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| Chinese scientists work around the clock to curb SARS |
| CCTV.COM 2003-05-05 15:05:18 |
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Scientists are giving new hope to overcome SARS. China's Academy of Natural Sciences has set up a special research panel, mobilizing its best experts to tackle the mysterious virus from the angles of different disciplines.
Professor Tian Bo is a veteran microbiologist in his early seventies. He's leading a special group to separate protein molecules from the corona－shaped object on the surface of the SARS virus. They've already synthesized a special protein molecule to prevent the virus from growing inside human cells. With this new method, an effective medicine could be produced within this year, given affirmative results in animal tissue tests and clinical experiments.
Over at the Shanghai－based Organic Chemistry and Molecular Institute, scientists are losing no time in their search for the most powerful compounds to fight the SARS virus. They've already sent the first batch of 10 anti－inflammation and anti－virus compounds to Beijing for further screening at the molecular level.
"At present, our research focuses primarily on three aspects, macrolide antibiotics, nucleosides and polypeptides. We're confident of finding more effective compounds in one or two months," said Jiang Biao, director of Organic Chemistry Institute, Shanghai, CANS.
Well－known for its achievements in chemical analysis and chemical information study, the Wuhan－based Virology Institute has mobilized nearly all its resources in microbiological medical science. In this special low－air pressure lab, experts are doing quantitative analysis of the SARS virus, to determine its origin, spreading pattern and variations.
Nationwide, more than 20 divisions of China's Academy of Natural Sciences are conducting concerted research in testing methodology, vaccines, and clinical treatment.
"The priority of our current research is to integrate the advantages of our different institutes, to solve pivotal problems in pathogen study, communicable disease study and pharmaceutics. We'll try our best to make significant breakthroughs in a short period," said Kang Le, director of Biological Technology Bureau China Academy of Natural Sciences.
Scientists have identified three aspects of their research as the most crucial to the final victory over SARS. They're the development of a diagnostic reagent, success in medicine screening, and the much－anticipated vaccine.
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Editor: Han Ling CCTV.com
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