Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2004

Genes May Hold Answer to Variations in SARS Susceptibility To assess the relationship of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes with the risk of SARS infection, the Faculty of Medicine examined the blood samples of 90 SARS patients and studied the patterns of their HLA genes. The data indicate that individuals with one class of HLA protein have a much higher risk of getting SARS than the general population while those with another class have a much lower risk. These genetic data may explain individual variations in response to SARS infection. The findings have a critical impact on understanding the disease mechanisms of SARS and the design of SARS prevention programmes. Prof. Margaret H.L. Ng explaining the relationship between HLA genes and the SARS-coronavirus Telling the Complete Story of the SARS-coronavirus The Chinese SARS Molecular Epidemiology Consortium, formed in 2003 by researchers at the University and over 50 scientists from mainland China and the US to study the complete evolutionary history of the SARS-coronavirus, published their results on 30th January 2004 in Science. This research is the most extensive molecular epidemiological study of the SARS-coronavirus to date. The study found that the virus mutated continuously throughout the epidemic, most rapidly in the early part of the epidemic and at a third of the rate of the AIDS virus. This complete evolutionary map of the virus provides a blueprint for the prediction of the future sequence of events should SARS reemerge. The foresight would allow for better planning of public health control measures to prevent major outbreaks. Prof. Dennis Lo of the consortium speaking at a press conference about the SARS-coronavirus No Significant Human Reservoir for SARS Infection in HK The Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID) of the Faculty of Medicine launched the first population-based serological survey of asymptomatic SARS-associated coronavirus infection in Hong Kong from September to October 2003. Over 10,000 citizens aged five or above were randomly selected to take part in the study. Blood samples were collected and screened for the presence of the SARS- coronavirus antibody. The study finds that seven subjects were confirmed as true positives, but only one had asymptomatic infection. The study suggests that most Hong Kong citizens have not been exposed to the virus, and there is no significant human reservoir for SARS-coronavirus infection in Hong Kong. From left: Prof. Paul K.S. Chan, Prof. Francis K.L. Chan and Prof. Joseph Sung at a press conference announcing the findings 5 2 Chinese University Bulletin Spring • Summer 2004