There’s some friction between the federal government and Boston University researchers after the publication of a new COVID-19 study.
The university's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories have been studying the omicron variant and the original strain. They reportedly wanted to see if omicron, while highly contagious, was still less likely to cause severe illness.
Researchers were working with this hybrid virus where they took the spiked protein of omicron and attached it to the original strain. In mice, they found this new fused version killed 80% of mice infected. But that's lower than the 100% that died of the original strain. So their conclusion is that it's not the omicron spiked protein itself that causes the virus to spread so easily but other proteins.The study caught the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which helps fund BU's research, off guard.
“Ultimately, this research will provide a public benefit, by leading to better, targeted therapeutic interventions to help fight against future pandemics," the university's statement said.