As we know that Covid-19 has taken the world in its grip – although vaccines have been rolled out to a huge population, the virus is still at large with signs of a third wave that is going to be catastrophic. The brightest minds from all over the world are working day and night to understand the complex nature of the virus so they could move towards creating a cure but the virus keeps on evolving. Only recently South Africa and the UK discovered new SARS-CoV-2 variants in their local Covid-19 cases. These variants were found using the genome sequencing techniques that were regularly used globally at the start of the pandemic when we knew very little about the virus, but they have since come a long way.
It’s time the US and other leading countries follow South Africa and the UK’s footsteps in terms of upgraded genome sequencing regimes because the next variant of Covid-19 might be just around the corner.
What Is Genome Sequencing?
Genome sequencing is basically identifying the order of chemical “bases” of a complex DNA molecule. Scientists use these techniques to identify regular instructions, genes, or in case of Covid-19, novel mutations to a virus. These sequencing techniques, early on in the pandemic, helped scientists identify the basic structure of the virus along with early mutations that assisted the virus in wide-scale transmission, enough to cause a massive pandemic.
More Variants = Accelerated Transmission
Only recently, genome sequencing proved to be of immense help in identifying a more transmissible variant that was found in the UK. It has been a year since the Genomics Consortium has been tracking the virus’s genetic history with over 150,000 viral samples collected and logged.
The challenge in tracking the UK variant came from the 23 different variants that the virus has compared to the 2 or 3 minor mutations encountered otherwise. The abnormal mutation rate was concerning and required further inspection by the Consortium dealing with the Covid-19 testing. The sudden rise in cases in the UK was due to the spreading of the new variant.
Timely Identification To Curb The Spread
Apart from the UK, the rapid mutation and the penetration into a new host with a different internal environment led to a new variant emerging in South Africa. The whole-genome sequencing process proved to be invaluable in detecting the new strain. With the rapid and unhindered spread of the virus, the mutation rate too is speeding up. Although South Africa fought well with the COVID-19 storm, it is now facing a situation similar to the UK. Had it not been the genome sequencing technique, it would have been difficult for countries to understand the working of the virus and thus produce a cure for it.
How Genome Sequences Is Of Help
The success of genome sequencing makes it one of the tools to help combat COVID-19 and its newly emerging variants. There are many countries such as the US that too have cases resembling that of the UK and South Africa, but the lack of genome sequencing not only hints at the governments’ negligence but also allowing the variants to spread unchecked.
With proper and serious consideration given to the whole genome sequencing process, it is highly likely that many other variants, either similar or different to those in the UK and South Africa, are too emerge. Since the virus keeps on mutating depending on the host’s body, there is every bit a chance of the emergence of the latest variant.
The high world population and the huge percentage of those suffering or having suffered from COVID-19, it is quite possible that a more deadly and easily transmissible variant is causing widespread deaths and an increased number of cases.
It is very scary to think of a more contagious strain to get out in the open and start taking lives, given the gloomy scenario that the first strain of the virus caused. Therefore, efforts to find the new strains must be increased with the help of genome sequencing that is the most efficient and productive tool in helping to combat escalating COVID-19 cases.
Although many countries and prestigious research centers have rolled out vaccines, the uncontrolled growth and spread of new variants can jeopardize the efforts. To help return life back to normal in the latter half of 2021, genome sequencing should be bolstered worldwide so that the new strains are timely identifies and isolated before things get out of hand.
