Pakistani Scientists Identified Coronavirus Genome Sequence

By Umer Atiq 5 Min Read April 6, 2020 News Add Comment

KARACHI: University of Karachi’s department “Jamil Rahman Center for Genome Research” and Dow University of Health Sciences Scientists have remarkably identified the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) genome sequence.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry said that Jamil-ur-Rahman Centre for genome Research, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of Karachi has carried out the whole genome sequencing of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 medically known as SARS-CoV-2 has affected more than 1,276,302 people and 69,527 people have already lost their battle against the deadly coronavirus.

It is very vital to know how the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 spreads and what are its behaviors.

Under the supervision of Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed and with the collaboration of the Dow University of Health Sciences a young group of scientists has carried out the genome sequencing of the deadly and highly contagious coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Karachi, Pakistan.

To have a better insight into the behaviors and spread patterns, it is extremely important to know the genetics of the deadly, extremely contagious and novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which was perfectly mapped by the young scientists of Karachi University.

To know exactly how the Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is evolving, more and more genomes of the Novel coronavirus from Pakistan have to be examined.

Genetic variations occur and it is vital to examine more and more coronavirus genome sequences so that it is known how the virus is evolving in a country.

According to Dr. Iqbal to have a set of variant genomes of coronavirus will be of great help, as it will make also be a source of assistance for the decisions pertaining to future therapies and vaccinations at the national level.

The analysis of the whole coronavirus genome sequence from Pakistan revealed that it had nine mutations in different regions of the genome as compared with the coronavirus genome sequence that was analyzed in Wuhan, China.

The genome sequencing has been done using the next-generation DNA sequencing systems and the sample of coronavirus was taken from a patient in Karachi who had a traveling history as said by Dr. Ishtiaq, who is also the director of International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at Karachi University.

Dr. Ishtiaq also added that mutation is the change that occurs in the DNA of all organisms and that the analysis of coronavirus genome sequence from Pakistan has revealed that the virus is similar to the one from Wuhan, China and also has the same proteins and enzymes.

Further, he added that the coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has no drug or vaccine for its treatment or prevention.

The genetic repository of any infectious agent is vital for its prevention as well as clinical management.

The analysis report of the coronavirus genome sequence revealed that the virus is slowly mutating and to know the extent of severity of this epidemic in a particular region it is vital to monitor the way, rate and nature of variations occurring. Analyzing mutations impacts on the effectiveness of measures taken against a pandemic.

The novel coronavirus emerged in the city of Wuhan, China but now the viral outbreak is under control in China.

Europe, on the other hand, has become the hotspot of this pandemic. Italy and Spain are among the countries bearing the brunt. More than half of the total fatalities that have occurred so far are from Italy and Spain.

In Pakistan, 3,277 people are infected and 50 people have already passed away fighting with the novel coronavirus. It is thus best to follow the following instructions: