When two years ago, DARPA launched a program of Pandemic Preparedness Platform (P3) (Platform on preparedness for a pandemic), the probability of a pandemic was purely theoretical. Researchers working in the framework of this program, was looking for ways instant protection from dangerous infections.
The P3 plan was the fact that on the basis of any pathogen to develop within two months, the way to combat the dangerous disease. Then the team has successfully coped with the task.
In relation to the new epidemic coronavirus 60-day program P3 starts with drawing blood from a person, recover from COVID-19. Then scientists will try to extract from the sample all the protective antibodies produced by a patient’s body to fight disease. Using modelling and bioinformatics, they will select the most effective for neutralizing a pathogen by antibody. Then determine the genetic sequence that codes for the creation of selected antibodies. The resulting fragment of the genetic code is reproduced and scales for mass use.
According to the Manager of P3 Amy Jenkins, this approach is much faster than the production of the antibodies themselves. Once the patient receives an injection, “his body becomes a bioreactor” that create antibodies. At DARPA is called “fire” technology, because it can provide immediate immunity for medical staff, ambulance staff and other vulnerable people.