Speaking about the role of serological tests, Tarlan Mammadov, an Azerbaijani professor at the Mediterranean University in Turkey, said that he had achieved more positive results than the herbal vaccines he was working on with a staff of about 20 people.
Qadin.Net reports that. In an interview with Publika.az, the professor said that the vaccine that can prevent the coronavirus is completely safe.
- An action plan has been developed for the implementation of serological tests to study immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Azerbaijan. Mr. Tarlan, how do you assess the conduct of these tests?
- One of the most important issues is the analysis of blood taken from patients infected with COVID-19, but later recovered. Antibodies must be synthesized in the bodies of patients infected with the coronavirus. Serological tests are performed to determine the level of antibodies formed in the human body. In this regard, I consider such tests an important step.
If infected people have high levels of antibodies, they are less likely to get the virus again. Because they already have enough antibodies in their bodies. When the virus enters the body, antibodies have the power and ability to immediately neutralize it.
Although some patients recover from COVID-19, their antibodies are either weak or weak, or break down and disappear after they occur. People with low antibody levels are more likely to become infected again. As a result, serological testing allows to study the level of antibodies.
- Professor, in what direction do you continue your scientific work on the development of herbal vaccines in Turkey?
- The work in this direction continues successfully. Several vaccine candidates have already been successfully synthesized. We administered the synthesized vaccine candidates to COVID-19 patients treated at the hospital. These antigens were recognized in patients with very high sensitivity. Antigens are also needed in Azerbaijan for serological tests, which are currently imported. Because the detection of antibodies is carried out by antigen. As a company, we can now sell synthesized antigens.
- Are the vaccines you develop reliable?
- They are distinguished by the presence of protein-based vaccines. Protein-based vaccines are safe. Because we get it from plants, they do not contain any pathogens. It's just that the process takes longer here. We have already completed our experiments on animals.
We tested the antigens in the blood tests of COVID-19 patients, there is a high sensitivity. Therefore, it is completely safe compared to other vaccines.
- The vaccine developed by Russian scientists has already been registered as the first drug against coronavirus in the world. What do you think about the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines?
- American and other European scientists also noted in their statements that it is very difficult to determine the safety of the vaccine in a short time. The vaccine may have a protective effect, but how safe it is is one of the most important questions in treatment. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved all vaccines. There is a time limit of more than 5 years for the approval and release of a vaccine. They are sensitive to the careful study and calculation of the safety of the vaccine.
- Will the Russian vaccine be able to enter the world drug market? The world's main drug manufacturers are Germany and the United States, so how do you predict the position of the Russian vaccine?
- Of course, certain countries can get the vaccine, but I do not believe that American or European countries are interested in it. Developing countries may get it. In general, it is too early to talk about it, it will be determined in the coming days. There is currently no vaccine against the coronavirus, and people are looking forward to finding a way out. Given this point, the Russian vaccine can be obtained for this purpose.