In March the WHO published its report on its investigation into the origins of Sars-Covid-19, concluding that it originated in animal markets around Wuhan. Many disagree and point to the Wuhan Institute of Virology as the most likely source.
Here retired radiologist and author Professor Paul Goddard, FRCR, interviews Professor Angus Dalgleish, Professor of Oncology, St George’s Hospital, University of London, where he researches vitamin D and cancer (see article in issue 101), about his work on establishing the virus’ origins and his support for vitamin D to boost the immune system.
PG My first question is this. What makes you uniquely qualified to talk about the origin and treatment of Covid-19?
AD I don’t think that I’m uniquely qualified as such. However, I did a research degree into human retroviruses and much of the early research on how HIV enters human cells. We showed that the CD4 marker on lymphocytes acted as the receptor for HIV. I then researched how HIV causes AIDS and showed that this was not by killing cells via the CD4 receptor, as had previously been believed, but by interacting with other receptors causing immune activation. I believe that gave me an interest and an insight into how the Covid-19 virus causes disease.
PG So why are other virologists and immunologists not speaking up?
AD Some of them are and they are asking for a new enquiry into the origins of the virus but what surprises me is that more clinical virologists and other scientists are not speaking out.
Read the complete article in issue 105.