A genius? I just love studying.

Chapter 328 We owe Xiao Chen too much.

Chengdu, West China Hospital
Jiaqi's face was full of a bright smile. After more than half a month of treatment, all her indicators have now completely returned to normal, which means that she is now just an ordinary person!

Although the doctor still advised her to have a check-up at the hospital every two weeks, she felt better than ever before. She believed in Chen Hui and she believed that she was really cured.

Her parents, who were following behind her, also had smiles on their faces, but there was a hint of worry hidden in their smiles.

The illness came on so quickly that they were completely unprepared, and it also left so quickly that it felt like a dream, like something unreal, and they were always worried that they would be woken up from their dreams at any moment.

She applied for treatment as soon as Nirvana One was launched. She had originally planned to give up treatment. If she couldn't live healthily, she would rather die, so she was willing to take the risk.

The result did not disappoint her; she was given a new lease on life.

"Uncle Tianhua, when is Chen Shen coming back? You said you'd let me have dinner with him."

Jiaqi looked at Li Tianhua beside her, her eyes shining brightly, "I know a really delicious stir-fry place, I'm going to take Chen Shen there!"

Around them, there was also laughter and joy. Cancer patients who had used Nirvana No. 1 extensively were now recovering and had been given a new lease on life. No one could help but feel happy.

Such scenes are rarely seen in hospitals.

The doctors and nurses around them sighed with emotion, thinking of Chen Hui who developed Nirvana No. 1, and couldn't help but feel fortunate.

It is truly a blessing for the nation that someone like Chen Shen was born in China.

Amidst their laughter and merriment, they were unaware of what was happening far away in Suzhou, nor did they know that their revered Chen Hui was currently working late into the night in the laboratory. This time, Chen Hui did not ask his assistant for help; times had changed, and virus research carried a certain degree of danger.

He introduced an artificial cell line containing the MGC2A gene to form control group A, then introduced a normal cell line to form control group B, and then infected the two groups of cells with identical virus samples respectively.

In Group A, after the virus enters the cell, it replicates rapidly, and a large number of cells die within 24 hours, resulting in a surge in viral production.

In Group B, the virus can also enter cells, but its replication efficiency is extremely low, and it is quickly cleared by the cell's natural immune system, producing almost no new infectious viruses.

The conclusion is already quite obvious!

Chen Hui stared intently at the data curves on the display screen.

The red curve representing group A rises steeply like a cliff, while the blue curve representing group B lies limply on the ground.

The laboratory's low temperature seemed to instantly seep into his bones. This was not a natural disaster, but a meticulously planned massacre, precise down to the molecular level!

The virus itself is just a carrier; the real killer is the genetic code deeply embedded in some people's bodies. It is a gun with a genetic scope, and MGC2A is the only bullseye.

Now that we know the root cause of this virus, solving it becomes much easier.

Traditional antiviral approaches, whether vaccines or drugs, aim to destroy the virus itself, block its entry into cells, inhibit its replication, or neutralize its toxicity.

However, this virus itself is harmless and not much different from ordinary proteins, making it too difficult to eliminate precisely, and the virus may mutate due to their elimination efforts.

Once a mutation occurs, the situation will deteriorate drastically, bringing more variables and potentially infecting ordinary people who do not carry the MGC2A gene. They will also be dragged into the quagmire of mutations, where solving one mutation may lead to the emergence of a new one, thus entering a protracted battle.

This is not the outcome Chen Hui wanted to see.

Therefore, he had to change his approach. If this virus is a smart lock, waiting for the special protein expressed by the MGC2A gene to open it and release the demon hidden inside.

So instead of trying to break the lock head-on, he now creates countless fake keys that are indistinguishable from the real thing, filling every corner of the cell.

The real virus becomes indistinguishable, overwhelmed and misled by these false keys, ultimately exhausting its energy in endless erroneous attempts, yet never able to open that deadly door.

With his experience designing Nirvana-1, Chen Hui quickly developed a complete plan.

He designed a gene therapy vector based on adeno-associated virus that is extremely safe and can efficiently infect respiratory cells. The vector carries a gene sequence that expresses a protein that mimics the MGC2A activation signal.

This carrier can be made into a gene spray or inhaled drug.

When anyone uses it, whether they are a target population carrying the MGC2A gene or a general population, their respiratory cells will temporarily express a large number of false signals.

When a real virus invades, it encounters countless false targets at the same time. When the virus combines with a false target, it only produces some non-toxic proteins and no more virus is produced, thus eliminating the possibility of virus generation at the source.

Three days later, Chen Hui, who hadn't slept for three days and three nights, walked out of the laboratory and handed a bottle of spray to Xiao Jiang, who was waiting outside the laboratory. "Give this to the frontline doctors to try. I have already sent the specific preparation method to Professor Qian's email."

Xiao Jiang stared wide-eyed as he took the spray from Chen Hui, his mind filled with absurdity. "Could it be that he solved the novel virus that had been troubling hundreds of biologists and medical workers in just three days?"

However, considering his previous impressive achievements, he suddenly felt that it wasn't so hard to accept. He then held the spray bottle as if it were a treasure and strode out of the laboratory.

"Hello Professor Chen, is there anything else you need to help with?"

Xiao Jiang left, but a new person took his place. A young man who looked much younger came up to Chen Hui, his eyes filled with admiration for his idol and excitement at seeing him.

"Find me a place first, I want to get a good night's sleep."

Chen Hui rubbed his numb forehead; even with his robust constitution, he still felt somewhat dizzy.

"Everything has been prepared for you. Please follow me."

As a leader's secretary, Xiao Jiang had the foresight to prepare a rest room for Chen Hui as soon as he entered the laboratory.

The lounge room contained a large Simmons mattress and a down comforter.

Chen Hui threw himself hard into the soft quilt and almost instantly lost consciousness.

……

Outside Suzhou, a makeshift virus research institute was looking at the data coming from the capital, as well as the bottle of spray that had been rushed over.

"Does this really work?"

Virologist Zhang Hongen frowned; they had all heard the news from Beijing.

It is said that Professor Chen originally went to report on his work, but unexpectedly learned about the epidemic, so he joined the research and spent three days making this spray.

Three days!

They've been researching this for three months already; if it weren't for the timely lockdown, it would probably have been out of control long ago.

That guy solved it in just three days?
How can these virologists accept this?

“Since it was Professor Chen who took action, it shouldn’t be without reason,” another virologist said in a low voice.

Let's give it a try first!

A frontline medical worker grabbed the reagents and headed to the lab. Time was of the essence, and he didn't have time to waste with these virologists.

Of course, he still needs to conduct necessary verifications before using it on patients.

The verification process is simple, direct, and even somewhat crude.

Medical worker Lao Zhao applied the spray directly to the in vitro cultured virus and the infected human cell line. According to the concise, almost arrogant, instructions that came with the spray, it should take effect immediately. The laboratory was so quiet that only the faint hum of the instruments could be heard.

Zhang Hongen and several other experts stood around the microscope and real-time PCR instrument, their faces filled with doubt and a hint of barely perceptible expectation, or rather, expectation to see this myth shattered.

An hour passed.

"Look! The cytopathic effect has stopped!" a young researcher exclaimed, pointing to the data on the screen.

The PCR results also showed that the viral load dropped precipitously in the infected group, while the virus in the control group continued to replicate rapidly.

"This... how is this possible?" Zhang Hongen leaned close to the microscope and saw with his own eyes that the cells that should have been torn apart by the virus were now maintaining a relatively intact shape.

His initial defiance was quickly replaced by shock, and then by the fervor of a scientist: "Quick! Conduct animal experiments! Use the infected mouse model from our quarantine area!"

The results from animal experiments were even more shocking.

A group of mice that had developed obvious symptoms and were on the verge of death began to show improvement within hours of inhaling the spray, and most of the mice miraculously stood up and began to forage for food 24 hours later.

"Amazing...it's really amazing..." Old Zhao murmured to himself as he looked at the mouse that had regained its vitality on the monitoring screen.

He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on the seemingly ordinary spray bottle. "What are we waiting for? Saving lives is the priority!"

This time, no one raised any objections.

After rigorous ethical review and informed consent, the spray was used on several of the most critically ill patients whose families had signed consent forms for the experimental therapy.

Immediate results!

The high fever subsided within hours, blood oxygen saturation steadily recovered, and the shadows on lung imaging began to be absorbed.

The news spread like a spring breeze through the lifeless isolation wards and the exhausted medical team, sweeping away the atmosphere of despair and replacing it with the ecstatic joy of surviving a disaster.

Zhang Hongen personally called the Beijing authorities, his tone filled with excitement and apology, "Secretary Jiang, please convey my apologies to Professor Chen."

Although he did not confront Chen Hui directly, he felt he needed to apologize to Chen Hui after reflecting on his actions.

"Professor Chen's reagent has taken effect?"

Secretary Jiang asked excitedly.

"Preliminary clinical trials have been conducted, and the results are excellent!"

Zhang Hongen shared the latest intelligence with Secretary Jiang: "If there are no unforeseen circumstances, it will be put into use in a few months, and the siege of Suzhou will soon be lifted."

"Okay, great!"

Secretary Jiang said excitedly that at this moment, Chen Hui's image in his mind became infinitely lofty.

He had heard countless amazing stories about Chen Hui before, but he had only heard about them and had not experienced them firsthand. He always had a vague feeling of watching flowers from afar. It was not until this incident that he had a personal experience and understood the power of the name Chen Hui.

"You've all worked hard too!"

After the initial excitement subsided, Secretary Jiang offered Zhang Hongen a word of encouragement before hanging up the phone and heading towards the conference room.

Inside the conference room, Mr. Qian was discussing important matters with several other elderly people. Secretary Jiang did not disturb them, but waited quietly outside the conference room until more than an hour later when a group of elderly people came out of the conference room. Only then did he come to Mr. Qian's side.

"Professor Chen's drug is extremely effective. Academician Zhang Hongen and his team have already conducted clinical trials. The siege of Suzhou will be lifted in a few months."

"What?"

Old Zhao stared at Secretary Jiang in disbelief, wondering if he had misheard.

He did hear from Qian Lao that Chen Hui happened to be involved in the virus issue and got involved. At the time, they all supported the idea, believing that with Chen Hui's involvement, it would likely yield good results.

But how long has it been?
three days?

He was momentarily at a loss for words, feeling both amused and exasperated.

The other elderly people looked at each other in bewilderment. They had been racking their brains over this matter for months, but Chen Hui had solved it so easily.

"It's really amazing!"

Lin Zhengtian was stunned for a long time before finally uttering only this sentence.

Old Qian was overjoyed and laughed loudly, saying, "Young Chen is truly a pillar of the nation and a lucky star for China!"

"Where is he now?"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Secretary Jiang.

"Resting in the lounge near the lab."

Secretary Jiang said, "Professor Chen stayed up for three days and three nights in the laboratory to develop that spray."

The elderly people were all solemn.

Old Qian remained silent for a long time before letting out a long sigh, "We owe Xiao Chen too much!"

……

In the lounge, when Chen Hui opened his eyes again, the sun was already setting outside the window. He rubbed his still throbbing head and struggled to get out of bed. He checked the time and found that it was already 5 p.m. the next day.

I slept for almost twenty hours straight, something that had never happened before.

After a quick wash, Chen Hui walked out of the lounge, rubbing his empty stomach.

"Professor Chen, you're awake!"

The moment the door opened, Secretary Jiang came to greet us. "We've prepared some food for you. Would you like to have something to eat first?"

"Well, take me there."

Chen Hui nodded. Although he could tell the result from Secretary Jiang's attitude, he still asked, "How effective was my reagent?"

"Academician Zhang and his team have entered the clinical trial stage, and so far, the results are excellent."

Secretary Jiang said excitedly.

Upon arriving at a nearby meeting room, I had barely sat down when someone quickly brought me freshly made hot and sour shredded potatoes, twice-cooked pork, and vegetable and tofu soup.

"This is Sichuan cuisine that we specially prepared for you. We were worried that you might be too tired, so we chose a few lighter dishes. Please try them and see if they are authentic."

Secretary Jiang introduced him from the side, as if he were now Chen Hui's secretary, not Qian Lao's.

(End of this chapter)