Aquaculture biotech company joins the fight against COVID-19

Proteon Pharmaceuticals, a Polish biotechnology company that produce feed additives for the aquaculture industry has joined research efforts to fight COVID-19.

In response to the fight against coronavirus, Proteon Pharmaceuticals has joined the effort to create a new SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Detection Centre in Lodz, Poland to conduct large-scale tests for virus diagnosis.
 

Image credit: Eelke on Flickr
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The new laboratory was created at a very fast pace with the involvement and cooperation of the Institute of Medical Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the University of Lodz, the Medical University of Lodz. 

It is staffed by a team of microbiologists, geneticists, doctors and experts, including scientists from Proteon Pharmaceuticals. The goal is to conduct as many tests as possible in the shortest possible time.

'Quick and mass diagnostics is currently the most important tool for stopping the growth of coronavirus infections. If it is possible to detect a virus infection faster and on a larger scale, the infected people will be isolated sooner and receive appropriate treatment. This will translate into a decline in infection dynamics,' says Prof. Jarosław Dastych, CEO of Proteon Pharmaceuticals S.A. 'That is why we have made an immediate decision to involve our knowledge and experience in this project.'

The laboratory, which was established in just a week, started work on March 23. It's being led by prof. Maciej Borowiec from the Medical University of Lodz. The research team is made up of outstanding scientists from the Institute of Medical Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection at the University of Lodz, the Medical University and Proteon Pharmaceuticals S.A. Work in the laboratory at the Medical University will be ongoing 24/7. 

Read the full article on the International Aquafeed website, HERE.

The Aquaculturists

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