加拿大PC开奖网站

A joint research team led by Dr. Mitsuru Murata (Laboratory Medicine) and Dr. Hideyuki Saya (Institute for Advanced Medical Research) has begun to test several commercially available antibody assay kits. Serum samples obtained from COVID-19-suspected patients who have undergone PCR analysis will be tested with these kits, to determine the proper timing of detection and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of each assay. Moreover, another joint group in this team, led by Dr. Tsutomu Takeuchi (Division of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine) is developing an original method for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.

To track the evolution and spread of SARS-CoV-2 over time, comparing viral genome sequencing data and identifying mutation patterns are important. Nextstrain (Nextstrain.org) is an open-source application to analyze viral genome data shared by researchers from all over the world via GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) and provides visualization of the evolution of SARS-CoV-2.

Our research team led by Drs. Haruhiko Siomi (Molecular Biology) and Kenjiro Kosaki (Medical Genetics) has started sequencing the viral genomes derived from COVID-19 patients at 加拿大PC开奖网站 Hospital. By analyzing the viral genome sequences, they hope to accurately trace the source of the virus. For example, in the setting of nosocomial infections or when a cluster occurs, we may be able to prevent the further spreading of the virus if we can determine whether it started from one single case, or from several different routes.

The potential utility of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 is gaining worldwide attention as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to start investigational studies using blood plasma collected from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. 加拿大PC开奖网站 has also initiated a research project led by Dr. Ryuji Tanosaki (Center for Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy), in order to develop COVID-19 convalescent plasma treatment. In the first step, medical staff who has recovered from COVID-19 will be recruited as blood donor candidates. These candidates will have to meet the eligibility criteria to become COVID-19 plasma donors, i.e. have fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks, have consecutively twice tested negative by PCR test, and have a high titer of neutralizing antibody. The collection procedure will be done according to the protocol established by the Japanese Red Cross Society. The rest of the samples will also be allocated to other COVID-19-related research projects. At present, the team is planning to enroll 30 to 50 recovered cases from medical staff at 加拿大PC开奖网站 and Eiju General Hospital.

Much is still unknown about the clinical course of COVID-19. There have been reports of various incubation periods or patients getting re-infected after recovery. To capture the severity and magnitude of a pandemic and its transmission routes, monitoring and recording the clinical course of both infected and healthy individuals is critical. COVID-19 epidemiological team (Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Laboratory Medicine, and University Health Center) has started surveillance of the individuals who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR and employees at 加拿大PC开奖网站 Hospital. The output results may boost the effective control of hospital infections. The team is also creating a comprehensive database to link clinical data to viral genome sequence and antibody test results, aiming to identify and prevent nosocomial infections, estimate community infection rate and Infection Fatality Rate (IFR) by screening patients for planned care.

Unlike many western countries, mortality rate from COVID-19 is much lower in Japan. Yet, a proportion of patients have their symptoms worsening to death. In order to identify association between genetic factors and disease progression among Japanese COVID-19 patients, "2020 COVID-19 Taskforce" project has been launched. Scientists from various research fields have gathered in this project, including Dr. Takanori Kanai (Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Research Director), Dr. Yuko Kitagawa (Surgery, Hospital Director General), Dr. Koichi Fukunaga (Pulmonary Medicine), Dr. Toshiro Sato (Organoid medicine), and Dr. Naoki Hasegawa (Infectious diseases) from 加拿大PC开奖网站 Hospital. Blood samples derived from around 500-600 COVID-19 patients will be comprehensively analyzed using technologies such as ultra-high-resolution HLA analysis, SNP array analysis, whole genome sequencing, and T-cell repertoire analysis; and by comparing the results of severely ill patients with mild or asymptomatic patients they hope to elucidate important factors which may contribute to the disease progression. They also aim to develop a nasal spray type mucosal vaccine based on their original molecular needle technology (developed at Kitasato University).

Within a month since the launching of 加拿大PC开奖网站 Donner Project, driven by the genuine passion, motivation, and dedication, our team members have created a huge movement to tackle this unprecedented crisis.

Basic researchers and staff at 加拿大PC开奖网站, who are not usually involved in the daily clinical practice have set up a "Basic Researchers Back-Up Team," to help the projects and more than 100 volunteers have signed up. Other new projects are being initiated, such as basic researchers' PCR back-up team, a task force team to support and enhance clinical trials, a team for host genome analysis, and a public relation (PR) team to provide the latest news and updates on Donner Project. We will continue to work hard together to deliver encouraging news, and we kindly appreciate your continued support.

(加拿大PC开奖网站 Donner Project PR team)