Delta variant detected in all samples tested: IBSD
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 02 2021:
Institute of Biore-sources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Manipur, an institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, has successfully completed genome sequencing of 480 COVID-19 samples, all showing Delta variant, since the establishment of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) facility at IBSD, Imphal.
According to an IBSD statement, the INSACOG facility, since its inauguration by chief minister N Biren on July 10, has been instrumental in co-operating with the state government since the outbreak of the pandemic.
INSACOG is a multi-laboratory, multi-agency, pan-India network to monitor genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2 by sentinel sequencing effort.
"This sequencing platform/laboratory within Manipur is a big leap in our collective hght and understanding of the novel coronavirus that has affected all aspects of our lives.
Through this INSACOG network, the whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 virus across the nation, aiding the understanding of how the virus spreads and evolves.
Any changes to the genetic code, or mutations, can be observed in the samples and provide information to aid public health response to identify the new variants evolving from mutation," the IBSD explained.
Team IBSD under the leadership of director Prof Pulok K Mukherjee, scientists Dr Nanaocha Sharma, Dr S Indira Devi, Dr Pradeep Bhard-waj and Dr Sunil Thorat, and other researchers have been working hard to sequence the COVID-19 samples with support from the Department of Biotechnology.
The surveillance will continue for rapid tracking of the evolution of SARS COV2 in the entire North East region with IBSD Imphal being a sentinel hub under INSACOG.
The facilities to monitor genomic variant for SARS COV2 at IBSD has now been explored for other states of NER besides Manipur.
Samples from Nagaland have also been tested by sentinel sequencing facility of IBSD Imphal, the released further informed, adding that it is also involved in research activities and numerous outreach programmes to fulfil its mission objectives of scientific management of the bioresources in the Indian region falling within the Indo-Burma biodiversity.