Coronavirus Infections of Animals and Humans: Ideological Use in Media vs Evidence-Based Scientific Approach

mation in the SARS-CoV-2 matter, we initiated pilot studies to clone in silico genes of two viral proteins S (spike) and N (nucleocapsid) into expressing plasmid vectors for subsequent transformation of bacterial and yeast cells to obtain recombinant antigens. GeneBank was used to find complete sequences of genes encoding the target proteins of the Wuhan-19 strain. Primer systems have been developed for the development and cloning of target fragments of the viral genome, as well as internal primers for screening recombinant clones. In the future, on the basis of these data, candidate drugs for im-munisation against SARS-CoV-2 will be constructed and tested on laboratory animals. The main task of the scientific approach, i.e. approach based on regarding the novel coronavirus pathogen in an unbiased and ideology-free way, may be approached start-ing with the comparison of all information on other animal and human coronaviruses that scientific community, veterinaries and clinicians possess so far, with the new data on SARS-CoV-2 that are received constantly since the beginning of 2020. Media ideology of SARS-CoV-2-related fear causes much threat to impartial and neutral studies and should be avoided in medical practice and scientific research. er, DVM, leading of laboratory for porcine diseases in the National Scientific Centre Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Kharkiv, Ukraine). Areas of expertize are veterinary microbiology, virology and epidemiology. Author and co-author of vaccines technology from local microbial strains’ antigens, as well as convalescents sera, 55 papers and 18 patents dedicated to porcine infectious diseases.


R RE EF FE ER RE EN NC CE ES S
This deduction can be never heard in TV news on prime world TV channels, often government-sponsored. The SARS-CoV-2-related "news"-like stories for general population are ideologically prepared, checked and double-checked. They contain several permanent narratives about the novel virus with key phrases aimed at influencing people's fears and raising their anxiety. Some of key phrases are "second wave," "excessive mortality," "Wuhan," "heaps of coffins," "protective costumes," "masks and gloves," "lockdowns." SARS-CoV-2 is ideologically depicted as the worst "plague" causing enormous number of victims. Moreover, ideologically the novel virus is described as "unknown," "mysterious," "unseen heretofore." Such phrases are common for TV news, talk shows, Internet communication. But even more importantly, they also penetrate academic discourse. The virus may be more or less dangerous, and all statements like this need be proven by medical evidence and statistical approach. One may observe that considerable amount of scientific publications in academic journals become ideologically tinted without necessary evidence. Media ideology of permanent fear before SARS-CoV-2 is universal for all parts of the world. However, it must not influence scientific study of the virus.
As an attempt of unprejudiced and ideology-free use of coronavirus-related infor- mation in the SARS-CoV-2 matter, we initiated pilot studies to clone in silico genes of two viral proteins S (spike) and N (nucleocapsid) into expressing plasmid vectors for subsequent transformation of bacterial and yeast cells to obtain recombinant antigens.
GeneBank was used to find complete sequences of genes encoding the target proteins of the Wuhan-19 strain. Primer systems have been developed for the development and cloning of target fragments of the viral genome, as well as internal primers for screening recombinant clones. In the future, on the basis of these data, candidate drugs for immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 will be constructed and tested on laboratory animals. The main task of the scientific approach, i.e. approach based on regarding the novel coronavirus pathogen in an unbiased and ideology-free way, may be approached starting with the comparison of all information on other animal and human coronaviruses that scientific community, veterinaries and clinicians possess so far, with the new data on SARS-CoV-2 that are received constantly since the beginning of 2020. Media ideology of SARS-CoV-2-related fear causes much threat to impartial and neutral studies and should be avoided in medical practice and scientific research.

作者 / Authors
Reverend Father Anton Pavlovich Gerilovych, PhD, Dr habil (Veterinary), Professor, is an Ukrainian Orthodox priest, the Deputy Director for Scientific Research of Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Head of the Department of Molecular Epizootology, and Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. Professor Fr Antony is the author and co-author of eleven diagnosticums, fifteen methodical recommendations, seventeen patents of Ukraine, more than one hundred articles on molecular diagnostics, epizootology and biotechnology, one mono-graph and scientific-methodical manual. Fr Gerilovych is the youngest corresponding members in Ukraine. As well he is one of the most influential Ukrainian theologians.
Borys T. Stegniy is ScDr (vet.), Professor, NAAS Academician, head of laboratory for avian viral diseases and director in the National Scientific Centre Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Kharkiv, Ukraine). National Vol. 3 (2020) Vasiliy L. Arefiev is PhD (vet.), DVM, head of laboratory for Microbial Genetics in the National Scientific Centre Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Kharkiv, Ukraine). Areas of expertize are veterinary microbiology, and microbial genetics, and resistance of microorganisms. Author and co-author of 18 papers dedicated to molecular diagnostics of animal infectious diseases and one monograph.
Oksana B. Zlenko, Junior researcher of laboratory for Microbial Genetics in the National Scientific Centre Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Kharkiv, Ukraine). Diagnostics of zoonotic diseases, recombinant biotechnologies, biosafety and biosecurity. Co-author of 7 articles and 3 utility patents.