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What the SARS-CoV-2 Genome Reveals – Michigan Medicine

Posted: May 15, 2020 at 8:48 pm

Viruses may seem like cunning villains, purposefully mutating to increasingly deadlier forms to outwit their human hosts. In reality, a lot of what happens with a virus is completely random. This randomness can make figuring out where a virus came from, how it spreads and what makes it tick especially tricky. For SARS-CoV-2, the new virus that causes COVID-19, scientists are looking to its genome for answers to some of these questions.

Researchers were recently able to determine that New York City may have been the original epicenter of the U.S. epidemic and that those initial cases were likely imported from Europe. They can tell this by looking at the genome and its sequence and seeing how they are similar or different, explains Adam Lauring, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology and infectious disease.

Armed with virus samples taken from people with COVID-19, virologists and epidemiologists create what is known as a phylogenetic tree. This viral family tree lines up the genetic codes from each sample of virus to see whos related to whom.

Based on the genetic sequences and time of collection, you can start to paint a picture of how the virus moves through a population. The earliest [virus samples] in New York were more similar to the ones from people in Europe who were infected. You start with the dates, then look at the sequences and figure thats the most likely scenario, says Lauring. Its not foolproof, though. Theres always uncertainty.

A real world example of this uncertainty came to light with a study posted online in April, which described the deaths of two people from COVID-19 in Santa Clara, California weeks earlier than the virus was thought to be in California. What this tells us is that theres definitely missing data, says Lauring. This begs the question, he says, of where did those cases came from and how long the virus was spreading before the outbreak was recognized.

SEE ALSO: Seeking Medical Care During COVID-19

Researchers are also looking at the SARS-CoV-2 genome for clues about its true origin: the animal that infected the first person. So far, bats appear to be the most likely suspect. Looking at the phylogenetic tree, we see that a bat coronavirus is the closest relative to SARS-CoV-2, sharing around 96% of their genomes, says Lauring. But that too, is not the full story. Another animal, a small, scaly-skinned mammal called a pangolin, has been implicated as well.

The spike protein in SARS-CoV-2, the main protein on the surface that binds to the cells receptor and how the virus gets into the cell, is similar to a pangolin coronavirus spike protein, says Lauring. Its almost like, when you tell a person he has his fathers nose. That feature is similar, but across features the father and child may not look very similar. Coronaviruses, like a lot of other viruses, swap genes around.

These swaps are examples of mutations, which are common in RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2. Laurings lab focuses on mutations in influenza, the RNA virus behind the infamous 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. Understanding how influenza mutates is critical for making decisions about the annual influenza vaccine. RNA viruses mutate relatively quickly because they lack a proofreading mechanism to look for and repair errors during replication.

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However, SARS-CoV-2 and its coronavirus cousins are unique among RNA viruses, because they have a proofreading enzyme. The coronavirus genomes are three times longer than youd expect them to be, and the presence of the proofreading enzyme explains that nicely, says Katherine Spindler, Ph.D., professor in the department of microbiology and immunology. Spindler is a host for the podcast This Week in Virology, which examines the latest science around SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.

With this enzyme, the virus can make a few more errors and not have it be lethal for the virus. As a result, SARS-CoV-2 mutates more slowly than other RNA viruses. Spindler notes that only about 20 mutations have been retained in the genome so far since the beginning of 2020, despite the billions of times the virus has replicated.

SEE ALSO: Keeping Our Patients Safe During COVID-19

Even with its relatively slow mutation rate, mutations present in each persons SARS-CoV-2 genome allows researchers to do genetic tracing in real time, says Lauring. His lab hopes to study the virus genome more closely to look at how the virus is transmitted in healthcare settings and communities.

He stresses that just because a virus mutates doesnt mean the mutations are making it stronger, more likely to be transmitted, or that it will be tougher to develop a vaccine. My hunch is evolution wont be the biggest challenge in developing a vaccine. There are viruses that evolve relatively quickly for which we do have vaccines, for example polio, measles, mumps, Ebola, hepatitis A, notes Lauring.

Spindler adds that the fact that were seeing a variety of COVID-19 symptoms doesnt mean there are different mutant strains. Every new symptom that comes along, from COVID toes and skin rashes to blood clots, are likely just additional manifestations of the virus as it infects so many different people, she says. Figuring out the mysteries of SARS-CoV-2 will take years of experimental work, she says.

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A Method for Assessing the Role of Long Non-protein Coding RNAs – Technology Networks

Posted: at 8:48 pm

The discovery of a huge number of long non-protein coding RNAs, aka lncRNAs, inthe mammalian genome was a major surprise of the recent large-scale genomics projects. Aninternational team including a bioinformatician from the Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology has developed areliablemethodfor assessing therole of such RNAs. Thenew technique and the data obtained with it allow generating important hypotheses on how chromatin is composed and regulated, aswell as identifying the specific functions of lncRNAs.

Presented inNature Communications, the technology is called RADICL-seq and enables comprehensive mapping of each RNA, captured while interacting with all thegenomic regions that it targets, where many RNAs are likely to be important forgenome regulation and structure maintenance.RNA and gene regulationIt was previously believed that RNA functions mostly as an intermediary in building proteins based on a DNA template, with very rare exceptions such as ribosomal RNAs. However, with the development of genomic analysis, it turned out that not all DNA regions encode RNA, and not all transcribed RNA encodes proteins.

Although the number of noncoding RNAs and those that encode proteins is about the same, the function of most noncoding RNA is still not entirely clear.

Every type of cell has its own set of active genes, resulting in the production ofspecific proteins. This makes a brain cell different from a blood cell of the same organism despite both sharing the same DNA. Scientists are now coming to theconclusion that RNA is one of the factors that determine which genes are expressed, or active.

Long noncoding RNAs are known to interact with chromatin DNA tightly packaged with proteins. Chromatin has the ability to change its conformation, or shape, so that certain genes are either exposed for transcription or concealed. Long noncoding RNAs contribute to this conformation change and the resulting change in gene activity by interacting with certain chromatin regions. To understand the regulatory potential of RNA in addition to it being a template for protein synthesis it is important to know which chromatin region any given RNA interacts with.

How it works

RNAs interact with chromatin inside the cell nucleus by binding tochromatin-associated proteins that fold a DNA molecule. There are several technologies that can map such RNA-chromatin interactions. However, all of them have significant limitations. They tend to miss interactions, or require a lot of input material, or disrupt the nuclear structure.

Toaddress these shortcomings, a RIKEN-led team has presented a new method: RNA and DNA Interacting Complexes Ligated and Sequenced, or RADICL-seq for short. The technique produces more accurate results and keeps the cells intact upuntil theRNA-chromatin contacts are ligated.

The main idea of the RADICL-seq method is the following. First, the RNA is crosslinked to proteins located close to it in the nucleus of cells with formaldehyde. Then, DNA is cut into pieces by digesting it with a special protein. After that, thetechnology employs RNaseH treatment to reduce ribosomal RNA content, thus increasing the accuracy of the result. Then, by using a bridge adapter (amolecule with single-stranded and double-stranded ends) the proximal DNA and RNA are ligated. After the reversal of crosslinks, the RNA-adapter-DNA chimera is converted to double-stranded DNA for sequencing, revealing the sequence of the ligated RNA and DNA.

Decoding the noncoding

Incomparison with other existing methods, RADICL-seq mapped RNA-chromatin interactions with a higher accuracy. Moreover, the superior resolution ofthetechnology allowed the team to detect chromatin interactions not only with thenoncoding but also with the coding RNAs, including those found far from their transcription locus. The research confirmed that long noncoding RNAs play animportant role in the regulation of gene expression occurring at a considerable distance from the regulated gene.

This technology can also be used to study cell type-specific RNA-chromatin interactions. The scientists proved it by looking at two noncoding RNAs in a mouse cell, one of them possibly associated with schizophrenia. They found that aninteraction pattern between chromatin and those RNAs in two different cells theembryonic stem cell and the oligodendrocyte progenitor cell correlated with preferential gene expression in those cell types.

The new methods flexibility means scientists can gather additional biological information by modifying the experiment. In particular, this technology can make it possible to identify direct RNA-DNA interactions not mediated by chromatin proteins. The analysis performed by bioinformaticians from the Research Center ofBiotechnology and MIPT showed that not only the standard double helix interactions between DNA and RNA but also those involving RNA-DNA triplexes could participate in gene regulation. Also, such interactions highlight the significance of noncoding RNA in protein targeting to particular gene loci.

We are planning to conduct further research on the role of RNA in the regulation ofgene expression, chromatin remodeling, and ultimately, cell identity. Hopefully, we will be able to regulate genes by using these noncoding RNAs in the near future. This can be especially helpful for treating diseases, saysYulia Medvedeva, who leads the Regulatory Transcriptomics and Epigenomics group at the Research Center of Biotechnology, RAS, and heads the Lab of Bioinformatics for Cell Technologies at MIPT. She also manages the grant project supported by the Russian Science Foundation, which co-funded the study.

Reference:Bonetti, A., Agostini, F., Suzuki, A.M. et al. RADICL-seq identifies general and cell typespecific principles of genome-wide RNA-chromatin interactions. Nat Commun 11, 1018 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-14337-6.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Endangered species could be saved with this tech-based solution – Euronews

Posted: at 8:48 pm

The 15th Annual Endangered Species Day sees more than 31,000 species around the world threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN Red List. That is almost one third of the groups of animals listed on their website.

Researchers are now using a vast remote database to help protect endangered species. This genomic library allows the team to access vital datasets more efficiently than ever before, thanks to a collaboration between the University of Sydney and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Were often working with more than a billion pieces of jigsaw puzzle and no guide, says senior research manager Dr Carolyn Hogg. The software now helps condense the scientists work enormously, enabling them to analyse massive amounts of data in minutes rather than hours - regardless of where they are in the world.

In the long term, the researchers aim to share this genome data publicly. The ultimate goal would be to create a universal genomic library and tools that other researchers and conservation managers can access in order to make science-based decisions, adds Dr Hogg.

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Is there a link between coronavirus and vitamin D deficiency? This startup just raised cash to find out – GeekWire

Posted: May 14, 2020 at 6:06 pm

Solius light therapy kiosks use a narrow spectrum of ultraviolet light that can stimulate the production of critical hormones and peptides, and increase vitamin D levels. (Solius Photo)

New research shows a potential correlation between severe vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 mortality rates. A Northwestern University study released last week found that patients from countries with high death rates had lower levels of vitamin D compared to patients in countries with fewer mortalities.

Seattle-area startup Solius, which sells light therapy kiosks that can help people increase vitamin D levels, suddenly finds itself in a unique position amid the global pandemic.

The company today announced additional investment from Human Longevity Inc. as it explores how its technology could play a role in the fight against COVID-19 by strengthening the immune system and reducing the severity of the disease.

Further studies will be needed to validate this connection and we are working to engage in clinical trials that will prove the efficacy of our device on this devastating disease, said Solius CEO Bob Wise.

Researchers from Northwestern cautioned that vitamin D levels wont prevent contraction of COVID-19, but could make a difference in how the body fights the disease. They found a correlation between vitamin D levels and cytokine storm, a condition caused by an overactive immune system.

Cytokine storm can severely damage lungs and lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death in patients, Ali Daneshkhah, a postdoctoral research associate at Northwestern, said in a press release. This is what seems to kill a majority of COVID-19 patients, not the destruction of the lungs by the virus itself. It is the complications from the misdirected fire from the immune system.

Another study from Anglia Ruskin University in the U.K. found an association between low average levels of vitamin D and high numbers of COVID-19 cases and mortality rates across 20 European countries.

Some experts criticized the Northwestern study which has not been peer-reviewed for not controlling major confounding factors, among other reasons, Inverse reported.

Solius published its own white-paper this week about the impact of vitamin D on COVID-19. The company cited cytokine storms and studies that show vitamin D combating respiratory infections. It also quoted former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden, who said in March that regular physical activity and adequate vitamin D levels probably have the most scientific evidence to increase resistance to COVID-19 infection.

Solius is working with leading phototherapy and vitamin D experts to develop and execute its own trials to study how the companys kiosks could treat and/or prevent COVID-19.

Foundational research strongly suggests a link between vitamin D and COVID-19 outcomes, Wise said. We look forward to adding to this body of research and investigating the impact our technology may have on supporting human health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solius light therapy uses a narrow spectrum of ultraviolet light that can stimulate the production of critical hormones and peptides. In 2018 it started rolling out light therapy kiosksin Vancouver, B.C., that help users increase vitamin D levels.

The therapy is an alternative to vitamin D pills, a solution that Soliuspreviously told GeekWireisnt sufficient to address the problem of vitamin D deficiency.

An estimated 1 billion people worldwide have inadequate levels of vitamin D, according toHarvard University, and research shows that deficiency is a more pressing problem than once thought.

Wise said the company expects FDA approval for its kiosks next year.

We are excited to invest in SOLIUS as its mission is to provide the benefits of the sun without the harmful rays to unlock the healing powers of the human body, Wei-Wu He, executive chairman at HLI, said in a statement.

Solius has raised $18 million to date. The 7-year-old company has seven employees. Wise replaced former CEO Rick Hennessey, who relocated to Florida for family reasons.

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Skincare Tips To Help You Take Good Care Of Your Skin – Longevity LIVE

Posted: at 6:06 pm

Whats the largest organ in the human body? The heart? Perhaps the kidney? Nope, think again. The largest organ in the human body is the skin. In fact, the average adult human skin spans 21 square miles and contains 11 miles of blood vessels. To put it in perspective, thats twice the height of Mt. Everest. No wonder skincare is such a booming economy!

Besides fascinating fun facts, your skin plays a crucial role in ensuring your optimum health. It provides proper regulation of body temperature and acts as a defense mechanism against invaders such as toxins and allergens. While skin plays a significant role in protecting the body, it is also the most vulnerable organ. There are at least 3,000 documented skin disorders. It is for this reason that taking care of your skin isnt a luxury its a necessity.

A google search on good skincare will reveal an almost dizzying variety of tips and tricks. Cutting through the clutter and finding what works for you can be frustrating. Thats why well make it easy for you. Lets do a deep dive into the proven steps to proper skincare. Before that, however, lets conduct a mind surgery.

For a good number of people, healthy and glowing skin is only a daydream or a reserve of pop stars and celebrities. Others consign themselves to the notion that natures genetic lottery hasnt been too kind to them. Nothing could be further from the truth. No matter the type of skin you have, good skincare can make it look better and healthier.

Of course, you may not glow like your favorite celebrity or model, but youd certainly look better than when you started. All it takes is consistency, dedication, and patience. Dont expect to see results right off the bat. Just like any organ in the body, the skin needs time to demonstrate results. One of the most common reasons people dont give extra attention to their skin is because they think their efforts wont make a difference. Breaking this barrier is the first step to achieving good skincare. Here are other proven steps to making your skin glow.

Any dermatologist worth their salt would tell you that skincare is not a one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one skin type may not necessarily work for another. Many factors play a role in determining how the skin looks. These factors include age, skin disorders, and DNA, amongst others.

One of the key factors is the type of skin in question. Its vital you know your skin type as it would have far-reaching effects on what products and procedures you can use. Some estimates peg the number at seven or even more, but there are at least five different skin types. Lets examine what each of these skin types entails.

This type of skin lacks oil. It is usually flaky and often gets cracked. Its not what you would call an ideal skin. Its pores are typically small with visible lines and it hardly stretches out. This skin type is likely to sport some red patches.

Oily skin features a greasy and shiny appearance. Oil glands naturally produce oil on the surface of every skin. With oily skin, the glands go into overdrive secreting more than necessary. This skin type usually has large pores and is prone to breakouts, particularly acne breakouts.

Normal skin straddles the line between dry and oily skin. It has little or no blots. Its sensitivity is just right, and its pores are almost invisible. It can handle most irritations without breaking out. Some people refer to normal skin as healthy skin, and it is considered the most desirable skin type.

Sensitive skin is one that typically overreacts to almost anything. You can develop this skin if you over-scrub or do not take care of your original skin type. One of the skin types that can quickly morph into a sensitive one is the dry skin. Sensitive skin is prone to skin diseases such as acne or contact dermatitis. If you have this skin type, be sure to avoid triggers that may cause irritation or inflammation. Some of these triggers include alcohol, stress, and even smoking.

As the name suggests, combination skin is a mixture of different skin types. In other words, one person can have varied skin types in different places. One part may be dry while another may be oily, particularly the T-region. It means youll need a combination of solutions to keep the skin healthy and moisturized. You can read this article to find out more about skin types and how to take care of them.

Proper skin cleansing is fundamentally about removing any material that clogs the pores of the skin. Substances like dirt, dead skin cells, and makeup can clog the surface, but a good cleansing regime helps the skin breathe. In a general sense, bathing is the way to cleanse your skin. You must bathe or shower at least once or preferably twice a day to keep your skin moist and refreshed.

The first place most people look at when they meet you is your face. So, your cleanup should start from there, and your face should always feature prominently in any cleansing routine. But how hard could it be? Doesnt it just involve splashing some water over the skin and scrubbing a bit? Well, not quite. Theres more to facial cleansing. Here are a few helpful tips to follow:

It is for good reason that medical personnel often prescribe water as the first response to many diseases. In fact, medical practitioners regard water as the best medicine. It has several benefits to the body, and listed below are some of them.

If youre a water addict, your immune system will benefit greatly. Your immune system is essentially your bodys defense against diseases and toxins. Without a healthy immune system, youre vulnerable to many diseases, and your skin will suffer for it. Earlier, we mentioned that there are at least 3000 diseases associated with the skin. A robust immune system is a surefire way to ward off all intruders.

No one needs to tell you when you stand before a glowing skin. When it isnt glowing, everyone will know. Your skin will betray you if youre not taking in enough water: it will be cracked, flaky scaly, and dry. On the other hand, the skin surface of a person who drinks enough water is likely to be soft and supple.

Studies show that taking in water has a direct bearing on weight loss. If youre overweight, your body is likely to suffer stretch and strain. Maintaining a healthy weight is key to ensuring healthy skin, and gulping down glasses of water is a natural and safe way to shed the extra pounds.

Imagine your stool without water. How about urination? How would you even sweat without water? Hard to imagine, isnt it? Thats because water is such an essential part of our bodys processes. Additionally, guzzling on water helps the skin maintain a stable temperature, a process known as homeostasis. All these benefits of drinking water ultimately have far-reaching effects on the skin. In addition to drinking water, eat foods that can help you stay hydrated.

Its no surprise that some have labeled collagen supplements as the fountain of youth. To understand the reason for that statement, youd need to appreciate what collagen is. Collagen is the bodys most abundant protein. It makes up 75% of the average adults dry skin mass.

Others refer to collagen as the scaffolding of the skin. It ensures the integrity of the bodys tissues, bones, and tendons, and it plays a vital role in promoting skin health. As the body ages, it supplies less and less collagen. By the age of 30, the bodys collagen supply begins to decrease. This situation creates a deficit that needs addressing. Thankfully, there are supplements like collagen peptides that are an excellent resource to help you gain and maintain a glowing skin.

Whether you have oily, healthy, sensitive, or dry skin, you have to keep your skin hydrated. As mentioned earlier, water helps to moisturize the skin. However, it is not the only moisturizer for your skin. Look for moisturizer products with a hyaluronic acid-base. The acid is known to have an excellent hydrating ability. You can also opt for a humidifier. Such products help keep the air and atmosphere humid, thereby keeping your skin moist.

As much as youd want to take the first steps to get good skin by yourself, a dermatologist brings so much more to the table. These skin doctors are trained over several years to know how to preserve and take care of any skin type. Look for one who is trained, appropriately licensed, and can make time for you. If youre looking for cosmetic solutions, you can go to a specialist cosmetic dermatologist. Theyd examine your skin and make treatment recommendations for you.

Even if you dont want to have skin that gets the glares and the stares, you wouldnt want any skin disorder disturbing your skin. To understand how to take care of your skin, youd need to understand the complicated nature of the skin. Know your skin type so you can use the right remedies. Clean your skin regularly through bathing and facial cleansing to keep your youthful glow. Drinking lots of water is a fool-proof strategy for gaining good skin health.

Additionally, collagen supplements have a way of shoring up your skin and keeping it youthful. However, dont forget to consult your dermatologist for expert opinion and advice. Take advantage of all of the steps listed in this article to give your skin a worthwhile treat.

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Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Share Analysis and Research Report by 2025 – ZZReport

Posted: at 6:06 pm

Research Report onAnti-Senescence Therapy Market size | Industry Segment by Applications (Cardiovascular Diseases, Neural Degenerative Diseases, Ophthalmology Disorders and Others), by Type (Gene Therapy, Immunotherapy and Others), Regional Outlook, Market Demand, Latest Trends, Anti-Senescence Therapy Industry Share & Revenue by Manufacturers, Company Profiles, Growth Forecasts 2025.Analyzes current market size and upcoming 5 years growth of this industry.

The Anti-Senescence Therapy market size report is an intrinsic study of the current status of this business vertical and encompasses a brief synopsis about its segmentation. The report is inclusive of a prediction of the market scenario over the forecast period Anti-Senescence Therapy market size with respect to valuation as sales volume. The study lends focus to the top magnates comprising the competitive landscape of Anti-Senescence Therapy market, as well as the geographical areas where the Anti-Senescence Therapy industry extends its horizons, in magnanimous detail.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.zzreport.com/request-sample/8486

Key players analysis provides brief profiles of major players in the Anti-Senescence Therapy market. The report contains a snapshot of their corporation, financial performance and business highlights, providing an insight into the existing competitive scenario.

Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Analysis Report Scope at its various segments are as follows:

Anti-Senescence Therapy market competition by top Manufacturers:

Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Outlook by Applications:

Anti-Senescence Therapy Market Statistics by Types:

An outline of the Anti-Senescence Therapy market share segmentation:

Key highlights of Anti-Senescence Therapy market analysis report:

The Anti-Senescence Therapy market report enumerates quite some details about the factors impacting the industry, influence of technological developments on the vertical, risks, as well as the threats that substitutes present to the industry players. In addition, information about the changing preferences and needs of consumers in conjunction with the impact of the shifting dynamics of the economic and political scenario on the Anti-Senescence Therapy market has also been acknowledged in the study.

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AgeX Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2020 Financial Results and Provides Business Update – Business Wire

Posted: at 6:06 pm

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AgeX Therapeutics , Inc. (AgeX: NYSE American: AGE), a biotechnology company developing therapeutics for human aging and regeneration, reported financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

The human tragedy of this pandemic has long tentacles that effect numerous businesses including AgeX, said Greg Bailey M.D., Chairman. Given the current global economic landscape, and the changes that businesses will need to make to accommodate to a post pandemic world, we feel that new business model aligns well to be able to function in this new environment. We see enormous opportunity to license and joint venture PureStem and HLA-G while implementing a definitive plan to begin preclinical trials on tissue regeneration under the leadership of Michael West and Michael May. We will update you in the future as these plans progress.

AgeX has completed a company restructuring to help set it up for success in the future. The combination of company priorities, cash position and the COVID-19 pandemic led to employee lay-offs designed to support the evolution of AgeX's current team to execute on strategic business goals going forward and to ensure cash is directed at near-term priorities to deliver maximum shareholder value. AgeX has a dual business strategy to diversify risk and maximize opportunities. It plans to continue to pursue its licensing and collaboration strategy for its two primary technology platforms, UniverCyte immunotolerance technology for the generation of universal cells, and PureStem cell derivation and manufacturing technology for the production of therapeutic cells with potential advantages, including industrial scalability and lower manufacturing costs. Since the launch of its licensing and collaboration strategy in January 2020, AgeX has delivered a research collaboration in Japan focused on developing universally transplantable cells for therapeutic use based on UniverCyte, entered into a neural stem cell therapy research collaboration for neurological disorders utilizing PureStem at a California University, and AgeX licensee ImStem Biotechnology received the first-ever clearance of a cell therapy derived from AgeXs embryonic stem cells by the FDA to enter human studies.

In addition, AgeX remains committed to pursuing in-house cell therapy product development and plans to raise money to build the optimal team to deliver on its products, AGEX-BAT1 for metabolic diseases such as type II diabetes and AGEX-VASC1 for tissue ischaemia. AgeXs budgetary and personnel adjustments will result in the deferral of in-house product development and may also lead to AgeX seeking arrangements with other companies in the cell therapy or biopharma industry for the development of its product candidates and technology, or outsourcing of some of that work to service providers until further funding can be obtained to rebuild in-house research and development staff for one or more of those programs. Development of AgeXs iTR technology may be done at AgeXs subsidiary Reverse Bioengineering, Inc. subject to successful financing of the subsidiary.

Upwards of 80% of healthcare expenditures in the United States relates to chronic degenerative disease and aging is a principle underlying cause of such conditions, said Michael D. West, Ph.D., AgeXs Chief Executive Officer. Therefore, the ability to manufacture to scale young clinical-grade cells capable of regenerating functionality in diverse tissues of the body has the potential to transform healthcare as we know it today. Perhaps even more noteworthy is the potential of reversing developmental aging in the body itself through AgeXs iTR technology. Our goal in the coming year is to advance the development of our intellectual property with the goal of bringing value to our shareholders.

Q1 Highlights

Liquidity and Capital Resources

AgeX is in need of additional capital to finance its operations. On March 30, 2020, AgeX entered into a Secured Convertible Facility Agreement (the New Loan Agreement) with Juvenescence Limited pursuant to which AgeX may borrow funds from time to time. On April 1, 2020 AgeX drew the initial $500,000, and may draw additional funds from time to time subject to Juvenescences discretion, prior to the contractual repayment date on March 30, 2023. AgeX may not draw down more than $1 million in any single draw. More information about the New Loan Agreement can be found in AgeXs Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2020 and May 14, 2020, respectively.

On April 13, 2020, AgeX obtained a loan in the amount of $432,952 from Axos Bank under the Paycheck Protection Program (the PPP Loan). The PPP Loan will bear interest at a rate of 1% per annum. No payments will be due on the PPP Loan during a six month deferral period commencing on the date of the promissory note. Commencing one month after the expiration of the deferral period, and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter until the maturity date of the PPP Loan, monthly payments of principal and interest will be due, in an amount required to fully amortize the principal amount outstanding on the PPP Loan by the maturity date. The maturity date is April 13, 2022. The principal amount of the PPP Loan is subject to forgiveness under the PPP to the extent that PPP Loan proceeds are used to pay expense permitted by the PPP, including payroll, rent, and utilities (collectively, Qualifying Expenses), during the time frame permitted by the PPP. AgeX intends to use the PPP Loan amount for Qualifying Expenses. However, no assurance is provided that AgeX will obtain forgiveness of the PPP Loan in whole or in part.

Staff Reductions

During April 2020, AgeX initiated staff layoffs that affected 12 employees, primarily research and development personnel. AgeX has paid approximately $105,000 in accrued payroll and unused paid time off and other benefits and expects to recognize approximately $194,800 in restructuring charges in connection with the reduction in staffing, consisting of contractual severance and other employee termination benefits, substantially all of which are expected to be settled in cash. The staff reductions followed AgeXs strategic review of its operations, giving consideration to the status of its product development programs, human resources, capital needs and resources, and current conditions in the capital markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Going Concern Considerations

As required under Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern (ASC 205-40), AgeX evaluates whether conditions and/or events raise substantial doubt about its ability to meet its future financial obligations as they become due within one year after the date its financial statements are issued. Based on AgeXs most recent projected cash flows, and considering that loans from Juvenescence in excess of an initial $500,000 advance under the New Loan Agreement will be subject to Juvenescences discretion, AgeX believes that its cash and cash equivalents, the $500,000 loan under the New Loan Agreement, the PPP Loan and reduction in staff in May 2020 would not be sufficient to satisfy its anticipated operating and other funding requirements for the twelve months following the filing of AgeXs Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020. These factors raise substantial doubt regarding the ability of AgeX to continue as a going concern.

First Quarter 2020 Operating Results

Revenues: Total Revenues for the first quarter of 2020 were $515,000 as compared with $388,000 for the first quarter of 2019. AgeX revenue is primarily generated from subscription and advertising revenues from the GeneCards online database through its subsidiary LifeMap Sciences, Inc. Revenues in 2020 also included approximately $86,000 of allowable expenses under its research grant from the NIH as compared with $15,000 in the same period in 2019.

Operating expenses: Operating expenses reported for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $3.7 million as compared to $3.4 million for the same period in 2019. On an as-adjusted basis, operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $3.2 million as compared to $2.8 million for the same period in 2019.

The reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses is provided in the financial tables included with this earnings release.

Research and development expenses increased by $0.3 million to $1.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $1.3 million during the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $0.2 million in scientific consultants, $0.2 million in laboratory facilities and equipment related expenses and maintenance, $0.1 million in personnel related expenses allocable to research and development, and $0.1 million in depreciation and amortization of laboratory equipment and improvements. These increases were offset to some extent by a decrease of $0.3 million in shared services from Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (Lineage) with the termination of the Shared Facilities and Services Agreement on September 30, 2019.

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 remained consistent with the same period in 2019 of $2.1 million despite bearing the full lease and facilities related costs since April 2019, and an increase in head count with the employment of AgeXs own finance team since October 1, 2019. These increases were offset by a decrease in shared facilities and services fees from Lineage following the termination of the Shared Facilities and Services Agreement on September 30, 2019.

About AgeX Therapeutics

AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE American: AGE) is focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics for human aging. Its PureStem and UniverCyte manufacturing and immunotolerance technologies are designed to work together to generate highly defined, universal, allogeneic, off-the-shelf pluripotent stem cell-derived young cells of any type for application in a variety of diseases with a high unmet medical need. AgeX has two preclinical cell therapy programs: AGEX-VASC1 (vascular progenitor cells) for tissue ischemia and AGEX-BAT1 (brown fat cells) for Type II diabetes. AgeXs revolutionary longevity platform induced Tissue Regeneration (iTR) aims to unlock cellular immortality and regenerative capacity to reverse age-related changes within tissues. AGEX-iTR1547 is an iTR-based formulation in preclinical development. HyStem is AgeXs delivery technology to stably engraft PureStem cell therapies in the body. AgeXs core product pipeline is intended to extend human healthspan. AgeX is seeking opportunities to establish licensing and collaboration arrangements around its broad IP estate and proprietary technology platforms and therapy product candidates.

For more information, please visit http://www.agexinc.com or connect with the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not historical fact including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as will, believes, plans, anticipates, expects, estimates should also be considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of AgeX Therapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in more detail in the Risk Factors section of AgeXs most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (copies of which may be obtained at http://www.sec.gov). Subsequent events and developments may cause these forward-looking statements to change. AgeX specifically disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of changed events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release, except as required by applicable law.

AGEX THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PAR VALUE AMOUNTS)

March 31,

2020

December 31,

2019

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

$

468

$

2,352

Accounts and grants receivable, net

366

363

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

1,238

1,339

Total current assets

2,072

4,054

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COVID sheds light on importance of health on the farm – Western Producer

Posted: at 6:06 pm

Farmers have always been connected to several aspects of a healthy lifestyle. As food producers, were closely connected to the lifecycle of food, from field to fork.

Were also early pioneers of the concept of community, which happens to be a primary factor for self-reported happiness. But as agriculture has evolved, have we lost aspects of health in our daily lives?

A farm business is only as healthy as its operators and neglecting a healthy lifestyle can result in a vulnerable farming operation and food supply. At the forefront of most health-related topics is physical health.

Farmers often consider themselves to be in good physical condition. Many arent anymore, notes Mike Raine, managing editor of The Western Producer.

There are many reasons for this, but many of them boil down to technology, isolation and automation.

City folks often referred to us as farmer-strong because we grew up lifting bales or twisting and bending to get under or onto equipment. It was heavier work then. The farming lifestyle that the country was built on mostly doesnt exist anymore, and now farmers need to supplement with fitness, says Raine.

Whats less obvious to many is the impact that our psychological health has overall health. And while COVID-19 has only infected a small percentage of the population, the virus that has infected nearly everyone is the virus of fear. Fear is highly contagious, and farmers arent immune.

Whether its the fear of getting sick or the fear of losing a family farming operation due to the economic downturn, this fight or flight response to danger has substantial impacts on immune response. There is strong evidence indicating that healthy individuals respond to COVID-19 more favourably than unhealthy individuals. Much of this can be traced back to the bodys psychological state, which affects the body on a biochemical level.

When we perceive stress, the body produces cortisol. Cortisol is the fight-or-flight response hormone responsible for regulating blood pressure and inflammation. During this process, the body also produces a less desirable hormone called norepinephrine, what is more commonly known as adrenaline. This hormone causes increased heart rate and blood pressure. In situations of chronic stress, the body is unable to produce cortisol and the result is unopposed norepinephrine. The link between mental and physical response to stress, whats referred to as mind-body connection, is more relevant than ever before.

Whats also less mentioned is how closely related anxiety is to asthmatic symptoms and other respiratory conditions. While mild stress can most often be managed, situations of chronic stress often results in physical ailments later on in life. Our mental state, has significant impacts on how the body responds to physical stress.

A prime example of this is the impact that the human mind can have on the outcome of major surgeries. Research has found that viewing a surgeon in a favourable light can have a positive impact on the outcome of surgery.

Certainly, fear isnt always a bad thing; doctors can also use this technique to motivate patients to make positive lifestyle changes to improve overall health.

The dominant factor responsible for increased longevity and happiness is not diet or exercise, its the feeling of being a part of a community. While farmers have always been community-based, they are also incredibly isolated in some circumstances. The possible result of this is loneliness.

Current research suggests the perception of loneliness is the greatest indicator of premature mortality, and isolation can increase this by up to 45 percent. As humans, we are hardwired to be with other humans and these social connections are one of the greatest indicators of health and happiness.

As humans, we are constantly exposed to threats in various forms. Yet somehow it seems as though we believe our health is something that will be gifted to us.

How often does an individual visit their doctor while they are actively working to stay healthy, as opposed to when a significant health-related crisis is occurring?

Arguably, COVID-19 has prompted more people to consider their own health and explore ways to improve their lifestyle. And for good reason, especially considering that many farmers take great satisfaction in having the ability to farm into their 90s.

Staying healthy is critical to our worlds food supplies and the sustainability of the family farm. Health is not merely the absence of illness, but a long-term strategy to building a more sustainable future. Healthy individuals manage profitable family farms and, as an industry, we need to support this.

Katelyn Duncan, PAg, BSA, is a Saskatchewan farmer and agrologist.

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Twenty years of power and energy engagement goes on | ESI-Africa.com – ESI Africa

Posted: at 6:06 pm

From its simple beginnings as a metering conference African Utility Week, along with its trusted official host publication ESI Africa, has spent the past two decades closely mirroring the growth of the continents energy, power and water value chains.

This article first appeared inESI AfricaIssue 2-2020.Read thefulldigimaghereorsubscribe to receive a print copy here.

As the continents water and power systems grew and became more sophisticated, the conference and exhibition expanded into one of the largest events on the continent, morphing into African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa (AUW & PGAF).

David Ashdown, Managing Director Africa for Clarion Events, in conversation with ESI Africa chalks up AUW & PGAFs longevity to its ability to mirror the development and evolution of the market. With the expo weve done well to deliver a premium audience of professionals, representing more than 90 countries. The conference brings together a good cross section of speakers from the continent and abroad while being focused on solution-providing and knowledge-sharing, says Ashdown.

He is curious and excited to see what the future holds for AUW & PGAF as it enters its third decade. While it is too early to tell how a sudden burst of digitisation brought to the fore by the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the event industry as a whole, Ashdown thinks it isnt so much that the digital world is encroaching on live events but that the two are finding a way to blend: Clarion Events has been working across the two forms of media for the past ten years and we have seen a steady convergence. The reach we have through our digital media now culminates in live events as a meeting place.

Enforced lockdowns around the world have changed how Clarion Energys entire global workforce operates: Ultimately, we have to support the industry we serve; however, we can now provide support in the development plans of our stakeholders, to work with them to achieve real results in the power and energy sector.

It is going to be challenging, bouncing back from the pandemic crisis. Our products are well positioned and the discussions at AUW & PGAF in November will be about the resilience of the industry sector and the future outlook. How does Africa manage a crisis situation? I think the situation will accelerate the digitalisation of the sector, of the energy space in Africa and the infrastructure, smart city and IoT elements.

In terms of the traditional conference and exhibitions space, Ashdown does not foresee a move away from face-to-face engagement, as we are human; it is the way we interact.

He adds that through the events media arm, we can communicate with an industry for 365 days a year and connect industry professionals to the benefit of their business, its that element that makes us very valuable. We provide a wide range of media content through our journals platforms, which range from a webinar where individuals speak on a curated topic to a panel bringing industry experts together or a debate on a web portals news story where you can take the conversation into a whole new direction.

Webinars have a huge role to play but rather than replace a physical conference, he believes there will eventually be a blended approach a simulcast where a person who cannot travel can still participate in a virtual way to attend a live conference.

Again, Ashdown points out that one simply cannot remove the human need to connect. There are people who will take a more conservative approach in the short term and the fear and anxiety created by COVID-19 might limit peoples comfort zone. It is our responsibility as event organisers to recognise that and to bring in measures in November to create a safe space.

Is the future of event conferencing virtual, though? That is the holy grail of questions, isnt it? What is the model and what would it look like? That debate could go on for many hours and end with different conclusions. But, what you lack in a purely virtual exhibition is the human connection. A virtual handshake is not the same as President Cyril Ramaphosas elbow greeting, says Ashdown. ESI

http://www.african-utility-week.com | http://www.powergenafrica.com

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An outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere – Modern Diplomacy

Posted: at 5:57 pm

New York governor Andrew Cuomo has become the articulate, compassionate political face of government competence in fighting a pandemic.

Thats quite an achievement for a man who as late as early March 2020 trumpeted: Excuse our arrogance as New Yorkers We think we have the best healthcare system on the planet right here in New York. So, when youre saying what happened in other countries versus what happened here, we dont even think its going to be as bad as it was in other countries. We are fully coordinated; we are fully mobilized.

New York was neither fully coordinated, nor was it fully mobilized.

In fact, it became the pandemics prime hotspot in the United States, accounting for the highest number of infection cases and the highest mortality rate. Its hospitals were overwhelmed, its stockpiles depleted, its frontline workers perilously exposed to risk of contagion. Many of the deaths could have been prevented had Mr. Cuomo opted to lock down the Big Apple earlier.

For now, that recent history has largely been forgotten. Mr. Cuomo thrives in his element, a rising star on Americas political ferment. His sober but empathetic, fact-based daily briefings project him as a man in command with a mission to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of his state.

If Mr. Cuomo, a veteran of dealing with the aftermaths of disasters like Hurricane Sandy, learnt anything from his delayed response to the coronavirus pandemic, it was that an outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere.

Unlike other epidemics in recent years such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS in the early 2000s, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012 or the eruption of Ebola in West Africa in 2014, the coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, left no corner of the globe untouched.

It is a lesson that goes to the heart of all that is wrong with global, regional, and national healthcare governance. It is a lesson that calls into question social and economic policies that have shaped the world for decades irrespective of political system.

It is also a lesson that goes to the core of the relationship between government and the people. It positions social trust as a pillar of an effective healthcare policy in a time of crisis.

In an era of defiance and dissent as a result of a breakdown in confidence in political systems and political leadership that kicked off with Occupy Wall Street and the 2011 Arab popular revolts and led to the rise of populists, mass anti-government demonstrations and in 2019 the toppling of leaders in Algeria, Sudan, Lebanon and Iraq, lack of trust complicated government efforts to counter the virus.

Distrust persuaded many Iranians to initially refuse to heed public health warnings to maintain social distancing, stay at home and install an Android app designed to help people self-diagnose and avoid rushing to hospital.

Pakistanis put their faith in religious leaders who rejected government demands for a halt to congregational prayers. So did many Russians as bans on mass gatherings split the clergy and threatened to undermine the Russian Orthodox Churchs key support for President Vladimir Putin.

Post-mortems of governments handling of the crisis once the coronavirus has been contained could increase the trust deficit.

Moreover, in an indication of pent-up anger and frustration that could explode, the imposition of curfews and stay-at-home orders failed to prevent incidental outbursts, including protests in mid-American states, quarantined Egyptian villages and poorer Tunisian and Moroccan hamlets.

In an echo of the Tunisian vendor who sparked the 2011 Arab revolts, 32-year-old unemployed and physically disabled Hammadi Chalbi set himself alight in a town 160 kilometres southwest of Tunis after authorities refused to license him as a fruit seller. In Lebanon, a taxi driver set his vehicle on fire while fruit vendors dumped their goods in the streets in expressions of mounting discontent. The protests suggest a universal corollary with the pandemic: an outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere.

Protesters in 2019 went beyond demanding the fall of a leader. They sought the fall of political elites and radical overhaul of failed political systems. The pandemic called an abrupt halt to the protests. Protesters like the rest of the population went into temporary hibernation.

When they re-emerge, they are likely to put government leaders who prioritized political advantage above their health and economical well-being at a cost that surpasses that of the 1929 Great Depression on par with crimes committed against humanity during times of war.

Social, economic, ethnic, and sectarian fault lines are likely to be hardened in countries like Pakistan and Iraq where militants stepped in with healthcare and other social services to fill voids created by lack of government capacity.

The pandemic further painfully illustrated the economic cost of not only failing to confront a health crisis in a timely fashion but also the risk inherent in policies that do not ensure proper healthcare infrastructure in every corner of the globe, guarantee equal access to healthcare, make sure that people irrespective of income have proper housing and nutrition, turn a blind eye to the destruction of healthcare facilities in conflict situations like Syria, Yemen, Libya, Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, tolerate millions of refugees existing in sub-standard living and hygiene conditions, and disregard environmental degradation and climate change.

The pandemic casts a spotlight on the deprivation of populations of proper healthcare as a result of politically motivated discriminatory social and economic policies.

The non-discriminatory nature of the coronavirus forced the Israeli government to ramp up testing in communities of Israeli Palestinians which had been described by public health experts as a ticking time bomb.

The experts warned that Israeli Palestinians, who figured prominently among frontline doctors and nurses treating Jews and Palestinians alike, were an at-risk group, many of whom suffer from chronic diseases, live in crowded conditions, and are socially and economically disadvantaged.

Ramping up testing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 constitutes an immediate effort to stem the tide but does little to structurally prepare Israeli and Palestinian society for the next pandemic.

Pre-dominantly Palestinian East Jerusalem is gravely neglected in every possible way in terms of the infrastructure. Most neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem dont have sewage systems. Just about every possible public service you can think of is underbudgeted and lacking in East Jerusalem. The only thing they get a lot of is parking fines and (punitive) housing demolition orders, said left-wing member of the Jerusalem municipal council Laura Wharton.

A Monopoly board centred on Jerusalem given to her by Moshe Lion, the citys mayor and a former economic advisor and director general of prime minister Benyamin Netanyahus office, illustrates the political calculus that potentially puts not only Jews and Palestinians but populations elsewhere at risk in a future pandemic.

You have here the City of David, the Mount of Olives, the Knesset (the Israeli parliament), the Montefiore windmill, the markets, (the ultra-orthodox Jewish neighbourhood of) Mea Shearim. Al Aqsa (the third holiest Muslim site) is not here, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is not here. Basically what you have is a bunch of Jewish sites and various illusions to other things. Its not a very balanced picture of Jerusalem, Ms. Wharton noted pointing at various landmarks on the board.

African Americans, Hispanics and native Americans tell the story, They have fallen disproportionately victim in the United States to the coronavirus.

US surgeon general Dr. Jerome Adams, a 45-year old African American vice admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, one of Americas eight uniformed services, pulled out his inhaler at a White House press briefing in April 2020, saying hes carried it around for 40 years, out of fear of having a fatal asthma attack.

Looking fit and trim in his dark uniform, Mr. Adams said he also had a heart condition and high blood pressure. I represent that legacy of growing up poor and black in America. And I, and many black Americans, are at higher risk for COVID.

The surgeon general said that its alarming but not surprising that people of colour have a greater burden of chronic health conditions. African Americans and native Americans develop high blood pressure at much younger ages and (the virus) does greater harm to their organs. Puerto Ricans have higher rates of asthma and black boys are three times (more) likely to die of asthma than their white counterparts. People of colour are more likely to live in densely packed areas and multi-generational housing, situations which create higher risk for the spread of a highly contagious disease like COVID-19. We tell people to wash their hands, but a study shows that 30 percent of homes of the Navajo nation dont have running water, so how are they going to do that?

What goes for one of the wealthiest nations on earth goes for the rest of the world too, particularly with the last two decades suggesting that pandemics occur more frequently and are likely to do so going forward.

What started in Wuhan in China in December 2019 had by April 2020 brought the world to a virtual standstill. Millions across the globe were infected, tens of thousands did not survive, economies shut down and the prospects for recovery and return to what was normal seemed a mere hope in a distant future.

Andrew Cuomo may be the exception that confirms the rule. There is little in the response of leaders from Chinas Xi Jingping to Russias Vladimir Putin, Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald J. Trump that suggests that the lesson that an outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere has persuaded them to think in terms of structural change.

If the first six months of the coronavirus are anything to go by, the name of the game has been jockeying for political positions, ideology trumps science, and everyone for him or herself in a race to the bottom rather than apolitical banding together globally, regionally and nationally to fight a dangerous and debilitating common enemy.

The response to the pandemic reflected the crumbling of the post-World War Two international order that is in the grips of a struggle by big and medium-sized powers to shape global governance in the 21st century.

The struggle has already crippled the United Nations and politicization of the coronavirus and healthcare threatens to undermine the World Health Organization, the one, albeit flawed, structure capable of coordinating a global response.

Complicating the response, was the rise of civilizationalists like Mr. Xi, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban and Mr. Trump who think in civilizational rather than national terms.

They conceive of their nations as civilizations in which Hans, Hindus or Christians rule supreme and there is no equal place for minorities rather than nation states defined by legally recognized borders, population, and language.

Theirs is a world of neglect for international law, increased conflict, political violence, and mass migration that promises to be even less prepared for the next pandemic. It is also a world in which early warning systems are weakened by muzzling of a free press.

Former US president Barak Obama, in his opening blast against Trump in the run-up to the November presidential election, put his finger on the pulse.

What we are fighting against is these long-term trends in which being selfish, being tribal, being divided and seeing others an enemy, that that has become a stronger impulse in American life. And by the way, you know, we are seeing that internationally as well. And its part of the reason why the response to this global crisis has been so anaemic and spotty It has been an absolute chaotic disaster when that mindset of whats in it for me and to heck with everybody else when that mindset is operationalized in our government, Mr. Obama told a virtual gathering of his former staffers.

The pandemic demonstrates the need for coordinated policies ranging from global, regional, and national stock piling, international cooperation in medical research and development, conflict mediation, protection of minority rights, environment, absorption of refugees and robust but diversified supply chains.

It also highlights the importance to healthcare of eradication of poverty and proper social security nets, housing, hygiene, and access to water in a world in which an outbreak anywhere is an outbreak everywhere.

The pandemic positions an approach towards healthcare that is integrated into sustainable social and economic policies as a matter of global and national security on par with regional and national defense and security policies and investments.

It also raises the question of what role major non-governmental institutions like the Clinton Initiative, George Soros and the Gates Foundation can play.

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