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THE Thessaloniki is still far from flattening the epidemiological curve, the AUTh measurements with the ΕΥΑΘ by the concentration of its genome SARS-CoV-2 στα effluent of the urban complex.
Based on analysis of samples from last week, the concentration of the virus genome in Thessaloniki sewage continues to grow rapidly, in contrast to the decline in the number of cases announced in recent days.
“At this stage of the pandemic, the findings do not surprise us. The trend continues to be upward and reflects the widespread spread of the virus in the community. When the measures taken begin to bear fruit, the increase will stop exponentially in the first phase, before the trend stabilizes and reverses to a downtrend. We expect the measures of the next two weeks to start showing this course “, declared to APE-MPE the rector of AUTh and coordinator of the research team, prof. Nikos Papaioannou.
We must all realize that by reverently observing personal protection and social distancing measures, we help the public health system to cope with the best care for the sick while demonstrating that we want to return to our lives soon. It is a personal responsibility of each one of us and an obligation towards society as a whole, the strict compliance with the measures that have been suggested by the experts “, said the rector of AUTh.
Asked about the prospect of leveling the epidemiological curve in relation to the cases that have been announced in recent days for Thessaloniki, the professor from the Department of Chemistry and member of the AUTh research team, Theodoros Karapantsios, answered: “Measurements in wastewater show that we are far from flattening the epidemiological curve. “Perhaps the difference with the decrease in reported cases is due to the fact that the viral load of symptoms has increased, or the fact that there are now a large number of asymptomatic cases, or a combination of these two cases.”.
“Companies monitor staff for symptoms by sending wastewater samples to AUTh”
the last week, the AUTh team detected a viral load in the wastewater of commercial companies with facilities in the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki.
“The AUTh team is watching wastewater from these companies for several weeks. “It is important that in one case a viral load was detected in the sewer of a company, to which no case had been reported and after detection in the sewer an asymptomatic worker was identified,” said Mr. Karapantsios.
The methodology applied by the AUTh team has the ability to determine with great precision the number genomic copies of SARS-CoV-2 even in very small concentrations in city wastewater samples.
“This is achieved by verifying the same sample with many repetitions and evaluating with analytical procedures the performance in each stage of the laboratory test, such as for example during the compaction of the sample, the isolation of the genetic material of the virus but also the assurance of the removal of chemical substances that unfortunately are located in the wastewater and create serious problems in carrying out the molecular test that is applied ”, declared in ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ the if. Professor of Molecular Microbiology at the Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, AUTh, Chrysostomos Dovas.
“Molecular diagnostic tests carried out entirely in Greece”
Regarding the molecular analysis methodology followed by the AUTh team, Mr. Dovas explained: “We have integrated innovations at all stages, such as. in the methodology of isolation of viral genomic RNA, but also in terms of molecular analysis. The molecular test has a very high analytical sensitivity for detecting viruses and was recently developed as part of a research project of the AUTh Clinics Diagnostic Laboratory with the Greek company EnzyQuest, which specializes in the production of enzymes used in tests of molecular diagnostics.
“At the moment we are happy to use original kits that have been produced entirely in Greece for our analyzes and therefore we have the opportunity in the last two months to immediately perform the large amount of molecular tests required.” clarified yes. professor.
Your valuation methodology coronavirus in municipal waste, developed by the AUTh team, streamlines the measurements of the virus genome concentration based on 24 environmental factors, which can alter the measurement results. The research involves professors from 11 different laboratories from the Departments of Medicine, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Biology, Civil Engineering, Space Engineering and Development of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
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