Study concludes that new coronavirus was not created in the laboratory

Scientific research carried out at universities in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, and published in the journal Nature Medicine, concluded that new coronavirusoriginated naturally, through natural selection.

However, although there are many Conspiracy theories being disseminated on social networks, the investigation shows that the coronavirus was not created in a laboratory.

The study published last Tuesday, March 17th, is relevant to elucidate the speculations surrounding the rumors of a possible manipulation of the Covid-19, by China, with the aim of extracting economic benefits in the scenario of world crisis.

“By comparing the available genome sequencing data of the virus chains, we can firmly determine that SARS-CoV-2 [as the new coronavirus is called] originated from from natural processes”, highlights in a note, Kristian Andersen, associate professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research, an American center for non-profit medical research profitable.

Search

Through studying the structure of the new coronavirus and biochemical experiments, researchers have identified two characteristics that cannot be created in the laboratory.

One is due to the central structure of the organism, which is different from other viruses. According to the scientists, the manipulation of a virus in the laboratory would be based on another virus with a familial effect.

The second novelty regarding the coronavirus is its receptor-binding domain (RDB). It has a high affinity with human receptor cells and also with cells from cats, ferrets and other species, that is, it has a very efficient transmission.

In this way, the research identified that the evolution that causes the coronavirus to connect quickly with the hosts is in function of natural selection, in which species face many spontaneous mutations and the one that best adapts to the environment.

According to the study, there is still no determination of the origin of the virus, but working with hypotheses. The virus may have been conceived from human hosts or from other species, such as bats and pangolins.

Both animals, present in the Guangzhou region, in China, have versions of the coronavirus that are very similar to SARS-CoV-2, which caused the pandemic.

Another scenario considered by the world scientific community is that the new coronavirus has evolved in a animal species, which we still don't know which, and from then on the transition to the organism human.

Read too:

• Coronavirus – Infected individuals who do not have symptoms accelerate the spread of the disease
• Study shows that patients who had coronavirus may have lung problems
• Brazilian scientists are developing a vaccine against the new coronavirus
• Why are there so few cases of coronavirus in Africa?
• Coronavirus – Elderly and others in the risk group should be quarantined