Researchers Identify 73 Novel Variants Of COVID-19 Strain In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Researchers from CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi and Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar have identified 73 novel variants of the COVID-19 strain in Odisha.

In a joint research, the team carried out sequencing of 1,536 samples including 752 clinical samples and reported two lineages – B.1.112 and B.1.99 – for the first time in India.

“If one gets to know the detailed character of the novel coronavirus, it will be very easy to treat patients and cure them,” a news agency quoted Dr Jayashankar Das, lead investigator and director (research) of the IMS and SUM Hospital, saying.

The research team, supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), validated the most-advanced COVID-19 sequencing technology. This could be a potential high-sensitivity assay for the detection of SARS- CoV-2 with the additional advantage of enabling genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, Das said.

With this study, India has beaten 12 organisations in 10 countries to complete the first field validation and release the data online, he said, quoting a report by sequencing tech giant Illumina.

The IMS and SUM Hospital researchers are also undertaking the sequencing and analysis of 500 viral genomes to understand the mild, moderate and critical coronavirus infection and its transmission capabilities, Das said. The study will help understand the vulnerability of the strains, new therapeutic target and new mutation in eastern India, especially in Odisha, he added.