How Genome Surveillance Can Help Us Stay Ahead of New Coronaviruses

How is genome monitoring performed?

As experts at the University of Pittsburgh state in an article in The Conversation, the Covid-19 Diagnostic Test involves determining if an individual has the disease. Patience “.

“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, this type of genomic surveillance was reserved primarily for conducting small-scale studies of antibiotic-resistant strains, investigating outbreaks, and monitoring influenza strains,” the researchers said. I am writing. The pandemic heralds an era of genomic surveillance, where scientists are tracking viral genomic changes at unprecedented speeds and scales. “

Genome monitoring involves the following tasks: Sequence of positive samples Sars-CoV-2 is used to determine its overall genetic makeup. This reveals changes in regions of the genome that scientists can measure how those changes affect the behavior of the virus.

WHO says that variant tracking is ” Genome monitoring However, WHO performs sequencing because such sequencing requires highly labed and highly trained researchers and is lacking in most countries around the world. He pointed out that countries with low capacity are “strong.” We encouraged you to take steps to facilitate access to existing regional and international sequencing networks and partnerships. “

Although sequencing capabilities are “significantly different inside and outside the country,” the United Nations Health Organization states that “as the pandemic progressed, the capacity of Sars-CoV-2 sequencing activities expanded significantly.”

How do you like it India Do you carry out genome monitoring?

According to the Genome Surveillance Guidelines published in July this year, SARS of India-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) was established to expand the genome sequencing of Sars-CoV-2 nationwide, initially starting with a network of 10 regional laboratories nationwide, and then 28 centers mapped to states and UT. It states that it has been expanded to include. Smooth flow of samples.

“The overall goal is … to regularly monitor the genomic mutations in Sars-CoV-2 through a network of multiple laboratories,” said INSACOG. The purpose of such monitoring is to achieve early detection of mutations and determine genomic mutations. In the case of breakthrough infectious diseases, superspreading events, etc., we correlate monitoring data with epidemiological data and propose public health activities based on such analysis.

For this reason, INSACOG has identified “sentinel sites” designated for state and UT RT-PCR laboratories and secondary and tertiary care hospitals. Such sentinel sites were expected to cover at least 80% of the state districts where the lab was needed. Send at least 15 samples every 15 days to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Lab (IGSL).

One of the key requirements WHO has described for genome monitoring is to send genome sequences to internationally available databases, such as databases managed by GISAID. In a global health crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic, close cooperation between national and health professionals could lead to a swift response to the rise of new variants, public databases It is an important support for that purpose.

GISAID is one of the most prominent. Global genome database We maintain a repository of Sars-CoV-2 variants and have submitted over 5.5 million samples so far. Iceland leads the list of countries at 523 in terms of sequences submitted every 1,000. So far, India has submitted 1.66 sequences for every 1,000 cases, with the United States, which has the highest number of cases in the world, and Brazil, which has the third highest number of cases, at 29.1 and 3.05, respectively.

Read all the latest news, Breaking news When Coronavirus news here.follow me Facebook, twitter When telegram..