Role of Genome sequencing in elucidating new Covid Strains: Indian Perspective

Regular Genomic studies are proved to be a boon in spotting the origin of the virus as well as possible sources of transferral to humans. A recent study published in the Journal of Biosciences suggested that in India we do have more than 7000 mutations of the coronavirus and some of them can cause serious illness. The study is carried out by the scientists of CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). Generally, a virus mutates at regular intervals and doesn’t change the whole virus.

The Director of the CCMB, Dr. Rakesh Mishra, highlighted that the N440K variant is more susceptible and spreading at a higher rate in Southern states and added that is not necessary that every mutation have to become a variant. Although official of NITI Aayog has said that in India, a total of 187 people so far tested positive for UK strain while only 6 people have occupied South Africa variant. Even though increasing cases in Maharashtra are not because of this new variant, so the sequencing concern is not provoking here.

On 10 January, the first genomic sequencing was made available by the global public repository GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data), named the original virus from Wuhan (WIV 04-reference or hCoV-19/Wuhan/WIV04/2019). According to the study, The mutations are called synonymous when there is no change to the amino acid encoded and non-synonymous when the protein acquires a change due to the mutation. SARS-CoV-2 has acquired new mutations at the rate of ~2 changes per month so far. Thus, the viral sequences seen today differ from the Wuhan variant at around 20 points in their genomes.

Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) has been established to screen the genomic varieties in the SARS-CoV-2 frequently through a multi-research center organization. INSACOG is a consortium of 10 labs in particular DBT-NIBMG Kalyani, DBT-CDFD Hyderabad, DBT-InSTEM/NCBS Bengaluru, DBT-ILS Bhubaneswar, ICMR-NIV Pune, DBT-NCCS Pune, CSIR-CCMB Hyderabad, NIMHANS Bengaluru, CSIR-IGIB Delhi, and NCDC Delhi.

The study disclosed that more genome sequencing is required to understand the nature and severity of the virus. Since in India, genomic sequencing of SARS CoV-2 isolates has not been done in full capacity as only 6400 genomes of over the huge cases of 10.4 million recorded cases that is only 0.06% which is considerably low. Moreover closer and constant surveillance is required because viruses will mutate as it is the nature of the virus but we need to have such type of surveillance to combat.

References:

1. http://ddnews.gov.in/health/indian-sars-cov-2-genomics-consortium-insacog-launched
2. https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-has-7684-coronavirus-mutations-finds-study-heres-what-you-need-to-know-9336781.html
3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12038-021-00145-7#Tab1