CCMB: Only centre pooling COVID-19 samples, To Culture virus in human lung cell

In India, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad is the only centre to pool samples of COVID-19 in the country. The CCMB has now collaborated with Bengaluru based private company to take up a research activity.

Highlights

• The collaboration is to grow COVID-19 virus in human cell lines. 
• This will enable in-vitro tests of vaccines and potential drugs against the virus. 
• In order to achieve this the collaboration is to use human lung epithelial cell culture system that was developed by the private company.
• The entire research will help the scientists understand pathological and molecular characteristics of the virus.

About the research

• The virus is to be cultured outside the host (human). 
• During the culture, the collaboration will test for the efficacy of drugs and vaccines against the virus. 
• So far, CCMB has been growing the virus on the cells that were collected from African Greek Monkey.
• The collaboration will help to get a clearer picture about the virus.

Why in Human Lung Cell?

• The Virus is said to affect the respiratory system of human body very badly. 
• Hence, the lung cells of all the cells are easily attacked by the virus. 
• Hence, lung cells have been chosen for the study.

Pooling

• The CCMB is the only centre in India where the samples of COVID-19 are pooled. 
• Pooling of samples is collecting the virus samples. 
• So far 9 mutations of COVID-19 have been found. 
• All such samples have been collected and stored at the centre.