See: Indian scientists image novel coronavirus using a microscope

[BL33D]

Scientists in India have managed to observe the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2), popularly known as the novel coronavirus, under a high-powered microscope. The microscopy image was taken from the throat swab sample of the first laboratory-confirmed novel coronavirus patient in India.

The laboratory-confirmed novel coronavirus case was reported on January 30 in Kerala.

The findings of the microscopy analysis of the throat swab have been published in the latest edition of the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR).

The novel coronavirus, which originated in China late last year, has caused a pandemic across the world.

So far the novel coronavirus, which results in the Covid-19 disease, has killed over 25,000 people and infected over 5,66,000 globally. In India, the novel coronavirus has killed 17 people with 640 active Covid-19 cases reported so far.

TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IMAGING OF SARS-COV-2

A group of scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have written a correspondence in the latest edition of IJMR in which they shed light on their observation of the novel human coronavirus under a specialised microscope.

Till date, detailed morphology (the study of the forms of things) and ultrastructure (fine structure, especially within a cell, that can be seen only with the high magnification obtainable with an electron microscope) of this virus remains incompletely understood.

The ICMR scientists used what is known as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to image the Sars-CoV-2 from the throat swab of the first laboratory-confirmed infection in India. A total of seven negative-stained virus particles having features of coronavirus-like particles were imaged from the sample.

The images taken by the scientists show the round shape of the virus as well as projections or stalks jutting out from the surface of the novel coronavirus particles.

SUMMARY

This is the first report from India detecting the Sars-CoV-2 virus using transmission electron microscope (TEM) directly from a throat swab of a novel coronavirus patient confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Polymerase chain reaction is a method widely used in molecular biology to rapidly make millions to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample allowing scientists to take a very small sample of DNA and amplify it to a large enough amount to study in detail.

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/s...scov2-virus-covid19-corona-1660511-2020-03-27

Transmission electron microscopy imaging of SARS-CoV-2
http://www.ijmr.org.in/temp/IndianJMedRes000-6270839_172508.pdf

 

[JonAsad]

directly from a throat swab

i read that couple of times.. Neo?

 

[BL33D]

i read that couple of times.. Neo?

Sorry, dont have much idea in this area.

 

[Andhadhun]

https://www.opindia.com/2020/03/icmr-india-coronavirus-antibody-test-previous-exposure/

In a first, India to begin antibody test to check previous exposure to the Wuhan Coronavirus

If rolled out successfully, this blood test could show us how many people have been infected by COVID-19 even if they never developed symptoms.

Representational Image

As the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 5,50,000 people worldwide so far, causing almost 25,000 deaths, India has upped its preparedness to tackle the deadly Chinese virus outbreak in the country. In a first, the country is all set to start an antibody test to check if a person had previously been infected with the virus.

Also known as a serological test, this test will look for antibodies in the blood. The test will allow doctors to confirm if previously the patient had the Covid-19 virus present in their body. It will help in understanding the epidemiology of Covid-19 in the country.

This will, however, not be similar to the diagnostic tests that determine the infection by nasal or throat swabs. Right now, the NHS tests for Sars-CoV-2 – the virus that causes Covid-19 – is done through a diagnostic technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which detects the virus’s genetic material in oral or nasal swabs. It’s highly effective, but it only returns a positive result when the virus is still present in the body. Serological testing, meanwhile, will tell us how many people crossed paths with the coronavirus weeks or even months ago, sometimes even inadvertently.

Our body’s adaptive immune response identifies foreign material and creates antibodies specific to them. These complex proteins then attract immune cells to deal with the invaders. Antibodies remain in the blood even after an infection has been cleared, which leaves lasting evidence of the infection. With the latest serological test, a person’s blood serum will be tested with specialized antibodies to detect the presence of COVID-19 antibodies.

According to reports, this method is effective at spotting infection in as little as three days after exposure. If rolled out successfully, this blood test could show us how many people have been infected by COVID-19 even if they never developed symptoms. With more accurate data, we could figure out how dangerous the virus actually is and also evaluate the effectiveness of the new vaccines on the horizon.

The tests that have been done on random samples suggest that there is no community transmission so far in India and with the help of serological tests, the researchers will be able to understand the behaviour of the virus.

Read- Did Gujarat company ‘CoSara’ become ‘the first and only’ company to get license to make Covid-19 testing kits? Here are the facts

Chairman of the high-level expert committee formed to review the testing strategy for Covid-19 by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Randeep Guleria, speaking to Economic Times, said that the test is not confirmatory and it is for surveillance to generate data and check if people got exposed to the virus.

ICMR officials have said that these tests can be done on a mass scale at an affordable price. However, they are contemplating if these tests should be conducted on people who have come in contact with the Coronavirus infected people.

For carrying this out successfully, ICMR will require 1 million test kits for the country, it said.

The ICMR invited bids on Wednesday for the antibody kit for diagnosis of Covid-19.

India has confirmed a total of 860 coronavirus positive cases and 19 people have succumbed to the virus as of 7.15 pm on March 27 (Friday).