Surgery Godfather-Chapter 1388 - 1049: The Castrated Virus_2

K factor can initiate the apoptosis program of tumor cells, causing their death. In the event it goes out of control, it could initiate the apoptosis program of normal cells. Once injected into the human body, it would indiscriminately attack human cells, including cells of vital organs, such as the brain, heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys causing widespread cell death, which could rapidly lead to organ failure and result in the patient’s death.

Therefore, during the design of the experimental plan, Yang Ping also considered this issue. To prevent the experiment from going out of control, he castrated the viruses, which means stripping them of their replication capabilities. Thus, no matter how destructive they are, they are not to be feared as they cannot divide, so they remain limited in quantity and combat effectiveness. Moreover, even if these viruses are highly destructive, they are bound to be eradicated.

In the laboratory, a small amount can first be injected into the human body. If unforeseen destruction occurs, the injection is stopped immediately, and symptomatic treatment is administered. The viruses will slowly die within the human body, making it much safer.

The technique of castrating the virus’s replication capability is very mature, such as when manufacturing vaccines, like viral vector vaccines.

It involves using a virus (such as adenovirus) as a vector to prepare the vaccine. These vector viruses are stripped of the genes needed for replication beforehand, enabling them to infect human cells but unable to replicate. The genes corresponding to the specific proteins of the target pathogen are inserted into the vector virus genome. When the prepared vaccine is injected into the human body, it infects the body cells and expresses the specific proteins inside the cells, triggering both humoral and cellular immunity, thereby providing high immunogenicity.

This process is quite similar to what Yang Ping is experimenting with now, so sometimes interdisciplinary integration can create something new. Things normally used in one field, when applied in a new field, might have significant new effects.

The first batch of experimental viruses, through genetic recombination technology, has had the necessary genes for replication knocked out and has undergone a "sterilization surgery." Thus, even if extremely rare mutations occur, they cannot pass on this mutation, and mutated individuals will die quickly.

Professor Zhang Zhiwei personally participated in the experiment. He observed sampled viral specimens under an electron microscope and has not found any mutations so far, indicating that their purity meets the experimental requirements.

Regarding viral mutations, not all mutations are detrimental to us. Very rare mutations might be fatal, but they might also be beneficial. Most mutations have neither adverse nor favorable effects, with some mutations causing no changes at all—these are called "silent mutations."

There are many causes of viral mutations, such as replication errors, interactions with the host, and external conditions, like ultraviolet rays. In the current laboratory experiments, the primary cause of mutations is replication errors. After being injected into the human body, mutations may also occur based on interactions with the human body, but since these viruses are castrated versions, even if mutations occur, the impact is minimal.

Professor Zhang Zhiwei successfully obtained a certain amount of samples that temporarily meet the experimental standards. He eagerly shared this good news with Yang Ping.

Upon receiving the news, Yang Ping rushed to the laboratory at Nandu Medical University at the highest speed to personally see these K virus complexes and what exactly they are. For their sake, Yang Ping has made great efforts.

If everything goes well, he will proceed to manufacture the virus into an injectable solution, then use a vaccine-like cold chain transport to deliver them to the Surgical Research Institute. In the ward, Yang Ping plans to inject these brand-new viruses into Sisi’s body. After the injection, a close observation will be conducted.

"I’ve been working with viruses for so many years, knowing that vaccines often use viruses as transportation means, but I never thought they could also treat tumors?" Professor Zhang Zhiwei couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful.

Yang Ping told him, "I first discovered the K factor before choosing to use viruses as a transport tool. Without the K factor, having the virus as a transport tool alone is meaningless."

Professor Zhang Zhiwei thought for a moment. Yang Ping’s words made sense. Actually, his project’s focus wasn’t the virus as a transport tool, an old method already applied in many fields; it was on the K factor, whose most technically substantive aspect is its ability to initiate tumor cell apoptosis and kill tumor cells. This is arguably a revolutionary discovery in the field of oncology.

"Make these viruses into injectable biological agents as soon as possible, and then send them to our department. I want to start human trials as soon as possible." Yang Ping confirmed that these viruses meet the experimental requirements.

"Do we really have to rush this?" Professor Zhang Zhiwei was constantly feeling uneasy, always feeling that things were being rushed and fearing that there was a problem somewhere, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it might be.

"Yes, my patient doesn’t have the time to wait too long, I must race against the clock," Yang Ping honestly told him.

Professor Zhang Zhiwei said with confusion, "I really want to know what kind of patient is worth you taking such risks, personally I think you could proceed step-by-step, not hurrying or worrying. Even if you miss this patient, there are many similar cases; one less won’t make a difference."

Yang Ping did not offer any further explanations, and Professor Zhang Zhiwei did not ask again.

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Director Zhu had completed his revenge; he did not immediately leave China for Singapore but stayed to attend Yang Ping’s wedding.

Anning Group’s overseas headquarters is located in Singapore, and since being dispatched there, he has been living in Singapore with his family, with his children also schooling there; his family had settled in Singapore.

His rivalry with the Japanese insurance company had finally drawn to a close. He defeated the Japanese, firmly securing the Southeast Asia market, and was now preparing to expand into Europe and America, truly going global.

From the company’s development perspective, this competition with the Japanese was a matter of survival. He did not let everyone down, successfully defeated the Japanese, and won this fierce business battle.

As for personal vengeance, he also successfully completed his splendid revenge. After all these years, he finally regained justice for himself. Recollecting these years’ experiences, he felt a multitude of emotions and a bit of discomfort, but he was very satisfied with his current life.

Back then, the handling of his situation by the Provincial People’s Hospital was entirely wrong. They did not withstand the pressure of public opinion and, despite clearly knowing that Director Zhu was framed and wronged, still bluntly dismissed him.

Those hospital leaders did so just to muddy the waters, aiming to preserve their own positions. Being medically trained, how could they not know that it was a surgery to create an artificial opening in the intestine? How could they not know that the reporter was deliberately slandering Director Zhu? But at that time, they feigned ignorance, rudely dismissed Director Zhu to quickly put out fires, which utterly disheartened Director Zhu.

Thus, since his dismissal, Director Zhu had never set foot in the Provincial People’s Hospital again.

However, he was now going back once; representing Anning Insurance Company, he donated two hundred million RMB to the hospital for the development of key disciplines. The Anning Group was very generous, having donated money to several top hospitals in Nandu Province.

Currently, Director Zhu’s annual salary is not only several tens of millions of RMB, but he also holds company shares. With salary and dividends combined, his annual income has reached over a hundred million, making him one of the key figures in China’s insurance sector, and the pioneer truly pushing Chinese insurance overseas.

Now, Director Zhu’s return to the Provincial People’s Hospital can be seen as a triumphant homecoming. He originally wanted to meet the dean who had dismissed him, but, unfortunately, did not get a chance because the dean had been imprisoned two years ago due to financial issues. He couldn’t believe how much had changed over the years; suddenly, he felt the transience of life.

He returned to his original department. The old department director had retired, and the current Department Director was a contemporary of his. He looked around the hospital ward, doctor’s office, and duty room, which remained unchanged, even the beds weren’t replaced, making him inevitably feel a flood of emotions.