Wuhan coronavirus: mobilization of the Institut Pasteur, its teams and the institutes in the International Network

On January 9, the Chinese health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that they had discovered a new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The situation was monitored closely over the following weeks and on January 24 the French Ministry of Health reported the first three confirmed cases in France (and also in Europe). The number has since risen to six. In response to the situation, the Institut Pasteur, its teams and the institutes in its International Network have been closely involved at various levels over the past few weeks. The Institut Pasteur has been in particularly high demand for its expertise, and its scientists have spoken on television and radio on several occasions since the start of the outbreak to inform the public about the development of the virus.

Mobilization of the National Reference Center (CNR) for Respiratory Viruses, the Laboratory for Urgent Response to Biological Threats (CIBU) and the Mutualized Platform for Microbiology (P2M)

In line with its mission to monitor influenza and respiratory viruses in France, the Institut Pasteur has mobilized its teams at the French National Research Center (CNR) for Respiratory Viruses and the Laboratory for Urgent Response to Biological Threats (CIBU) to identify and confirm suspected cases of acute respiratory infection linked to the novel coronavirus using a molecular test. The concerted efforts of these two laboratories mean that the Institut Pasteur is able to respond 24/7 to requests from health authorities as they deal with this previously unknown virus.

Based on samples taken from patients, the CNR detected the new coronavirus and prepared the material for sequencing, a process performed by the Mutualized Platform for Microbiology (P2M). By January 29, 2020, the efforts of P2M had enabled the Institut Pasteur to sequence the whole genome of the coronavirus known as 2019-nCoV, becoming the first institution in Europe to do so since the start of the outbreak.

Establishment of the Coronavirus 2019-nCoV Task Force

A task force composed of research teams and relevant support services has been set up. The Institut Pasteur is also working closely with the General Directorate of Health in the French Ministry for Solidarity and Health, the REACTing Consortium coordinated by Aviesan, and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

One of the first jobs for the task force has been to identify three specific research areas in which the Institut Pasteur has particular expertise and to map its current projects to these areas. The task force will coordinate the efforts of the Institut Pasteur's research teams to understand the virus and its pathogenesis on the basis of the following scientific areas:

- Understanding of the virus and its pathogenesis

- Production of viral proteins for the development of new diagnostic tools (serology); research to identify antibodies with therapeutic potential and improve understanding of the biology of the virus

- Vaccine development

- Epidemiology and modeling to evaluate outbreak control strategies

The Coronavirus 2019-nCoV Task Force, coordinated by Christophe d'Enfert, Scientific Director, and Bruno Hoen, Medical Research Director, seconded by Mallory Perrin-Wolf, will meet once a week. The Task Force includes management team and scientific units: Pierre-Marie Girard, Jean-François Chambon, Nathalie Denoyés, Claire Héritier, Sylvie van der Werf, Christiane Gerke , Arnaud Fontanet, Jean-Claude Manuguerra, Felix Rey, Marco Vignuzzi.

Mobilization of the Institut Pasteur International Network

The Institut Pasteur International Network is also closely involved in the response to virus 2019-nCoV. The member institutes in Asia have implemented a diagnostic test for the virus based on a protocol proposed by the University of Hong Kong. The Institut Pasteur in Shanghai,* set up in 2004 with the specific aim of responding to emerging infectious diseases, has offered its services to the Chinese authorities. The institutes in Laos* and Cambodia* have been approached by local authorities to respond to the outbreak and have been offered support by the institutes in Shanghai* and Hong Kong.* Finally, the African member institutes in the International Network are preparing for the arrival of the outbreak on the African continent with the support of the other institutes in the network.

* Exact names of the institutes mentioned: Institut Pasteur du Laos; Institut Pasteur du Cambodge; Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Hong Kong University-Pasteur Research Pole.

Find out more:

See the fact sheet produced by the Institut Pasteur
Keep up to date with the latest news by following our Twitter feed (in French)
Watch the report by AFP on the CNR for Respiratory Viruses (in French)
Watch the report by France 3 on the CIBU (in French)

(Article dated January 31, 13pm)