Hong Kong - Scientists in Hong Kong said on Tuesday that they have discovered molecules capable of blocking the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus that killed 774 people worldwide in 2003.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong screened more than 50 000 molecules and found 104 that were capable of stopping the SARS virus from becoming pathogenic.
The findings may be used to develop anti-SARS drugs should the disease, which killed 299 people and infected 1 755 others in Hong Kong alone, make a comeback.
However, it is unlikely there will be an early breakthrough as there are no human victims to test any potential treatment on since SARS all but disappeared last year.
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'It is unlikely there will be an early breakthrough' The Hong Kong team collaborated with the Aaron Diamond Aids Research Centre in America in the testing of the molecules, the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound.
Assistant professor Richard Kao, spokesperson for the Hong Kong research team, said the next step would be to isolate some of the molecules and develop them into a possible anti-SARS drugs.
"We will see if it is effective in preventing SARS in animals," he said. "If it is effective, we will select those compounds and wait for clinical trials.
"Why wait? Because for clinical trials you have to have human subjects, so if SARS does not come back there will be no clinical trials because there will be no cases."
A handful of isolated cases of SARS were recorded early this year in mainland China, the last of them in April. In 2003, there were more than 8 000 cases in more than 20 countries worldwide. - Sapa-dpa
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