Researchers from the Peking University Research Center for Chemical Technology and Clinical Medicine in China have reported a new coronavirus variant named GX_P2V that reportedly exhibits high lethality. This claim has circulated through various outlets and has sparked concern within the scientific community. [citation]
The reported lineage is said to have descended from GX/2017, a virus that appeared in pangolins in Malaysia years before the COVID-19 outbreak. The connection between animal viruses and human infections is a focal point for ongoing bioscience investigations, highlighting how cross-species transmission can influence public health risk assessments. [citation]
In a study described as involving mice engineered to express a human gene facilitating viral entry, the researchers purportedly observed rapid disease progression, with all tested animals dying within roughly a week after infection. The findings are presented as showing severe impacts on multiple organ systems, including the lungs, airway passages, skeletal structures, eyes, and brain, with the virus described as spreading in a distinctive manner through the body. [citation]
Reaction from the wider scientific community has been mixed, with some experts voicing strong concerns. An infectious diseases professor from University College London labeled the study as troubling and lacking clear scientific value, while another scientist echoed similar reservations. [citation]
Questions have also been raised about the safety and oversight of the laboratory where the work was conducted. Critics note that similar lines of inquiry conducted in other locations during preceding years may have contributed to broader public health risks, prompting calls for rigorous biosafety standards and independent verification. [citation]
In a separate note, there have been reports from other regions about efforts to adapt vaccines for COVID-19, including work described as edible vaccines in different contexts. These discussions underscore the ongoing search for innovative strategies to address viral threats while reinforcing the need for robust ethical and safety frameworks in biomedical research. [citation]”