Boston University COVID study could lead to ‘important’ revelation, doctors say – NBC Boston

As Boston University refutes sensational reports that their researchers have created a new, more ‘deadly’ COVID strain, Local doctors who have been following the course of the pandemic say the study could reveal important information for fighting the virus.

The report caused controversy and friction between the university and the federal government, but a Boston doctor explained on the NBC10 Boston weekly series: “COVID Q&A” This type of research has rigorous procedures and potential risks are always weighed against benefits.

“In my lab, I can tell you that nothing is more important than making sure people don’t get infected with what they’re working with,” said Dr. Daniel Kritskes of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “We virologists take these concerns very seriously, but it is important that work is done.”

Boston University researchers say a Daily Mail headline claiming that scientists “created” a deadly strain of the new coronavirus is false and misleading.

BU’s National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories is studying mutant and original strains of Omicron to see if Omicron is highly contagious and still less likely to cause severe disease. increase.

Subsequent scrutiny focused on whether researchers were conducting so-called gain-of-function experiments, Kuritzkes explained. In these experiments, scientists increase the virulence of pathogens to see if they can more easily cause disease or resist drugs used to treat them.

University researchers were working with hybrid strains of the virus by taking the Omicron spike protein and attaching it to the original strain of COVID.

But Boston University denied conducting such experiments on COVID in a statementcalled Monday’s online report “false and inaccurate.”

“First, this study is not a gain-of-function study, which means it did not amplify or make the Washington state SARS-COV-2 virus strain (the original 2020 virus) more dangerous,” the university said. “In fact, this study reduced the risk of viral replication.”

of National Institute of Infectious DiseasesLocated in Boston’s South End, the BU Medical Campus has Biosafety Level 2, 3, and 4 facilities. The school said the work was done at a Level 3 facility, his second highest level. Learn more about biosafety assessment.

Kuritzkes said the study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety Board and the Boston Public Health Board.

“You can do different kinds of experiments with different levels of concern,” Kuritzkes said. “Unless other details are released, we must assume that they were certainly acting in the best interests of not only the researchers but the community.”

Dr. Sabrina Assomou of the Boston Medical Center said, “And we know that the BU researchers are following very strict protocols, so we can keep everyone safe.

While the BU researchers were working on the hybrid virus, they took the Omicron spike protein and bound it to the original strain. In mice, they found that this new fusion version killed her 80% of infected mice. However, this is lower than the 100% mortality in the original strain.

They concluded that it was not the omicron spike protein itself, but other proteins, that made the virus spread so easily. They say it helps improve treatment.

A Boston doctor speaking at “COVID Q&A” declined to comment directly on the study, but spoke more broadly about the importance of this kind of work.

Tufts Medical Center’s Dr. Gabriela Andujal Vázquez said the research will help scientists understand not just COVID-19, but “other viruses and other emerging or current infections.” can help us understand how pathogens behave.

“But these are under strict protocols and safety measures,” she said.

The university said the same in a statement.

In NBC10 Boston’s weekly series “COVID Q&A,” Boston’s top doctors discuss the new COVID variant BQ 1.1, concerns about the upcoming flu season, and bivalent booster shots.