culturing coronavirus in lung epithelial
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Scientists to culture novel coronavirus in human lung epithelial cell

CCMB – Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad collaborates with Bengaluru-based firm, Eyestem Research Private Limited, to carry out research activities on COVID-19 infection. With this research study collaboration, an attempt will be made to culture novel coronavirus in human cell lines, which will allow in vitro screening of prospective medications as well as vaccines against this deadly virus.

CCMB researchers said the team will certainly use Eyestem’s human lung epithelial cell culture system provided as part of its Anti-COVID Screening (ACS) platform to comprehend the molecular as well as pathological attributes of the novel coronavirus, with a sight of establishing a rational basis for examining prospective medications in vitro.

Dr. Rakesh Mishra, Director, CCMB said, “The challenge which has to be overcome is the culturing of the virus outside the human host. The firm’s cell culture system shares the ACE2 receptor and various other genes that are vital determinants of viral entrance and replication. The CCMB team is led by Dr. Krishnan Harshan and we believe that utilizing this platform we can culture the virus predictably and thereby open up the possibility for the drug testing and vaccine

growth approaches”.

CCMB is a constituent lab of the CSIR recognized for its advanced research work on cellular and molecular biology. The Eyestem Research Private Limited is a start-up of cell therapy incubated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), Bengaluru, Karnataka. C-CAMP is an initiative of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.

Dr. Jogin Desai, Chief Executive Officer, Eyestem, said, CCMB will certainly be able to take advantage of its platform and also bring breakthrough in COVID-19 research that will help the country. “The Anti-COVID Screening platform has been developed by Dr. Rajarshi Pal and his group and is a testament to our depth and knowledge in disease modeling and cell therapy”.

Dr. Desai said, “The firm is functioning to democratize accessibility to cell therapy in addition to disease modeling platforms and bring their benefit to a lot of people”.

Author: Sruthi S