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They managed to isolate the SARS-Cov-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, from clinical specimens of confirmed Chilean patients.
NACIONAL.– Researchers from the Virology and Molecular Genetics Division of the Chilean Public Health Institute (ISP) were able to isolate the SARS-Cov-2 virus at biosafety lab level 3 (BSL-3).
This was obtained by in vitro cultivation of various SARS-Cov-2 viral strains from clinical samples of confirmed Chilean patients. This important progress comes only four weeks after the first positive case has been identified in the country and will allow for biomedical research to characterize the viral variants circulating in Chile.
Currently, the complete genome of isolated Chilean viral strains is sequenced to determine their genotypic characteristics. In addition, in vitro studies on cell cultures will begin to assess the phenotypic behavior of the isolated viruses. These studies will allow for clinical and epidemiological monitoring of viral variants circulating in the country.
The venue for these analyzes is a laboratory designed to work with infectious agents assigned to risk group 3, on a scale of 1 to 4 from minimum to maximum biological risk. These infectious agents are usually easily transmitted, especially via aerosols, and can cause serious or fatal illnesses.
These ISP studies are needed to deepen knowledge of the SARS-Cov-2 virus and the pathogenesis of Covid-19 disease.
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