Scientists from the Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences have succeeded in isolating the first Slovak strains of the new coronavirus in cell cultures. After successful genetic characterization, the Slovak strains of SARS-CoV-2 will be sent to the European Virus Archive, making them available to the international scientific community for further research.
According to Boris Klempa, head of the Virus Ecology department at the Biomedical Research Centre, their success stems mainly from the exemplary cooperation between the Slovak public and academic institutions, and the results of this cooperation will contribute to wider international research. The virologists worked closely together with the Slovak Public Health Authority. The National Reference Center for Influenza provided clinical samples of the first Slovak patients. Currently the researchers are working on identifying the complete genome of the virus.
Earlier this week in an exclusive interview for Radio Slovakia International, Boris Klempa underlined the importance of following the strict measures that are in place.
You can listen to the full interview here: https://www.rtvs.sk/radio/archiv/1487/1300245
