Chinese scientists announced Thursday that, together with colleagues from the United States and France, they have completed the whole genome sequencing of a bacterium that causes people to suffer similar symptoms as severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Their achievements was published in Thursday's issue of Nature, a weekly British science journal,
"Our achievements will encourage Chinese scientists to eventually find a treatment for SARS," said Zhao Guoping, executive director of Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai.
The genome sequencing was completed on the virus Leptospira interrogans, which causes Leptospirosis - a widely spread disease of global concern. The disease is common in various parts of the world, especially developing countries and areas where rice is a diet staple.
Some 30 Chinese scientists were involved in the project. They spent three years sequencing the bacterium.
Patients infected with Leptospirosis have flu-like episodes, with frequent severe renal and hepatic damage, such as hemorrhage and jaundice. In more severe cases, massive pulmonary hemorrhages, including fatal sudden haemoptysis, may occur.
(Eastday.com April 25, 2003)
