According to cell biologist Eelco van Anken and professor of cellular protein chemistry Ineke Braakman, the solution for combating COVID-19 is closer than we think. In This is the Day the two scientists talk about other perspectives on fighting the virus.
Braakman thinks that we have to find a weakened form of the virus in order to fight the virus. “Actually, a weakened virus is the best vaccine, because there are more live attenuated viruses. With a live attenuated virus, the immune response is most comparable to a real virus,” said the professor.
According to Van Anken, who works in Milan, we can learn from the approach to polio and measles: “It is the way of reasoning that was the basis of the polio vaccine, which we must now also use.”
Short-term
According to Van Anken, it is not dangerous to infect people with a weakened virus, in order to activate the immune system. “The virus will come up with its own vaccine, the test has already been done.”
Braakman thinks there is a good chance that this will succeed: “If we link all the information together, we can identify strains with which we can do this in the short term.” Braakman thinks that people are willing to help. “There are already many people who say: give me that virus, then I will help with the group immunity.”
‘Listen back: Corona vaccine is up for grabs’
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