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China discovers three anti-SARS polypeptides
Beijing, May 23: China, worst hit nation by SARS epidemic, has claimed to have discovered nine polypeptides and 13 antibodies that can restrain the coronavirus which causes the flu-like killer disease.
Beijing, May 23: China, worst hit nation by SARS epidemic, has claimed to have discovered nine polypeptides and 13 antibodies that can restrain the coronavirus which causes the flu-like killer disease.
Three of the polypeptides against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have passed tests by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of China, reported a daily.
The polypeptides proved to be effective in restraining the coronavirus in in-vitro studies conducted by the CDC, said the newspaper.
"The coronavirus is a kind of single-stranded ribovirus," Chen Zhinan, director of the Cell Engineering Centre and in charge of SARS research at China's No. 4 Military Medical University said. Chen and his colleagues found a sun-like ring around the coronavirus and four structural proteins inside. They also discovered that the protein played a critical role in self-replication and invasion into human cells.
So far, there are no available medicines to cure and treat SARS cases. The new discovery is a significant step forward in developing anti-SARS medicines, the report said.
"It will take some time to put the laboratory discovery into clinical use," Chen said, adding that he and his colleagues are doing medicine-effect in vitro tests.
Meanwhile, top institutions of traditional Chinese medicine announced yesterday that they have selected eight prepared traditional Chinese medicine, instant herbal mixture or injections, for the treatment of SARS patients. These traditional Chinese medicines have a "probable effect" on improving the symptoms of SARS patients in Guangdong and Beijing, the worst-hit cities in China, the Science and Technology Mission said.
Over the past 17 days, scientists have conducted 118 sets of experiments on 45,000 white rats and 700 domestic rabbits.
The research has provided a scientific data basis for the treatment of SARS using Chinese herbal medicines and will pave the way for new herbal drugs to treat the disease, medical experts here say.
At the same time, Chinese psychologists have urged the whole nation to be alert to psychological tiredness arising from SARS prevention following the decrease of the SARS epidemic in China.
Out of the 680-odd deaths from SARS world-wide, China has reported 300 fatalities while Hong Kong 258, accounting for over 80 per cent of deaths. Bureau Report
The polypeptides proved to be effective in restraining the coronavirus in in-vitro studies conducted by the CDC, said the newspaper.
"The coronavirus is a kind of single-stranded ribovirus," Chen Zhinan, director of the Cell Engineering Centre and in charge of SARS research at China's No. 4 Military Medical University said. Chen and his colleagues found a sun-like ring around the coronavirus and four structural proteins inside. They also discovered that the protein played a critical role in self-replication and invasion into human cells.
So far, there are no available medicines to cure and treat SARS cases. The new discovery is a significant step forward in developing anti-SARS medicines, the report said.
"It will take some time to put the laboratory discovery into clinical use," Chen said, adding that he and his colleagues are doing medicine-effect in vitro tests.
Meanwhile, top institutions of traditional Chinese medicine announced yesterday that they have selected eight prepared traditional Chinese medicine, instant herbal mixture or injections, for the treatment of SARS patients. These traditional Chinese medicines have a "probable effect" on improving the symptoms of SARS patients in Guangdong and Beijing, the worst-hit cities in China, the Science and Technology Mission said.
Over the past 17 days, scientists have conducted 118 sets of experiments on 45,000 white rats and 700 domestic rabbits.
The research has provided a scientific data basis for the treatment of SARS using Chinese herbal medicines and will pave the way for new herbal drugs to treat the disease, medical experts here say.
At the same time, Chinese psychologists have urged the whole nation to be alert to psychological tiredness arising from SARS prevention following the decrease of the SARS epidemic in China.
Out of the 680-odd deaths from SARS world-wide, China has reported 300 fatalities while Hong Kong 258, accounting for over 80 per cent of deaths. Bureau Report