Webinar #13 | Genetic Sequencing Research: Mutation of SARSCov2
Webinar #13 | STOP COVID DEATHS: Clinical Management Updates
Genetic Sequencing Research: Mutation of SARSCov2 (Implications for Clinical Management and Vaccine Development)
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Webinar #13: Genetic Sequencing Research: Mutation of SARSCov2 (Implications for Clinical Management and Vaccine Development)
Dr. Cynthia P. Saloma
Executive Director, UP Philippine Genome Center
Professor, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
UP Diliman
July 17, 2020 (Friday) 12nn
News on a mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus leads to many questions. Is it more infectious? Is it more lethal? Does it make any difference to what health practitioners need to do?
The debate on the impact of the mutation known as D614G, which affects the spike protein on the virus’ surface must be translated to practical terms. The mutation is not new. In the past it has appeared in low levels of samples taken from COVID-19 patients as far back as February. But this variation of the virus (nicknamed the “G” variation) seems to show up in more and more in samplings.
Is this new strain, the dominant version of SARSCov-2? Will this affect the way health services are organized? What are the implications for development of a vaccine?
In 2013, the Philippine Genome Center was established at the University of the Philippines. Quietly tucked away in the Diliman campus, it was developed to promote health by understanding the genetic basis of diseases affecting Filipinos through diagnosis and early detection of genetic conditions that can be treated. In a pandemic however, there is a spotlight on this center – a national resource center for local scientists to use genomics tools to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country and predict patterns of spread based on genetic information.
One of the major pillars of Genomics involves the sequencing—determining the nucleotide base arrangement—of the entirety or fragments of an entity’s genetic material.
Applied to the current COVID-19 outbreak, examining the sequences obtained from different cases can enable tracing of the virus’ transmission route and source of infection. Moving forward apart, from quarantine- testing-isolation- early treatment – genetic sequencing can inform public health interventions to prevent the source of the spread of COVID19. Let us listen to the experts of the Philippine Genome Center as they present results of cutting-edge research on SARSCov-2 the virus that has caused the pandemic.
