![As early as this month, Oxford University in the UK is starting a'Human Challenge' experiment in which healthy adults who have been infected with Corona 19 are artificially exposed to the Corona 19 virus. [로이터=연합뉴스]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202104/20/05f3f230-d537-41ef-b85d-fe22ebbb140a.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
As early as this month, Oxford University in the UK is starting a’Human Challenge’ experiment in which healthy adults who have been infected with Corona 19 are artificially exposed to the Corona 19 virus. [로이터=연합뉴스]
The University of Oxford, UK, begins an experiment with the’Human Challenge’, which artificially sprays the corona 19 virus on adults who have been infected and recovered from Corona 19. This is to obtain information on re-infection, such as the level of the immune response and the duration of the antibody to prevent re-infection.
Oxford University Investigates Corona 19 Reinfection
Increase the amount of virus until reinfection
Expected to pay 7.8 million won to test subjects
On the 19th (local time), Oxford University said, “The Corona 19 pandemic continues for about a year, but little is known about what will happen when corona 19 re-infection.” He said he would proceed with the research. The experiment has been approved by the UK health authorities for research ethics and will be conducted in two phases as early as this month and this summer.
“The key to this study is to find out what types of immune responses prevent reinfection,” said Helen McShane, professor of pediatric vaccination at Oxford University, who leads the study, according to The Telegraph et al.
Professor McShane said, “We investigate the basic immune response of healthy experimental participants recovering from Corona 19, and observe how all the factors that cause the immune response, including antibodies and T cells, work when the participant is exposed to the virus, and We will look at it together.”
“Human Challenges, unlike natural infections in everyday life, are under strict control, so we can investigate things that other studies cannot reveal. Through this study, we will be able to make better vaccines and treatments. “You can understand how long the immune response lasts.”
According to a statement from Oxford University, Step 1 is conducted for up to 64 healthy adults aged 18 to 30 who have been infected with Corona 19. In order to participate in the study, you must have the antibody while fully recovering from COVID-19.
The research team divides the subjects into groups of 3 to 8 people and sprays at least the corona 19 virus into their noses. After that, the amount of virus sprayed is gradually increased until about 50% of the test subjects have mild or asymptomatic infection.
Subjects are quarantined for at least 17 days in a hospital with a special laboratory and undergo various tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) of the lungs.
In the second-stage test conducted on new participants, the amount of virus determined in the first step is sprayed into the subject’s nose. In this step, we study closely the immune response before and after exposure to the virus and the symptoms of reinfected subjects.
The research team administers antibody therapy to subjects who have confirmed re-infection or show symptoms in steps 1 and 2. After that, the possibility of transmission has completely disappeared and containment is removed. Even after containment, all subjects must undergo at least 8 follow-up tests for about 1 year. Participants receive an entry fee of £5,000 (approximately 77 million won).
Human Challenge, which deliberately injects a virus under strict control, has been used in the past for research on diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. Corona 19 is mainly being conducted in the UK, and last month, Imperial College London launched a Human Challenge to find out the minimum amount of virus that causes corona 19 infection.
Reporter Seok Kyung-min [email protected]
