Preliminary progress in the identification of pneumonia in Wuhan,

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 9th. A few days ago, the reporterinterviewed the leader of the expert group for thepreliminary assessment of pathogenic test results and the academician ofthe Chinese Academy of Engineering on the progress of pathogen identificationof unexplained viral pneumonia in Wuhan Xu Jianguo. He said that the expertgroup believed that the pathogen of this unknown viral pneumonia case wasinitially identified as a new coronavirus.

Question 1: What progress has been made in the etiology identification ofunexplained viral pneumonia in Wuhan?

Xu Jianguo: At 2100 on January 7, 2020, a new coronavirus was detected in thelaboratory and the entire genome sequence of the virus was obtained. Nucleicacid detection Were detected 15 cases of a new coronavirus positiveresults. Virus isolated from patient samples positive and displays typicalcoronavirus morphology under the electron microscope.

Group believes that unknown pathogens of viral pneumonia cases initiallyidentified as a New coronavirus.

Question 2: How is pathogen identification organized?

Xu Jianguo: The tissue laboratory uses genome sequencing, nucleic acid detection,virus isolation and other methods to perform pathogenic detection on patientswith alveolar lavage fluid, throat swabs, blood and other samples.

Question 3: What procedure is needed to identify the pathogen?

Xu Jianguo: To identify the pathogens that cause epidemic diseases, usually thefollowing points must be met: (1) Suspected pathogens must be found in patientsand pathogenic nucleic acids can be detected in patients' clinical samples; (2)Patients can be successfully removed from patients Pathogens were isolated fromclinical samples; (3) the isolated pathogens could cause the same diseasesymptoms after infection with host animals. However, the patient'santibody titer in the serum during the recovery period increased by a factor offour, which helped identify the pathogen.

Evidence of the discovery of pathogenic nucleic acids, genomes and antibodiesfrom patients can be completed in a short period of time. Scientificstudies such as pathogen isolation and pathogenicity identification takeweeks. The development of specific drugs and vaccines against newpathogens can take years to complete.

Question 4: What is the next step?

Xu Jianguo: The expert group believes that the pathogen of this unknown viralpneumonia case has been initially identified as a new coronavirus. Thenext step is to conduct expert research and judgement in combination withetiology research, epidemiological investigation and clinical manifestations.

Question 5: What is a coronavirus?

Xu Jianguo: Coronavirus is a pathogen that mainly causes respiratory andintestinal diseases. The virus particles have many regularly arrangedprotrusions on the surface. The entire virus particle is like a king'scrown, hence the name "coronavirus". In addition to humans,coronaviruses can infect a variety of mammals such as pigs, cattle, cats, dogs,ferrets, camels, bats, mice, hedgehogs, and various birds. To date, sixhuman coronaviruses are known. Among them, the four coronaviruses are morecommon in the population, and they are less pathogenic and generally cause onlymild respiratory symptoms similar to common colds. Two other coronaviruses