Nagpur:- It is important to get sufficient knowledge about the virus to win the battle against Covid-19’s global pandemic. To this end, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has initiated an ‘SEQ-Mission’ aimed at sequencing over 500 viral genomes from Covid.
Covid-19 is caused by a coronavirus, whose genetic material is RNA (ribonucleic acid), and not DNA. The virus is pathogenic according to scientists as it has some commands in its RNA that allow it to bind to humans.
Through using the sequencing method, it is possible to read the commands on a genome which is the entire gene set of a living organism. The SEQ-Mission method was compiled by Atya Kapley, senior lead scientist at the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Neeri), which is a constituent CSIR laboratory.
The compilation notes that genome sequencing will include the virus’ blueprint and help in the creation of improved clinical care systems. “The SEQ-Mission will concentrate on sequencing the viral genome from samples obtained from every part of the world. Through the number of samples, the better the interpretation of pathogenesis would be, “he said.
Kapley has told us that the country has already sequenced 28 Covid virus genomes. “CSIR plans to do 500 in four weeks’ time. There are samples of viruses from different positive patients. And if we do pan India we will see more clearly what kind of strains we are being contaminated with, “she added.
The additional said the sequencing would be carried out in-house at CSIR-IGIB (Delhi) and CSIR-CCMB (Hyderabad). Both institutes claim to have the sequencing facilities needed.
Highlighting the need to research more samples to battle the disease, the compilation said, “Much like the human genome project where it was important to sequence all races and populations recognize the similarity in our DNA as well as the specific characteristics of each race, in the case of Covid the same is important. It will help scientists understand why certain people are more vulnerable to different diseases, why some are safe, and so on.
Similarly, we need to sequence the virus through various regions of the world in order to understand variants, otherwise, we won’t be able to develop foolproof drugs and recognize how the virus is binding on human receptors. “The compilation added that mutations were found to be widespread in the SARS-CoV-2 genome (the coronavirus that caused Covid-19), adding that their protein expression is related to wi Mutations are variants of the original series.
“These clinical results are important to explain the many outbreaks that have occurred in various populations. There are three major recognized lineages for beta-corona virus (Lineages A-B-C), and lineage-B belongs to SARS-CoV-2. Such results have been possible from numerous tests, and are still being studied in many patients for respiratory infection, gastrointestinal, and CNS infection. It is therefore advisable to include several sequences and samples as India is second in the population of the world, “he said.
Highlighting the major advantages of sequencing the viral genome, Kapley said, “The most important consequence of the sequencing exercise is that it would reveal the genetic codes for viral pathogenesis and its lifecycle, its variants and binding patterns for drugs. All of these are important questions that need answers if we are to fight and conquer this pandemic.
