Developing rapid diagnostic kits for the detection of coronavirus-specific antibodies and antigens. This is the objective of the two-year scientific cooperation project of NATO, through the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) programme, presented today, in cooperation with the Italian National Institute of Health and Tor Vergata University together with the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland. The aim is to imp rove civil-military cooperation in the fight against Covid-19 through a multidisciplinary approach combining experience and know-how in virology, immunology and biology. This project will help to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by providing new tools for rapid diagnosis that can be used in large-scale contexts. The launch of the event was attended, among others, by the Italian Ambassador to the Atlantic Alliance Francesco Maria Talò who has pointed out how strong NATO commitment is to support each other during crises, such as the current one. “NATO is a political and not only military alliance that shares the values of our democratic societies – he affirmed – but above all I wish to express my gratitude to the staff of the Italian health system for their work. “The biological fluids analysed for diagnostic tests – as explained by Roberto Nisini, from the Immunology Department of the Italian National Institute of Health and coordinator of the project – will be blood but also saliva and nasopharyngeal swab secretions and the result will be known in a period of time varying from a few minutes to an hour. The test will be instrumental for initial screening in a triage or a community”. The reagents produced will be used to develop reliable COVID-19 diagnostic tests. In addition, the identification of anti-virus antibodies could represent a first step in the development of immunotherapies based on the administration of antibodies for the treatment of infected patients.
For further information: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_175619.htm