COVID-19 Virus Variants Hunters

Every time a serious new COVID-19 virus variant emerges, Gilead Inc. virologists Charlotte Hedskog and John Bilello, alongside their teams, mobilize as so-called "variant hunters."

They aim to determine whether COVID-19 therapeutics will remain active against new strains. The process demands perseverance and collaboration, as the results broadly affect treating people worldwide with COVID-19.

"It can be a challenging process for sure as some variants are harder to find," says Charlotte, Senior Research Scientist on the Clinical Virology team, in a media release on January 12, 2023.

But the teams of experts are up to the task. Since COVID-19 began to emerge and spread globally in late 2019 and early 2020, scientists have tested more than 15 genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

"This is a process that involves many people with a commitment to collaboration - internally and externally," says John, Director of Virology, who leads the COVID-19 Discovery Virology team. "We all rely on each other to find these isolates and identify which ones to go after."

The full unedited news article is posted at this link.