A 网曝吃瓜 professor recently co-authored a peer-reviewed paper on COVID-19.
Dr. Alexander Lai, associate professor of biology, co-authored the paper, 鈥淐OVID-19: Epidemiology, Evolution, and Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives,鈥� with collaborators in China and Germany. The paper is published in Trends in Molecular Medicine.
Lai said there were three major findings in this paper.
First, he said, 鈥渢his novel coronavirus was from bats, but it was likely a recombinant virus involving a pangolin virus. Therefore, it was a rare event, and most likely from a 鈥榩oint source,鈥� the wet market in Wuhan where different wildlife species were kept in close proximity.鈥�
Second, Lai noted there was a higher mortality rate at the initial phase of the pandemic.
鈥淭hird, a short peptide, by interfering virus binding to the host receptor, could be used as a potential antiviral drug,鈥� Lai said.
Lai said observing a lockdown for a period could be crucial in defeating the virus.
鈥淭his virus could be defeated because asymptomatic virus carriers would be cleared,鈥� Lai said. 鈥淚f there were no further importation of virus to our community, we could resume normal activities. However, we need to remain vigilant: good personal hygiene by washing our hands often and keep social distancing.鈥�
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