A little prick but it rarely goes down well with those on the receiving end. Hello garia every newborn gets a shot of the vaccine b. C. G. Its primary purpose is to protect them from the lung disease tuberculosis Bulgarian Health workers swear by it. They do but it is it c b c g vaccine has been used in bulgaria since 1951 thats more than half a century or so during my professional experience of 30 years or more we fax a native new born babies with b. C. G. The whole time. Bulgaria is also a major producer of b. C. G. Which is known to strengthen the immune system and now its preparing to increase output because of a potential new use almost exactly 100 years since it was 1st developed in the laboratories of france as Pastor Institute some modern scientists believe b. C. G. Could be used to fight corona virus that possibility is being tested out in medical trials in the netherlands we could be a very important tool to bridge these dangerous period until we have on the market a proper specific vaccine against. Being able to use a cheap and readily available existing vaccine would have its advantages particularly for less well off economies thats why this South African lab is also testing b. C. G. s affective ness against 19. 3 are very proud to do this study in south africa because we believe that this is basically countries that have Restricted Health care resources might benefit from a simple intervention like this. First because we just cant ramp up our own. The infrastructure and its basically the lack of personnel as quickly as others come countries probably can it might not work you know its a reasonable assumption that were just going after a hunter and it might not even be materialized but still when asked to start doing something. Meanwhile other researches are looking at the babies of bulgaria and wondering if the countrys comparatively low number of corona virus cases could be down to its newborns all getting that uncomfortable little prick. And there are also tests with tuberculosis vaccines underway here in germany professor cust of schindler is head of the head of a medical school c. R. C. Core facility and also chair of clinical studies and Drug Research its very good to have you with us on the Program Professor now our focus 1 in this report earlier was on the b. C. G. Vaccine as used in bulgaria for example you are working with a new v p m 1000 to vaccines whats the difference. Well its important to know that there is a significant difference compared to the old b. C. G. Bags and which has been used since dk its especially in 3rd world countries d. P. M. Assumption italy optimized usagi and lynch one gene the your yes z. Gene was in m. Cigarette and another gene the stereo use and gene was inserted and this genetic modification basically results in enhanced immunex abrasion compared to the z. Gene and in an improved safety profile and this new model of action is expected to result in an educationist and webb tolerated. Which should be at least as potent s. Buds as are the currently used at the korean exit right and and why do we think why do we believe that b. C. G. Or in this case the v p m one 1002. 00 domestically modified vaccine would be helpful against culvert 19. Well yes the concept that these are g m t v t m maps have to protect against the coronavirus space on Scientific Evidence that the police e. G. The x. And exerts also nonspecific effects on byrons actions and the anti up to use abuse e. G. Against corona is mainly based on 3 scientific observations so i asked reduction of the incidence and cerruti of respiratory infections 2nd exertion of engine driver effects as seen in x. Programs in one us already answered reduction of the remaining r s in an experimental human model of viral infection and therefore we have prophesies that b. C. G. Vaccination may induce caution protection against the source skeptic gritty and superiority of sas cough to infection ok so so to put it in laymans terms the pm hour 1210 stimulate and strengthen the immune system which obviously is very helpful in the fight against cold it 19 and you actually run Clinical Trials already using b. P. M. Against 19 what is the result so far. Were just clinically initiate dont the 1st of 2 placebo controlled phase 3 trials in which we investigate 1000 care workers effects an added study to disciplines f. A reduced number of tourists absent from work due to respiratory disease and we also assist the incidence of cost to sometimes of infection reduction of hospital intensive care unit at mission or death in Health Care Professionals with direct patient contacts during the pandemic phase of 19 well and this is followed by a 2nd trial yes i was just because this this already sounds very promising and you just were about to say that theyll be a 2nd trial phase can you already for see when this vaccine could be used until we find a real covert 19 vaccine yeah well we regard this as allusion as a bridge in solution actually and therefore it is very important that we progress was the Clinical Trials now as fast as possible and we are currently concentrating on Recruitment Office trials the question when we will be ready is always a very difficult one hopefully try to recruit it by the end of this year all right professor Christopher Chandler from the heart of the medical school there thank you so much for your time and explaining the pm 1002 to us. So you can 1002 could to bridge the gap until theres a dedicated specific 1000 vaccine but what happens if the virus mutates now thats one of the questions you posted to alice science correspondent on you tube yes derek williams. Can we be sure the virus wont need taint once there is a new vaccine. All viruses mutate that thats evolution the question is not whether it will mutate but but how it mutates could sars could have to change so fundamentally that a theoretical immunity provided by a still theoretical vaccine would no longer provide protection yes certainly and in fact as the pandemic progresses and populations make strides towards herd immunity the virus will let out because it will come under Evolutionary Pressure from whats known as a selection of the fittest viruses will be the ones able to in fact the most people the ones that are best able to slip unrecognized past an immune system thats thats been armed to stop sars cove too but but so far the indications are that the virus doesnt mutate very fast much slower than flu viruses for example so the hope is that well be able to stay ahead of the curve. How is the rise of social media and the internet changing the speed of scientific percentage. The internet has changed science in fundamental ways and modern research is all about collaboration and the internet has enabled that like like no other tool in Human History you you see its effects for example and and how many Peer Reviewed covert 19 studies have been spawned by the pandemic so far the exact number is hard to pin down because it rises by the day but there are currently nearly 5. 1000 in the w. H. O. Database and and finals and more that havent been added yet many of those studies are written by teams of collaborating scientists that are spread across the globe social media platforms also play a big role in speeding up research because they offer a much less formal stage for the instant exchange of ideas that then classic platforms like what conferences or journals do them so the the internet has accelerated scientific discovery to speeds that would have been unimaginable even just a few decades ago. Derrick williams there and im sure there are many more questions out there so do keep them coming and post them to derek on our Youtube Channel and to keep up with the latest developments on the coronavirus subscribe to our newsletter go to the w dot com slash corona dash use latter. We started the show with babies and wed like to end to on them to newborns in colombias capital bogota and getting to know their families via hundreds of video calls visits to the Neonatal Unit are forbidden to protect vulnerable babies from possible Coronavirus Infection social workers coordinator the call center holds tablets up to the incubator is connecting families and and aiding them joy at a time where bringing life into the world has been complicated to say the least. And i was covered not in special i want to get johnson berlin for me in the team thanks for joining. Letter we were proud when we were. In the percentage of americans and some people in our lives will experience hardship. Listening. How does the virus spread. Why do we panic and when well all miss. Just 3 of the topics covered and the weekly radio show is called spectrum if you would like any information on the clone of virus or any other science topic you should really check out our talk ask you can get it wherever you can get your podcast you can also find us at dot com slash science. Passion drama competition live marketing numbers atmosphere help fight lets hack into mission. Money. Fans crimes find spam and fun. Because we love football. To golf on you tube joining us. Im speaking from snow to no one here is always a factor we just hope that the sea will have mercy on us and let us make it through the snow. Its moving just a rock in the sea i mean it is that you know mostly tourists its the everest of saying