COVID-19: A breakthrough by research team of Dow Medical University
Lahore, 13th April: With the widespread outbreak of COVID-19, many scientists and health experts are trying to discover its vaccine, and Pakistani scientists have accomplished a major breakthrough in this regard.
According to reports of BaaghiTV, Pakistani scientists research team from Dow University Karachi has developed an intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) from antibodies obtained from the blood plasma of infected coronavirus patients.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Saeed Qureshi called it a very important step in the war against COVID-19.
The research team, led by Professor Shaukat Ali, Principal of the Dow College of Biotechnology, has completed the preparation of an effective immunoglobulin fo treatment for the first time in the world.
Approved by the American Organization FDA, this method of treatment is safe, highly effective against Lorsic and Corona. This method produces immunoglobulin after the separation of antibodies found in the blood of a patient recovered from coronavirus. This approach is very different from plasma therapy treatment.
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It is important to note that immunoglobulin therapy is approved by the US Federal Food and Drug Aid Administration for general conditions, with some side effects of plasma therapy also, but allowed only in case of emergencies.
Under the supervision of the University’s Vice-Chancellor, his team prepared Hyper Immuno-Globulin (IVIG) after a hard day’s work.
The Dow University team was initially able to collect blood samples in March 2020, then they chemically isolated the antibodies from its plasma, purified it, and subsequently concentrated these antibodies through ultra-filter techniques. In this way, the final product, called Hyper Immunoglobulin, was prepared by combining the remaining unwanted material with antibodies, including some viruses and bacteria.
It is noteworthy that for the first time in the world, this immunoglobulin has been prepared in Pakistan. In this treatment instead of using full plasma, it is only the antibodies that are used for the immunization.
These safe and effective methods have previously been widely used in widespread outbreaks such as SARS, MERS, and Ebola. While transparent antibodies of tetanus, influenza, and rabies are also available for sale worldwide.
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The research team cleared the blood donated by COVID-19 patients and isolated antibodies that neutralized the corona, followed by laboratory testing and animal safety hypertensive immunoglobulin obtained.
Vice-Chancellor of Dow University, Professor Mohammed Saeed Qureshi, along with the research team of Dow University Hospital, entrusted the task of developing ethical and legal strategies for this new treatment trial. The team included Shobha Laxmi, Saeed Muneed-ud-Din, Mir Rashid Ali, Ayesha Ali, Mujtaba Khan, Fatima Anjum, and Dr. Sohaid Tauheed.
A week ago six major vaccine makers in the world announced a partnership to launch the process. However, Dow University has taken the lead in developing the intravenous immunoglobulin against the local coronavirus type.
Recent research has pointed to some genetic changes in the type of local coronavirus. In this case, an IVIG made against local viruses would be very effective and useful.
Dow University identified the genetic sequence that contributed to the efforts against the new coronavirus. They detected changes in the human gene that could provide resistance to the coronavirus and is now recovering by using intravenous immunoglobulin prepared by the antibodies of the patients’ blood.
Stay tuned for more updates!
