countries, the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus in the Arab region, and finally the outbreak of the new Corona virus. And in December 2020, when there was a serious rise in the number of new cases of Covid-19 in the regions of southeast England, technology showed that this rise was due to the emergence of a new mutant that was more capable of spreading rapidly. And he called that mutant "the Kent strain." It was later renamed "Alpha". Scientists, academics and experts participating in the early warning system project say that they are developing a system that allows decoding the secrets of the genetic “code” from a smear, or a single sample, from one person, of any viral strain that infected him, or any other germ in his body. However, the project requires that as many countries be able to set up laboratories that can handle the data provided by the UK early warning system.
$300 million to fund Alzheimer's treatment
The US National Institute on Aging announced that it has decided to allocate $300 million to fund the creation of a comprehensive database to search for an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease, which wastes the mind of those who afflict it. The project, which will take six years, aims to build a database that includes health information for between 70% and 90% of the US population, through people's medical records, and data related to claims for compensation from health insurance companies. Nina Silverberg, Director of the Research Centers of the National Institute on Aging, stressed that following up on the health development of individuals before and after Alzheimer's disease is very necessary to make progress in attempts to treat this disease, which can begin 20 years before the onset of memory problems. Official figures indicate that the number of Alzheimer's patients in the United States reaches about six million. Recently, a drug called Liquimbe, developed by the Japanese companies Eisai and the American Biogen, has proven to be able to slow the progression of the disease in those who began to feel its early symptoms. The planned database would allow drug companies developing new drugs to recruit more people with Alzheimer's disease in clinical trials of their new drugs. It will also allow scientists to follow patients who have been given Lyquimbe to see their disease progression.
The German company Biontech announced that it has signed an agreement with the Chinese company Duality Bio to jointly develop two antibody drugs to treat cancer. In return, the Chinese company will receive $170 million. And it will be eligible to receive funds that may reach more than $ 1.5 billion in return for marketing and development burdens, in addition to the financial compensation for patent rights. The German and Chinese companies announced that they would work on pelleting DB-1303 and DB-1311 for the treatment of aggressive tumors. These two drugs destroy cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. The agreement stipulates that the Chinese company will monopolize the two properties in China, Hong Kong, and Macau. While the German company Biontech owns the rights to the two properties in the rest of the world. The agreement also grants the Chinese company, Duolity Bio, the right to market the drug DB-1303 in the United States, by virtue of obtaining the approval of the Food Authority to accelerate its clearance procedures in the American territories. In March 2023, Biontech signed an agreement with Onco C4 to market the antibody drug it had developed to treat cancer.
Its residents trade in 1,000,000,000,000 dollar bills
Zimbabwe.. Inflation is ravaging a country without mercy
Zimbabwe, which was forced under the weight of inflation and bankruptcy to create a one-trillion-dollar Zimbabwean banknote, is facing more economic and monetary pressure, after there were no coins in the country. Merchants and restaurant owners were forced to issue their own currency, each of them, on white papers, informing the customer that the rest of the amount that the shop or restaurant could not return to the customer, with which he can buy something or a meal next time! Other shops and restaurants prefer to pay the rest due to the customer in exchange for juice bottles, pens, or cheese. Pharmacies and supermarkets resorted to printing papers to serve as coins for those who pay large denomination notes. These stores keep a book to record the large number of customers' names who have a financial right on them. The economic decline in Zimbabwe began at the beginning of the second millennium, during the era of the late President Robert Mugabe. And when his government faced crop failures, following the redistribution of agricultural land ownership, inflation soared to 79.6 billion percent. In 2009, the government abolished the Zimbabwean dollar and allowed the US dollar to be traded. Although this decision achieved a measure of monetary stability in the country; However, that stability evaporated with the decision of the Central Bank in Harare that it was unable to meet the requests of banks to provide them with US dollars. As a result, it was decided to prevent dollar depositors from withdrawing their dues from banks. And in 2019, the central bank reintroduced the eroding value of the Zimbabwean dollar. The value of one US dollar in Zimbabwe is currently more than 900 million Zimbabwean dollars. In January, the inflation rate reached 230%. Although the Zimbabwean dollar is the official currency of the country, companies and shops ask their customers to pay them in US dollars. Many residents resort to bartering for goods instead of banknotes. It has become commonplace for Harare restaurants to issue their menu in US dollars and against the Zimbabwean dollar. And it became normal to go to the barbershop, and after completing the hair cut, you ask the barber to go to the nearby supermarket to buy what you need for his $ 5 fee!
Yassin Ahmed (London) Okaz (Washington) @ OKAZ_online Agencies (Harare) @ OKAZ_online