2024-01-18 17:54:16
Chinese scientists recently conducted worrying experiments on a mutant strain of coronavirus, GX_P2V, displaying 100% lethality in mice. Results which raise countless concerns in the scientific community about the potential triggering of a new pandemic. These Beijing researchers, linked to the army, cloned a virus similar to Covid found in pangolins and used it to infect genetically modified mice, called “humanized”, in order to understand the potential reaction of the virus in humans.
All infected mice died within eight weeks, a delay described as “surprising” by the researchers. The high levels of viral load in the brains and eyes of mice suggest a unique multiplication and spread of the virus, despite its relationship to Covid. Although the scientific article in Preprinthas not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers warn of the risk of transmission of GX_P2V to humans.
International experts, for their part, strongly criticize this study. Professor François Balloux of University College London and director of the UGL genetics institute, describes it as “terrible”, adding that “it’s a terrible study, scientifically useless. I don’t see anything vaguely interesting that could be learned by forcibly infecting a strange breed of humanized mice with a random virus. Conversely, I can see how such things could go wrong…” Professor Richard Ebright of Rutgers University points out the lack of information on biosecurity precautions, raising concerns comparable to those related to research in Wuhan.
I had a look at the preprint. It’s a terrible study, scientifically totally pointless. I can see nothing of vague interest that could be learned from force-infecting a weird breed of humanised mice with a random virus. Conversely, I could see how such stuff might go wrong …
— Prof Francois Balloux (@BallouxFrancois) January 10, 2024
According to the study by the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, the GX_P2V virus was discovered in 2017 in pangolins in Malaysia, before the Covid pandemic. The researchers cloned the virus, storing it in a Beijing laboratory where it continued to evolve. Although the period of the study is not specified, the researchers suggest that the virus may have undergone a virulence-enhancing mutation” in storage, making it more deadly.
Experimental infection of mice resulted in a 100% mortality rate. Virus levels were significant in several organs, suggesting a different infection route for Covid. Despite concerns about potential transmission to humans, critics point to similar results with the original Covid strain in mice. Some experts are calling for this “crazy” research to be stopped before it is too late.
This information comes as the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Emmanuel Macron went on January 17, has just started and concern is already emerging. The Director General of the WHO, also participating in this forum, indicated that it will be necessary to “prepare for disease .
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