Coronavirus Infections of Animals and Humans: Ideological Use in Media vs Evidence-Based Scientific Approach

Review

Rev Fr Anton P. Gerilovych,                            

Fr priest, PhD, ScDr (Veterinary), Professor (Veterinary Virology), Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Deputy Director for Scientific Research, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine

Address: 83 Pushkinskaya st, Kharkov 61023, Ukraine

E-mail: antger2011@gmail.com

 

Borys T. Stegniy,                      

ScDr (Veterinary), Professor, NAAS Academician, Director of Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Head of Laboratory for Avian Viral Diseases, Ukraine

 

Oleksandr M. Kornieikov,                            

PhD (Veterinary), DVM, Head of Laboratory for Virology, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine 

 

Denys V. Muzyka,                            

ScDr (Veterinary), Senior Researcher, Head of Department for Avian Diseases, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine

 

Iryna O. Gerilovych,                         

PhD (Veterinary), DVM, Head of Laboratory for Biosafety and Control, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine

 

Vitaliy I. Bolotin,                             

PhD (Veterinary), DVM, Head of the Animal Brucellosis Laboratory, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine

 

Larysa V. Kovalenko,                       

PhD (Biology), DVM, Head of Laboratory for Biochemistry, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine

 

Vasiliy L. Arefiev,                            

PhD (Veterinary), DVM, Head of Laboratory for Microbial Genetics, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine

 

Oksana B. Zlenko,                           

Junior Researcher, Laboratory for Microbial Genetics, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine

 

Olena V. Kolchyk,                            

PhD (Veterinary), DVM, Senior Researcher, Leading Researcher of Laboratory for Porcine Diseases, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ukraine 

Article ID: 020130318

Published online: 29 October 2020

HANDLE: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12656/thebeacon.3.020130318

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55269/thebeacon.3.020130318

 

Quoting (Chicago style): Gerilovych, Anton P., Rev., Stegniy, Borys T., Kornieikov, Oleksandr M., et al. 2020. “Coronavirus Infections of Animals and Humans: Ideological Use in Media vs Evidence-Based Scientific Approach.” Beacon J Stud Ideol Ment Dimens 3, 020130318. https://doi.org/10.55269/thebeacon.3.020130318

Language: Chinese



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Abstract

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 disease, was mainly described as a something extraordinary in media discourse. Its “unusual,” almost “mystical” properties have been constantly invented by world media sources since January 2020 thus far. Critical comparison of the real epidemiological, physical, chemical and biological properties of SARS-CoV-2 with most common causative agents of coronavirus family demonstrates that principles and techniques of laboratory diagnostics and prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 should be built only on the basis of evidence-based medicine, not on imaginary properties of the virus that were created with ideological purposes.

Key words: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, media ideology, ideology in science, evidence-based medicine, ideological control

Extended summary in English

 

Coronaviruses represent a significant number of species, variable and genetically plastic (in terms of mutations and recombination) group of RNA-containing viruses. The instability of the viral genome, and, as a consequence, the divergence of the antigenic structure of these pathogens explain the necessity of evidence-based in-depth studies of the ecology and biological properties of coronaviruses, including the novel pathogen SARS-CoV-2. Despite the lack of potential anthropopathogenicity in animal coronaviruses, they can serve as an effective model for testing the effectiveness of disinfectants, antiviral therapies and vaccines designed to control and contain the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sober comparing ecological and biological properties of animal and human coronaviruses may lead to a conclusion that a promising area for the development of specific prevention of SARS-CoV-2 spread is the development of candidate drugs based on recombinant surface and internal antigens of the pathogen. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 cannot be regarded as an unprecedented viral threat to humanity whose properties cannot be but a mystery to science and society.

 

This deduction can be never heard in TV news on prime world TV channels, often government-sponsored. The SARS-CoV-2-related “news”-like stories for general population are ideologically prepared, checked and double-checked. They contain several permanent narratives about the novel virus with key phrases aimed at influencing people’s fears and raising their anxiety. Some of key phrases are “second wave,” “excessive mortality,” “Wuhan,” “heaps of coffins,” “protective costumes,” “masks and gloves,” “lockdowns.” SARS-CoV-2 is ideologically depicted as the worst “plague” causing enormous number of victims. Moreover, ideologically the novel virus is described as “unknown,” “mysterious,” “unseen heretofore.” Such phrases are common for TV news, talk shows, Internet communication. But even more importantly, they also penetrate academic discourse. The virus may be more or less dangerous, and all statements like this need be proven by medical evidence and statistical approach. One may observe that considerable amount of scientific publications in academic journals become ideologically tinted without necessary evidence. Media ideology of permanent fear before SARS-CoV-2 is universal for all parts of the world. However, it must not influence scientific study of the virus.

 

As an attempt of unprejudiced and ideology-free use of coronavirus-related information in the SARS-CoV-2 matter, we initiated pilot studies to clone in silico genes of two viral proteins S (spike) and N (nucleocapsid) into expressing plasmid vectors for subsequent transformation of bacterial and yeast cells to obtain recombinant antigens. GeneBank was used to find complete sequences of genes encoding the target proteins of the Wuhan-19 strain. Primer systems have been developed for the development and cloning of target fragments of the viral genome, as well as internal primers for screening recombinant clones. In the future, on the basis of these data, candidate drugs for immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 will be constructed and tested on laboratory animals.

 

The main task of the scientific approach, i.e. approach based on regarding the novel coronavirus pathogen in an unbiased and ideology-free way, may be approached starting with the comparison of all information on other animal and human coronaviruses that scientific community, veterinaries and clinicians possess so far, with the new data on SARS-CoV-2 that are received constantly since the beginning of 2020. Media ideology of SARS-CoV-2-related fear causes much threat to impartial and neutral studies and should be avoided in medical practice and scientific research.

© 2020 Rev Fr Anton P. Gerilovych; Borys T. Stegniy, Oleksandr M. Kornieikov, Denys V. Muzyka, Iryna O. Gerilovych, Vitaliy I. Bolotin, Larysa V. Kovalenko, Vasiliy L. Arefiev, Oksana B. Zlenko, and Olena V. Kolchyk.
Licensee The Beacon: Journal for Studying Ideologies and Mental Dimensions.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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