COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 mutation study from Gujarat to help in development of coronavirus vaccine – Times Now

COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 mutation study from Gujarat to help in development of coronavirus vaccine  |  Photo Credit: Reuters

New Delhi: The novel coronavirus was discovered last year, in the last week of December. Since almost five months, a lot of new information on the virus has come in. According to a study conducted in Gujarat, analysis of mutations across the SARS-CoV-2 genome may help in the development of a single COVID-19 vaccine, says Professor Chaitanya G. Joshi, Director at Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), reported news agency IANS.

As already known, the coronavirus seems to be mutating at a high speed, and it was reported that the virulent L-strain of the coronavirus is responsible for high mortality, though no conclusive evidence of the same has been found as yet. It was also found that the A2A type mutation, which has become predominant, also increases the efficiency of the entry of the virus, into the human body through cells.

"In the samples sent to us so far, we have seen four S strains and the rest all are L-strains. We have analyzed nearly 150 samples. At this stage, it is not correct to attribute deaths to L-strain. Various factors are involved in death due to this viral infection. The virus is mutating and it has already spread into many parts of the country. Analysis of mutation will help in vaccine development," said Joshi, reported the news agency.

Mr Joshi further added that the vaccine will undergo testing and trials, to establish its efficacy. Hinting that developing a vaccine is no cake-walk, Joshi said that some diseases get a vaccine while some don't, giving an example of malaria and HIV, which do not have a vaccine yet, even after being around for years.

However, the analysis of the genome will definitely help in the development of the vaccine, as well as treatment for the viral infection, Joshi assured.

The COVID-19 cases in India cross the 2 lakh mark today, with more than 5800 deaths. The toll of confirmed cases all over the world stands at 6.8 million. More than 17,000 cases have been reported from Gujarat alone. There exists no specific cure or vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Researchers from all over the world, including India, are racing towards finding an effective vaccine against the recently discovered virus. India is currently developing 11 vaccines against COVID-19.

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COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 mutation study from Gujarat to help in development of coronavirus vaccine - Times Now