In vitro Molecular RNA-seq data for rapid diagonostic testing and validating RT-qPCR reference genes for studying respiratory specimens from Persons Under Investigation (PUIs), with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The SARS coronavirus (SCoV) appears to be zoonotic and to have originated in wild mammals in southern China. A coronavirus comprises single-stranded RNA inside a lipid envelope. Coronaviruses cause a substantial fraction of human colds and a number of common respiratory infections in other animals, including livestock and poultry. The recent COVID-19 outbreak of a novel type of coronavirus that began in China has prompted a massive global effort to contain and slow its spread. Despite those efforts, over the last month the virus has begun circulating outside of China in multiple countries and territories.

Enteric coronaviruses can cause fatal infections in young, seronegative animals. Respiratory coronavirus infections in adult animals have shown increased severity in the presence of several factors, including high exposure doses, respiratory coinfections, stress related to shipping or commingling with animals from different farms, and treatment with corticosteroids. It is therefore unknown whether coronavirus is a respiratory or a pneumoenteric virus. This knowledge gap has affected efforts to develop a vaccine or drug against this virus.
My research will be centered on the application of modern molecular tools and in particular the use of real-time RT PCR (rRT-PCR) assays for the in vitro qualitative rapid detection of 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in respiratory specimens and as well as conducting clinical pharmacological trial efficacy on using (Lopinavir/Ritonavir (Kaletra),chloroquine and Remdesivir) therapies.

The 2019-nCoV primers and probe sets will be designed to meet universal detection of SARS-like coronaviruses (N3 assay) and for specific detection of 2019-nCoV (N1 and N2 assays).

I will also focus on identifying the pathogeneses of animal coronaviruses, understanding of its biology to conform to a basic model of either an intestinal (enteric) or respiratory infection virus emerging zoonoses in order to yield a considerable effort already to finding the animal source of ScoV where viral isolates from suspected animal sources will be genetically characterized and compared with samples of SCoV.

My study will base on case control study of 50 to 100 SARS patients/persons Under Investigation (PUIs), with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease admited .This research will be conducted at both the Infectious Disease Institute(https://idi.mak.ac.ug/) and Virus Research Center (https://www.uvri.go.ug/ ) both located at Kampala,Uganda .

Therefore my research will contribute to offer health practioners with skills for rapid detection using modern molecular tools as well as understanding the basic model of this virus (enteric) or respiratory infection in order to yield more knowledge on its pathogenicity and to scale up efforts of developing vaccines and cure drugs against it.