Scientists on Britain’s Science and Technology Committee have raised hopes of finding a successful Covid-19 vaccine, saying that the coronavirus is “more similar to other viral infections than it is different”.
Leading virus academics spoke about the response to the coronavirus pandemic via videoconference on Monday afternoon.
“Coronaviruses as a class and Covid-19 in particular – they do have unique features to them but they are more similar to other viral infections than they are different,” professor Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at the University of Oxford, said on the call.
“And they do produce the same general types of immune response that gives you hope that a vaccine might well work in this setting.”
Professor Massimo Palmarini, director of the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Virus Research, echoed Mr Bell’s sentiments.
“What brings optimism for many of us is that virus behaves as an acute respiratory infection and it induces a human antibody response – T-cell [cell central to immune response] responses overall that most patients are able to overcome.
“There are many aspects that one would think would lead to the possible host immune responses to provide for the development of a vaccine,” he added.
Mr Bell said that the reason why older people are more likely to be die from the virus than young people is likely because of the state of the person’s immune system.
“Seventy per cent of people who get this disease are asymptomatic. On one end of the spectrum, it’s not a bad viral disease and on the other end it is terrible.
“Understanding those age differences I think are pretty central and I would be surprised if the human immune system wasn’t central to that.”
Professor Adrian Hayday, chair in the department of immunobiology at King's College London, said more studies were needed on the interaction between the immune system and blood-clotting, as these were factors in causing death from Covid-19.
There are more than 200 candidates for a Covid-19 vaccine. On Monday, a Chinese biotech firm announced positive early results for its prototype, claiming it induced an immune response in 90 per cent of those who were given it. The vaccine, called CoronaVac is being developed by the company Sinovac.
On Saturday, pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca agreed with Europe’s Inclusive Vaccines Alliance to supply up to 400 million doses of the experimental Covid-19 vaccine it was making in collaboration with Oxford University.
The alliance, forged by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to speed up production of a vaccine, is set to take delivery of the medicine by the end of this year. The four countries agreed to pay an initial €750 million (Dh3.1 billion) for 300 million doses, Reuters reported. The countries will have an option to buy another 100 million doses.
Despite the positive results in the race for inoculation against the virus, many believe it will probably be at least another year before a safe and effective vaccine is widely available to the public.
Gulf Under 19s
Pools
A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts
Recent winners
2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The years Ramadan fell in May
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
