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By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) The researchers at Karachi’s Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), on April 13, claimed having achieved a significant breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19. They, according to a DUHS press release, have succeeded in preparing intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with plasma obtained from cured patients of coronavirus. “Through the IVIG the coronavirus patients can be treated.”  The researchers, led by Dr Shaukat Ali, Principal, Dow College of Biotechnology, were of the view that their method was considerably different from plasma therapy, which is allowed only in emergencies due to its side effects. “Treating a coronavirus patient with IVIG is safe and highly effective, with small risk.”  They further remarked that the treatment by hyper immunoglobulin (H-IVIG) is already approved by the US Federal agency, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for normal conditions.  The press release said that the research team ...

By Mukhtar Alam ( Pakistan News & Features Services) The researchers at the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) have explored natural mutations which, according to them, can withstand the novel coronavirus in human genes. The experts associated with the DUHS’ Dow College of Biotechnology (DCB) reckoned that the recent research will help to determine/allocate the medical resources for the global outbreak of the coronavirus. “The coronavirus, due to the identified mutations in the human gene can be ineffective in the human body,” a group of doctors working under the supervision of Dr Mushtaq Hussain, DCB Vice-Principal, stated.  According to the DUHS press release, Dr Mushtaq Hussain and his team, including Dr Nusrat Jabeen, Fozia Raza, Sanya Shabbir, Ayesha Ashraf Baig, Anusha Amanullah and Basma Aziz,, has discovered mutations in the ACE2 gene/protein of thousands of humans via genomic data mining.  It was disclosed that this research has recently been published in th...

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services)  Following the recent release of details of a ‘half-done’ study related to whole genome sequencing of locally spread coronavirus by a research centre at the University of Karachi (KU), the scientists at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) on April 1 declared that virus in question collected from a boy by them for research purposes had come from Saudi Arabia. “The virus transmitted to the boy locally has come from Saudi Arabia and infected 15 patients of same family, which indicates that the local spread of this virus is very fast,” a DUHS press release quoted the medical experts of the University and added that team of experts were continuing analyzing the Coronavirus sequence and more steps were yet to be taken. Earlier, the KU researchers had claimed in a press release that the genome sequencing of Coronavirus collected from a local patient having a travel history was complete.  “The virus examined at Jamil-ur-Rahm...

By Mukhtar Alam (Pakistan News & Features Services) The release of details of a ‘half-done’ study by a group of scientists at the University of Karachi, claiming that their analysis of the whole genome sequence of coronavirus will be helpful in decision making at national level for the use of future therapeutic options and vaccinations, has generated concerns among experts.  A press release of the university quoted Prof M Iqbal Choudhary, Director of Director of International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), saying this was the first indigenously sequenced whole genome of Coronavirus from Pakistan.  “Analysis of the sequence revealed nine mutations in the different regions of genome, as compared to the sequence reported from Wuhan, China,” where the virus originated three months back. “Mutation is change which appears in the DNA of all organisms and viruses, Dr Choudhary said, adding that comparison with genomes from other parts of the world revealed th...