COVID-19: CSIR Institute IMTech Starts Whole-Genome Sequencing Of Coronavirus

CHANDIGARH: One more institute of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has started whole-genome sequencing of novel coronavirus.

Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTech) has taken up the task of large-scale genome sequencing of the virus.

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and the Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology are already working on this.

Director IMTech Dr Sanjeev Khosla said that the complete genome sequence information will enable researchers to gain insights about the virus origins, different strains circulating in India and how it has spread across the country.

He said that the genomic resource obtained from this sequencing will also allow identification of new targets for diagnosis and drugs for COVID-19.

The whole-genome sequencing is a method used to determine the complete DNA sequence of a specific organism’s genome. CSIR-IMTech will perform sequencing of the SARS-Cov-2 RNA genome isolated from clinical samples.

So far, 9000 samples have been sequenced internationally as per Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) – a public platform started by the WHO in 2008 for countries to share genome sequences.

Dr. Khosla also said that the institute has already started clinical testing of samples for the project.

from League of India