As global infections surpass the 2003 SARS outbreak, researchers at Australia's Doherty Institute have achieved a breakthrough by replicating the 2019-nCoV virus outside China.
According to ABC News on January 29, 2020, scientists at Melbourne's Doherty Institute isolated and cultured the virus from a patient sample. They will share this virus with labs worldwide through the World Health Organization (WHO). This marks the first replication beyond China, which had sequenced the genome and developed diagnostic tools but initially withheld samples. Now, international teams can accelerate their own testing and research.
"Getting the real virus means we now have the ability to validate and verify all of our tests, and compare reactions and sensitivities. This is fundamental for the diagnosis," said Julian Druce, a lead researcher at the Doherty Institute.
This replication enables the development of antibody tests, crucial for detecting asymptomatic cases. It also supports the urgent vaccine race underway. In the US, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are preparing for worst-case scenarios amid rising cases.
At the time, reports confirmed over 6,057 infections and 132 deaths worldwide. France reported a fourth case: an elderly Chinese tourist in critical condition. A leading Chinese respiratory expert predicted the epidemic could peak within a week or 10 days, with declining death rates thereafter.
See the ABC News report on this replication achievement.
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