@Cgtn issued an exclusive interview with Shi Zhengli, a researcher at the New Crown Virus Research Institute on May 25.Shi Zhengli is known as the Bat Woman. When the new crown epidemic struck, she was once the focus of conspiracy theory.What pathogen identification is done after contacting the new coronary virus sample in 2019 for the first time?Does the sequencing of the completion of the virus genome mean that the work comes to an end?What is the experience of studying coronary viruses in more than 10 years?Have you carried out international cooperation?Shi Zhengli, a researcher at the New Crown Virus Research Institute, answered one by one in the interview.

The following is the actual record of the interview:

Reporter: According to public reports, your team first came into contact with the new crown virus sample on December 30, 2019. What pathogen identification did you do with your team after this?

Shi Zhengli: After receiving the sample on the afternoon of December 30, 2019, it was called unknown cause of pneumonia. The sample of our team first carried out research on coronary virus.Because my laboratory is a team of coronary virus research for a long time, then we also conduct high -throughput sequencing of the sample and the separation of pathogens.

So in a short period of time, we first determined the infection of new type of coronary virus in these samples, and it also obtained its whole genome sequence, which proves that the pathogen of this pathogen and the existing virus have been different.So we named it a new coronary virus at the time.

Later, we and the other two units of our country were submitted to the World Health Organization for the whole gene sequence of the virus to the World Health Organization at the same time.At the same time, we also upload other sequences to a gene library called GISAID for global governments and scientists for pathogenic identification, as well as later vaccine and drug screening.

For you, the sequencing of the virus genome and global sharing mean that your work has come to an end?

Shi Zhengli: In fact, we are not. Our early work is only part of the pathogen identification.

We can know which type of virus is its genetic information and virus.In fact, as a pathogen identification work, there is also an important part is called animal infection test.This animal infection test is actually called the rule of Koch. Only through animal infection tests can finally determine that a pathogen is the main cause of a certain disease.

So we actually later, because we have some accumulation in the early days, we have an animal model, so we can use animal models to quickly conduct animal infection tests.

In fact, we completed an animal infection test of a genetic mouse on February 6, 2020.It proves the symptoms of some pneumonia that can simulate human infection.Then, on February 9th, we completed the Animal infection test of the Ganges monkey, so these two animal infection tests proved that the coronary virus we was separated is a pathogen that caused unknown causes of pneumonia.

Reporter: How do you evaluate the outbreak of the epidemic, this series of reactions you made with your team?

Shi Zhengli: I think our work is very beautiful this time. We can say that in a short period of time, there is no delay for a day. It is carried out simultaneously at the same time to complete the pathogenic separation, genome sequences, and animal infection tests.

Reporter: You also mentioned that you and your team have more than 10 years of work experience in studying coronary virus. Did he be contacted with these jobs in this protest?

Shi Zhengli: The connection is very close.In fact, we have been engaged in the study of bat coronal virus in 2004. After 15 years of accumulation, our team has accumulated a lot of materials, technology, methods, and research platforms, as well as our talent team.

Therefore, such a accumulation can make us deal with this epidemic, and in the shortest time, we can figure out the pathogen of unknown pneumonia.

Reporter: Can you explain in detail what accumulation allows you to respond so quickly in the process of fighting the epidemic?

Shi Zhengli: First of all, through these 15 years of research, we first figured out a problem, which is the problem of SARS traceability. Then through the study of the stages of SARS traceability, we found that there is a hereditary and diverse in nature.Called SARS -related viruses.Then, such a virus exists, we find that it is not just the virus of SARS, so is other viruses also have potential risks to us humans?

So we are to understand his step -by -step and know its genetic background. At the same time, we also conduct some molecular biology tests in the laboratory. Our evaluation is so many SARS -related viruses carried in the border of nature.Isn't it the possibility of potential cross -seeding infection?

Such a series of work actually provides us with a lot of research experience and technical solutions.

For example, our nucleic acid detection method and our antibody detection methods, including the technology of our virus separation, are exploring through long -term accumulation. Finally, we can achieve such a sample, and we can be very good.To complete this pathogenic identification work.

Reporter: Do you and your team have some international cooperation internationally?What role did this time play a role in the background of global protests?

Shi Zhengli: We just started to do such a cooperation in itself, and we were serving us to serve human health in the world, because we knew that infectious diseases or new infectious diseases had no national borders.

He needs global scientists, including the government, should be an open, transparent, and cooperative purpose.Let's prevent and control some new infectious diseases together.

So our initial purpose is to cooperate, and then in the process of cooperation, we can benefit and benefit from each other, and then we can understand these viruses that exist in nature as soon as possible or at the fastest speed.For the work, we also have some samples in the wild, as well as we do some early warning models in the wild, etc., which requires a scientist who requires different fields and received different training to complete.work.

Reporter: Some such cooperative projects have been suspended.You may also know that some of your partners have encountered such misfortunes.What do you think of these projects?

Shi Zhengli: I think it is to stir politics and science to politics science.This is a very regrettable thing. I think scientists all over the world do not want to see the current situation.

Because I have already said earlier, the research of infectious diseases must be open and transparent cooperation, and international cooperation will provide us with a good technical support for the new infectious diseases of all human beings, which will serve all humanity.

So we feel very sorry.

Reporter: So what are the next steps for your next work?

Shi Zhengli: My next job will basically continue the previous work, such as the exploration of the unknown pathogenic.We know that there are many types of bats in nature, and there are many types of other wild animals. The unknown virus we now find is actually just the tip of the iceberg. If we want to protect us a lot, the next new hair infectious disease will not happen.For the big explosion, we must go in advance to understand these unknown viruses carried by wild animals in nature, warn in advance, and can reserve some drugs and actual actual conditions for testing, prevention or treatment, and for this prevention and control in the future.

These viruses exist in nature. You admit that they do not admit that they all exist. If we do not do research, there will be the next outbreak, then we do not know them.