COVID-19 culture for vaccine development and drug testing

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology cultured COVID-19 from the patients infected with the virus.

Highlights

The virologists at CCMB will isolate infectious virus from the patients. The isolated virus will be used for vaccine development and drug testing.

Significance

Virus Culture is important for development of antibodies. The inactivated virus when injected into human bodies will trigger antibody responses. The antibodies generated are processed, collected and purified and used for therapeutic intervention.

The cultured virus also helps in the process of drug screening.

Status of the study

Under the study, the researchers of CCMB are to produce large quantities of COVID-19. The researchers will also test potential drugs with partners such as DRDO (Defence Research Development Organization).

Challenges

COVID-19 enters human cell through ACE-2 receptor. The respiratory disease in the case of COVID-19 is caused in respiratory tract and mainly is because of the infection caused in epithelial cells. However, epithelial cells cannot be grown in the lab.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2020