Scientists of India, China, Russia and Brazil come together for Covid-19 study
Scientists from the world’s four major economies, India, China, Russia and Brazil, have come together to carry out genomic sequencing of Covid-19 and studies on the epidemiology and mathematical modelling of the pandemic.
This will help trace genetic mutations, re-combinations as well as distribution of the virus and also make projections about the future of its spread, reports the New Delhi correspondent quoting an official statement release.
A whole-genome sequencing is required for identification of genetic mutations and re-combinations of the virus while epidemiological studies can help assess its distribution. The mathematical modelling is required to assess its future spread.
Keeping this in mind, a research plan has been made including the expertise of scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds from the four countries to form a consortium under the banner of the four-nation trans-continental grouping called BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), states the release.
Under this research project, India and Brazil will assess the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental samples through metagenome analysis for wastewater-based epidemiology surveillance while Chinese and Russian scientists will carry out the real-time PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 in biological material (nasopharyngeal swabs) from patients with symptoms of respiratory diseases and investigate the genomic variability, comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis.
The genomic, metagenomic and epidemiological data from India, China, Russia and Brazil will be integrated to develop mathematical models for mutations analysis, population genetics, phylogenetic relationship, recombination analysis and risk evaluation to reveal the spread network and dynamics of the virus.
The database developed by the different groups will also compare the distribution and survival of the virus in the different regions and establish the surveillance of the relevant early warning system. (www.thedailystar.net)
source http://www.dailynews.lk/2021/08/11/world/256317/scientists-india-china-russia-and-brazil-come-together-covid-19-study
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