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Identifying genetic and structural similarities between SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

  • Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
  • Total publications:0 publications

Grant number: C19-IUC-221

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Key facts

  • Disease

    COVID-19

  • Funder

    UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

  • Principal Investigator

    Robin Franklin

  • Research Location

    United Kingdom

  • Lead Research Institution

    Wellcome - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute

  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A

  • Research Category

    Pathogen: natural history, transmission and diagnostics

  • Research Subcategory

    Pathogen morphology, shedding & natural history

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Non-Clinical

  • Clinical Trial Details

    N/A

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Not Applicable

  • Vulnerable Population

    Not applicable

  • Occupations of Interest

    Not applicable

Abstract

The team have found key structural similarities between the coronavirus and the rubella virus - in the Macro domain, almost a third (29%) of the amino acids were the same for both viruses. The team put forward a hypothesis in a pre-print on Medrxiv that MMR could offer some protection to vulnerable groups against poor outcomes in COVID-19 infection.