This video is not about Corona Virus
Well, to be honest, we will talk about this pandemic as well
Well, to be honest, we will talk about this pandemic as well
Because, the situation demands it these days
But, mostly we will discuss the future of this pandemic
And more specifically, we will talk about a new technology, which will help us in fighting
And more specifically, we will talk about a new technology, which will help us in fighting
not just this pandemic, but future pandemics as well
I assure you that this video is not about the corona virus
I assure you that this video is not about the corona virus 
and I wouldn't lie, now would I
and I wouldn't lie, now would I, right
I highly recommend that you watch this video till the end
I think, that this will be very interesting
Hello, hello, assalam o alaikum
How are you?
First of all, if you haven't watched our coverage on corona virus and COVID 19
First of all, if you haven't watched our coverage on corona virus and COVID  19
Then I recommend that you watch that first
Because we have talked about a lot things in that video
That we will build on now
Link in the card and in the description
Anyway, let's start by asking that how are we going to get out of this pandemic
And move towards normalization
 
Take for example, medical treatment for COVID 19
Is it possible?
Well, one person might think so
hydroxychloroquine
Now this is a common malaria drug
And it's shown very encouraging
Very very encouraging early results
That was the President of United States
Donald Trump
Recommending, hydroxychloroquine, as a possible treatment for COVID 19
 
Hydroxychloroquine is the medicine that is used to treat malaria
Hydroxychloroquine is the medicine that is used to treat malaria
Some doctors have also recommended using Hydroxychloroquine with Zinc
Some doctors have also recommended using Hydroxychloroquine with Zinc
So, does it work?
No
Almost all experts agree that there is no evidence that
Almost all experts agree that there is no evidence that
Hydroxychloroquine helps in treatment of COVID 19
All the reports that have come forth, are anecdotal
All the reports that have come forth, are anecdotal
In fact, non recommended usage of hydroxychloroquine, can cause severe side effects
In fact, non recommended usage of hydroxychloroquine, can cause severe side effects
Which include cardiac arrest and even death
There are also many reports of medical treatment of COVID 19 in Pakistan's Media
There are also many reports of medical treatment of COVID 19 in Pakistan's Media
But guys, remember,
Therapeutic treatment is the last line of defense in a Pandemic
Even if a treatment plan is established
which is very hard
It is still not a solution
Yes, a lot of lives will be saved
and yes, it is better than nothing
But, do consider that,
1. Antivirals are not like antibiotics, we cannot kill viruses
1. Antivirals are not like antibiotics, we cannot kill viruses
2. After any treatment of viral disease, there is a significant chance of relapse
2. After any treatment of viral disease, there is a significant chance of relapse
2. After any treatment of viral disease, there is a significant chance of relapse
3. Antivirals are expensive, and not everyone can afford them
3. Antivirals are expensive, and not everyone can afford them
3. Antivirals are expensive, and not everyone can afford them
On top of that
The real problem, which is the unchecked spread of disease in the population
Is not being solved
People will keep getting infected,
and hospitals will remain overburdened, that wouldn't go away
Our first priority is to control the spread of disease in a pandemic
And for that social distancing is still the best solution
 
Second, let's talk about vaccination
This is the ideal solution
With vaccination people develop immunity against infections
People can get rid of the infection in body quickly after getting infected
People can get rid of the infection in body quickly after getting infected
And if, significant population gets vaccinated,
we can control the spread of disease
Good news is that there has been a lot of success in the development of vaccine
Good news is that there has been a lot of success in the development of vaccine
Most notably in a joint effort between US National Institute of Health, and Oxford University
Most notably in a joint effort between US National Institute of Health, and Oxford University
Where they have successfully tested a possible vaccine in Monkeys
Where they have successfully tested a possible vaccine in Monkeys
I believe we are very close in development of an effective vaccine
But, this will still take months to be available for use of the wider public
But, this will still take months to be available for use of the wider public
Most encouraging estimates predict that by September
But, most probably it will take at least a year
That's not very promising
I said that this video is not about corona virus,
But, until now that's exactly what I have been talking about
Hmmm, let's change pace
Let's talk about the third promising route
that will enable us to get out of this Pandemic
Gene-editing, more specifically, CRISPR
That's what today's story is about
Recently FDA has approved a new test for COVID-19
 
That will use gene-editing technology CRISPR to provide test results within an hour
That will use gene-editing technology CRISPR to provide test results within an hour
In contrast, the current PCR based diagnostic test takes at best  seven hours to provide a result
In contrast, the current PCR based diagnostic test takes at best  seven hours to provide a result
If you find this sentence to be gibberish, hang on, let me explain
If you find this sentence to be gibberish, hang on, let me explain
First of all, what is CRISPR and gene-editing
Secondly, why have we suddenly started talking about tests?
Weren't we just talking about infection control
So, let's try to answer these questions
Gene-editing is basically changing the DNA of living organisms
Guys, I will probably never be able to adequately explain how amazing this technology is
But, let me try
Take for example, Malaria
Because Malaria spreads through mosquitoes
We have successfully edited the DNA of mosquitoes
So that they cannot spread Malaria
There are schematics on how to spread these new mosquitoes in the population
There are schematics on how to spread these new mosquitoes in the population
There are schematics on how to spread these new mosquitoes in the population
So that, mosquitoes that spread malaria can be eliminated
We can take it further,
We can end all diseases that are spread by Mosquitoes, like Malaria, Dengue, Zika
and so many others
And this is just one possible application of Gene-editing
Once again this is oversimplification
And we need a dedicated video to explore this topic fully
But for now, I want to emphasize that we can obtain unbelievable results through gene-editing
But for now, I want to emphasize that we can obtain unbelievable results through gene-editing
For example, we can program our immune system to
better identify and kill cancer cells
And we can end cancer, once and for all
We can remove failed organs
and grow new organs within the body
We can make ourselves immune to obesity
We can improve our metabolism and end obesity forever
All of this is within the realm of possibilities
All of this is within the realm of possibilities
But gene-editing is very expensive
Actually it used to be
It is time consuming
Sorry.... it used to be
It is also very inaccurate
Again... it used to be
And that's where CRISPR comes in
Remember, I talked about the biggest war in history?
I talked about a war between viruses and bacteria
And I said
Bacteria on the other hand have developed strong immunity response to virus
And have mutated to basically kill them on sight
And this is the biggest war in the history
The way bacteria do this is also how we fight infections
The biggest hurdle for immune system to fight germs is identification
The biggest hurdle for immune system to fight germs is identification
Think about it
Our white blood cells don't have eyes
So, how can they differentiate between a friendly cell
and a germ
Like I said, I will probably make a video on immune system
so stay tuned
And for now, let's simplify it
Every infection results in development of antibodies in your system
And it is these antibodies that help the immune system identify germs
And it is these antibodies that help the immune system identify germs
Fun fact, most common diagnostic blood tests are antibody test
that help doctors identify the infection
Anyway, when virus attack bacteria
then most of the time they kill the bacteria
But, when a bacteria survives, it stores a part of the virus' RNA in it's DNA
But, when a bacteria survives, it stores a part of the virus' RNA in it's DNA
And this archive of storage is called CRISPR
Then, if a similar virus attacks again, bacteria can quickly identify it
And makes a protein called CAS 9
And makes a protein called CAS 9
This protein scans the bacteria's DNA
and it detects the virus' injected code within it, and destroys it
This is how the bacteria kills the virus
This is how the bacteria kills the virus
This process is very similar to computer based antiviruses
CAS 9 is very precise
It is a natural gene-editor
Which changes exactly the thing it is programmed to
and now we can harness this amazing power
and now we can harness this amazing power
Even you can do it
You can buy a CRISPR kit online
And it is not that expensive
Around US$ 170 for a basic kit
I have shared a link in the description if you want to check it out
So, how does this help
I think you can understand how
FDA has already authorized trials for treatment of cancer through gene-editing
We have successfully treated HIV in mice
There are also genetic diseases like color and night blindness
Huntington's, hemophilia,
Muscular dystrophy among thousand of others
Most of these are deadly, and there cause is one single incorrect gene in the DNA
What about pandemics
Believe it or not
In many developed nations, a registry of viral and bacterial genome is kept for infection control
In many developed nations, a registry of viral and bacterial genome is kept for infection control
With proper information it is possible to shorten the period of vaccine development
from years, to weeks!
 
Time is critical during pandemics
However soon the containment process can begin
the easier it is to control the spread of infection
So, let's be hopeful
This pandemic is improving our ammunition
So that in the future, we can better manage such situations
If this pandemic had appeared a hundred years ago
Then can you imagine how deadly it would have been?
Some of you might say that well didn't Spanish flu attack in the same time period?
But, the reason Spanish flu ended was that
it was killing people faster than it was infecting them
Corona Virus is different
It's incubation period is 14 days, and for that period it stays within the patient
But, doesn't show any symptoms
And for up to 14 days, the patient silently keeps infecting other people
This is why it is so dangerous
There aren't many germs with long incubation periods
Then usually there method of spreading is slow,
Like hepatitis (which spreads via fecal oral route)
The only reason we have controlled the spread of infection during this pandemic is because
we have taken precautions, like social distancing, hand washing and other safety measures
which are working
So please, be patient, 
please be responsible
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
