Exclusive interview with Li Lanjuan: Can humans eventually defeat the new coronavirus? Technology is the key to fighting the epidemic

The epidemic is really affecting our lives. In the face of this sudden epidemic, scientific and technological workers across the country are running faster. In this battle against the epidemic, what progress has my country made in "using science and technology to fight the epidemic"? How can "science and technology" help fight the epidemic? "Science + Epidemic Season 2" exclusively interviewed Li Lanjuan, honorary chairman of the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and infectious disease expert. Today, we bring you the transcript of the interview, which wonderfully reveals how science and technology build a common defense line for mankind.

Exclusive Interview

Li Lanjuan, Honorary Chairman of Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Infectious Diseases Expert

Q: Qianjiang International Times Square conducted a total of four nucleic acid tests before being unsealed. From a scientific perspective, under what conditions can it be unsealed?

Li Lanjuan: The closed management of Qianjiang International Times Square on December 7 was an emergency control measure at the time. The purpose was to quickly prevent the spread of the epidemic. During the closed management period, no infected people were found after multiple rounds of nucleic acid tests on the quarantined personnel. At the same time, in order to better prevent and control the epidemic, the prevention and control measures were adjusted to home health observation on December 13.

This adjustment does not mean that the control measures for quarantined persons have been lifted, but rather that they have been adjusted. During the home health observation period, quarantined persons must still comply with relevant epidemic prevention and control measures and monitor their health status. Only after completing 14 days of home health monitoring can they be truly "unsealed".

Question: The control measure after lifting the lockdown is home health observation. What do people under home health observation need to do and what can’t they do?

Li Lanjuan: During the home health observation period, you must cooperate with nucleic acid sampling and health monitoring; do not go out unless necessary. If you need to go out due to special circumstances, you must report in advance for approval. You must wear a mask throughout the whole process when going out, and you are not allowed to take public transportation. You are not allowed to participate in gatherings, enter specific institutions such as schools, or enter indoor enclosed public places; during the home health observation period, you should live in a separate room with good ventilation and a separate bathroom; the subjects and their families must wear masks in a standardized manner, avoid close contact, and do a good job of room ventilation and daily disinfection; if you have symptoms such as fever, dry cough, fatigue, sore throat, diarrhea, etc., you should report to the community immediately.

Everyone is the first person responsible for their own health. Please actively cooperate with the government's various epidemic prevention and control measures, and do a good job in normalized epidemic prevention and control and personal protection.

Question: What progress has my country made in using science and technology to fight the epidemic?

Li Lanjuan: General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that "science and technology are the most powerful weapons for mankind to fight against diseases, and mankind's victory over major disasters and epidemics is inseparable from scientific development and technological innovation." The national science and technology front took quick action, and the science and technology, health and other departments formed a scientific research team to determine the main directions of viral etiology and epidemiology, clinical treatment and drugs, vaccine development, detection technology and products, and animal model construction, providing the "most powerful weapon" for the front line of prevention and control.

In terms of basic research, my country built a number of P3 laboratories after the SARS epidemic and trained a team of highly skilled biosafety technicians who are able to quickly isolate the virus and obtain the full genome sequence information of the virus as soon as the epidemic occurs, providing first-hand information for epidemic prevention and control and scientific research around the world.

With the help of new technologies such as cryo-electron microscopy, deep sequencing, and multi-omics technology, our scientists are able to grasp the virus mutation information in real time and fully understand the virus's structural information, laying the foundation for the development of drugs and vaccines.

In terms of big data, my country introduced a variety of monitoring technologies such as health codes and travel codes at the beginning of the epidemic. Big data has also played an important role in epidemic investigation, virus mutation monitoring, and epidemic prediction.

In terms of clinical diagnosis and treatment, our country issued multiple versions of diagnosis and treatment guidelines at the beginning of the epidemic; traditional Chinese medicine played an irreplaceable role;

In terms of critical care, we have created a "four anti-two balance" treatment strategy, using artificial liver blood purification, ECMO and other technologies to greatly reduce the mortality rate, and our experience has been promoted globally.

Virus detection technology has also made great progress, and detection sensitivity has been continuously improved, achieving the detection goals of low-cost, large-scale, rapid and accurate diagnosis.

In terms of vaccine research, my country quickly launched a number of vaccine research and development projects after isolating the virus strain, and completed the clinical evaluation of the vaccine at the fastest speed, promoting it across the country and many countries in the world, effectively protecting people's lives.

In terms of drug research, there has also been some progress in the development of anti-COVID-19 drugs and new uses of old drugs. We will have more and more "weapons" to use.

Q: Do you think humans can eventually defeat the new coronavirus?

Li Lanjuan: Fighting the epidemic knows no borders. I think that through the solidarity and cooperation of all sectors of the world and their continuous efforts, we are confident that we can control the epidemic. However, we must also correctly understand that the history of mankind is a history of coexistence and struggle with infectious diseases, and we must not slack off in the face of infectious diseases.

Question: In order to defeat the epidemic, what other areas need to be tackled to support scientific efforts to fight the epidemic?

Li Lanjuan: At present, the virus is constantly mutating, such as Delta in the early stage and Omicron now, which has further enhanced the transmissibility of the virus, posing severe challenges to the prevention and control of the epidemic.

Next, we can focus on the following aspects of basic and applied research on the prevention and control of COVID-19:

(1) Continue to monitor the genetic mutation and evolution of the new coronavirus to predict the impact of the virus's evolution on the spread of the epidemic and its infection and pathogenicity to humans.

(2) Increase efforts to plan research on new vaccines and study the effects of viral gene mutations on viral structure, biological characteristics, vaccine immunity, etc. Identify key antigenic targets that can effectively induce the production of broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies and important targets for antiviral drugs, and develop ideal vaccine seed strains and drugs that can respond to future epidemics.

(3) Further study the pathogenesis, occurrence and development patterns, and critical care technologies and products.

(4) Closely following the major needs of the country for the precise diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and the improvement of biosafety prevention and control capabilities, we will tackle technologies such as rapid diagnosis of pathogens of major infectious diseases, molecular typing, and identification of severe cases, achieve the goal of low biosafety protection requirements, multi-scenario applicability, and "sample-in, result-out" fully automatic rapid and accurate detection, and independently develop technical systems and products for the precise diagnosis of major infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

We hope that multidisciplinary collaboration will focus on key issues, break through technical barriers, and strive to achieve major results in vaccines, diagnostic reagents, drugs, critical care technologies, etc., to help fight the epidemic.

Science and technology are the driving force of human progress and also our magic weapon to overcome difficulties.

No one will forget this war without the smoke of gunpowder. At the critical moment, science is like a sharp sword, and scientists are brave warriors who wield the sword to repel the virus and face challenges in the future.

Science protects Zhejiang, and “Zheli” goes with us in popularizing science.