Norwegian scientist creates dispute over the origin of the virus: - This virus does not have a natural origin
Sequences in the surface of the coronavirus indicate that it does not come from nature, but is probably developed by Chinese and American scientists. This is the opinion of Norwegian vaccine scientist Birger Sørensen. He is supported by the former spy chief of the British.
In a recent study published in the acclaimed Quarterly Review of Biophysics , Sørensen and the British professor Angus Dalgleish show that the coronavirus's so-called spike protein contains sequences that appear to be artificially inserted.
INSERTS: These are the sequences Sørensen thinks point to that the virus has no natural origin. The sequences were first described by Chinese scientists.
The research duo also points out that the virus has hardly mutated since it began to infect humans, suggesting that it was already fully adapted to humans. According to Sørensen, this is quite unusual for viruses that cross species barriers.
According to Sørensen, the virus has properties that differ greatly from SARS, and which have never been detected in nature.
When we technically describe the virus, we see that it has not come about in a natural development. It's done by Americans and Chinese, as part of what's called "gain of function" studies. It is done all over the world. You say you don't, but it happens all the time in advanced labs, according to Sørensen.
China and the United States have for many years collaborated on coronavirus research. In so-called gain of function tests, the virus's infectivity is artificially increased to make it easier to use in scientific experiments. Such manipulated viruses are called "chimera" .
British spy chief: - A lab accident
In recent days, Sørensen's findings have sparked fierce debate in the British press.
Sir Richard Dearlove, who was head of British Foreign Affairs MI6 from 1999 to 2004, tells the Daily Telegraph newspaper that the work of the research duo shows that the pandemic that paralyzes the world may have started in a laboratory.
I think this started as an accident. This raises the question of whether China will assume responsibility and whether China should pay compensation. I think this will make all countries think through their relationship with China and how they relate to China's leadership, Dearlove told the newspaper.
However, a Downing Street spokesman responds to Dearlove's assertion that there is currently no evidence that the corona virus is man-made.
For months, there have been claims that the virus may have leaked from the laboratory to the Virology Institute in Wuhan, one of China's most advanced virus laboratories.
The claims are completely rebuffed by the department's management, who claim the lab has never had viruses that are at all similar to SARS-CoV-2.
This is pure fabrication. Our institute received the first clinical trials with this virus on December 30, says head of department Wang Yanyi to the Chinese state television station CGTN .
P4 laboratory in Wuhan
Wuhan's virological institute is one of China's most advanced virus laboratories with the highest security rating, so-called P4.
PHOTO: HECTOR RETAMAL
China has still not identified the index patient, or the exact location where the outbreak started. The Chinese CDC has conducted surveys of the first infected fish market in Wuhan to indicate that the infection did not occur there .
However, Sørensen believes that Chinese scientists have first discussed the modified sequences in the virus surface. But in recent months he believes China has put a lid on all such studies.
The inserted sequences should never have been published. Had it been today, it would never have happened. It was a big mistake the Chinese made. The inserted sequences have a functionality that we describe. We explain why they are essential. But the Chinese pointed to them first, says Sørensen.
In the study, Sørensen thanks Chief Scientist John Fredrik Moxnes at the Defense Research Institute (FFI) for "invaluable help" in the work.
Moxnes says he has used his knowledge of computing power to work with Sørensen and his company Immunor in vaccine development.
Modern vaccine development is about computing power and biotechnology, in which it is important that Norway is involved, Moxnes told NRK.
Don't think vaccine candidates will work
Sørensen believes the current vaccine candidates will be at high risk of side effects because they target the so-called spike protein of the virus, where 80% of the genetic material is so-called human-like.
78.4% of the epitopes in the spike protein are identical to us as humans. And the consequence of that is that there is a 78.4% probability of having side effects in some form of vaccines that target this protein.
Vaccine trials against viruses such as Dengue fever and HIV have shown significant risk that the vaccines can actually lead to more serious illness, through a process called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE).
Sørensen is now working on developing his own vaccine candidate called Biovacc-19, which targets the 20% of the virus genetic material that is not shared by humans.
However, there has been little Norwegian interest in funding a vaccine trial in Norway.
We do not participate in the big game around being first to finish. What we have created is a vaccine candidate that is fundamentally different from everyone else. Anyway, the best vaccines will be funded and gain, says Sørensen.
The article has been updated with comment from John Fredrik Moxnes.
Google Translate:
Norwegian scientist creates dispute over the origin of the virus: - This virus does not have a natural origin
Sequences in the surface of the coronavirus indicate that it does not come from nature, but is probably developed by Chinese and American scientists. This is the opinion of Norwegian vaccine scientist Birger Sørensen. He is supported by the former spy chief of the British.
In a recent study published in the acclaimed Quarterly Review of Biophysics , Sørensen and the British professor Angus Dalgleish show that the coronavirus's so-called spike protein contains sequences that appear to be artificially inserted.
INSERTS: These are the sequences Sørensen thinks point to that the virus has no natural origin. The sequences were first described by Chinese scientists.
The research duo also points out that the virus has hardly mutated since it began to infect humans, suggesting that it was already fully adapted to humans. According to Sørensen, this is quite unusual for viruses that cross species barriers.
According to Sørensen, the virus has properties that differ greatly from SARS, and which have never been detected in nature.
China and the United States have for many years collaborated on coronavirus research. In so-called gain of function tests, the virus's infectivity is artificially increased to make it easier to use in scientific experiments. Such manipulated viruses are called "chimera" .
British spy chief: - A lab accident In recent days, Sørensen's findings have sparked fierce debate in the British press.
Sir Richard Dearlove, who was head of British Foreign Affairs MI6 from 1999 to 2004, tells the Daily Telegraph newspaper that the work of the research duo shows that the pandemic that paralyzes the world may have started in a laboratory.
I think this started as an accident. This raises the question of whether China will assume responsibility and whether China should pay compensation. I think this will make all countries think through their relationship with China and how they relate to China's leadership, Dearlove told the newspaper.
However, a Downing Street spokesman responds to Dearlove's assertion that there is currently no evidence that the corona virus is man-made.
For months, there have been claims that the virus may have leaked from the laboratory to the Virology Institute in Wuhan, one of China's most advanced virus laboratories.
The claims are completely rebuffed by the department's management, who claim the lab has never had viruses that are at all similar to SARS-CoV-2.
P4 laboratory in Wuhan Wuhan's virological institute is one of China's most advanced virus laboratories with the highest security rating, so-called P4. PHOTO: HECTOR RETAMAL China has still not identified the index patient, or the exact location where the outbreak started. The Chinese CDC has conducted surveys of the first infected fish market in Wuhan to indicate that the infection did not occur there .
However, Sørensen believes that Chinese scientists have first discussed the modified sequences in the virus surface. But in recent months he believes China has put a lid on all such studies.
In the study, Sørensen thanks Chief Scientist John Fredrik Moxnes at the Defense Research Institute (FFI) for "invaluable help" in the work.
Moxnes says he has used his knowledge of computing power to work with Sørensen and his company Immunor in vaccine development.
Don't think vaccine candidates will work Sørensen believes the current vaccine candidates will be at high risk of side effects because they target the so-called spike protein of the virus, where 80% of the genetic material is so-called human-like.
Vaccine trials against viruses such as Dengue fever and HIV have shown significant risk that the vaccines can actually lead to more serious illness, through a process called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE).
Sørensen is now working on developing his own vaccine candidate called Biovacc-19, which targets the 20% of the virus genetic material that is not shared by humans.
However, there has been little Norwegian interest in funding a vaccine trial in Norway.
The article has been updated with comment from John Fredrik Moxnes.