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UNAIR NEWS – Ilham Rahmanto, Ardelia Bertha Prastika, and Salsabila Farah Rafidah are three students winning the Runner-up position in the 2021 International Essay Competition. Ilham as the team leader, revealed that through a competition held by the Faculty of Medicine (FK) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), the students could generate their creative ideas in dealing with the pandemic.

Starting from Ilham, Ardel, and Salsa’s concern about the Covid-19 diagnosis method, which still has many weaknesses, the three came up with an alternative method using the CRISPR-Cas13 genetic engineering technology based on gold nanoparticles. CRISPR is a bacterial defense mechanism to fight foreign genetic material such as viruses and plasmids by cutting the foreign DNA.

“Until now, there is still no definite cure for Covid-19. The vaccination program run by the government also only aims to prevent, and it turns out that CRISPR technology has the potential to be the latest treatment for COVID-19, “explained Ilham.

Furthermore, Ilham explained that he and his team designed a strip that utilizes the genetic engineering technology CRISPR-Cas13 to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in less than an hour. According to Ilham, the strips have specifications that are not much different from RT-PCR as the gold standard.

“We also designed an aerosol drug that uses the genetic engineering technology CRISPR-Cas13 to treat COVID-19 directly in lung epithelial cells, which is the most common location for SARS-CoV-2,” he added on Monday, July 26, 2021.

Before participating in the competition, Ilham and his team had made extensive preparation. They had brainstorming sessions and agreed on some ideas, essay drafting to mechanisms and products illustration making.

“When we were declared runners-up, we felt grateful because we were able to qualify among other equally great ideas. We are also motivated more to provide other ideas to help the Indonesian government overcome the pandemic,” said Ilham.

Finally, Ilham advised other students to get out of their comfort zone to become great students. What is needed now, he continued, is the courage to decide.

“The pandemic does limit our communication, but the pandemic cannot limit our desire to excel,” he concluded. (*)

Author: Dita Aulia Rahma

Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh