Indian variant found in 50% samples sent for genome probe from Maharashtra | India News

MUMBAI: Nearly 50% of the samples that tested positive for Covid-19 in the latter state and sent for genome sequencing have the newly identified and highly contagious Indian variant of SARS-CoV-2 called B.1.617.
Most of these samples come from Vidarbha and so far none of the samples submitted have demonstrated the B.1.617 variant, according to scientists involved in INSACOG, a group of 10 national laboratories that perform full genomic sequencing of samples.
The Ministry of Health of the Union has so far not provided specific details about the whole genome sequencing project. A statement on Friday said that as of Thursday, 13,614 full genome sequencing samples had been processed in the 10 INSACOG labs.
“Of these, 1,189 samples tested positive for variants of concern for SARS COV-2 in India. These include 1,109 samples with UK variants; 79 samples with the South African variant and one sample with the Brazilian variant, ”said the minister.
Some information about the results of the samples sent from the state was given to Health Minister Rajesh Tope during a virtual meeting with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday.
Tope said that of the 1,100 samples sent so far, 500 samples had been examined. “We’ve asked the central government for a detailed report, but we’re told it won’t be available until the end of the investigation,” he said.
The main concern in the state – and the rest of the world as well, as the Indian variety has already been isolated in multiple samples in the UK and US – is the variant’s high transmissibility. “Since the new variant is reportedly highly contagious, we requested a report and any revised guidelines from the center,” said Tope, adding that the center said a detailed report would not be made available until the end of the study. .
State Director of Health Services Dr. Archana Patil said she knew where the samples in question were collected. “Some samples show changes, but there is no comment on whether they explain this increase Maharashtra, ‘Said Patil.
The B.1.617 was first identified by scientists at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in Delhi as part of the INSACOG project. They noted two mutations, L452R and E484K, which are known to have the ability to escape antibodies.
Articles written by experts around the world have noted that the Indian variant could “at least partially” drive the current wave sweeping across the country. IGIB Director Dr Anurag Agrawal said nearly 15,000 Covid-19 positive samples have been examined since December.
“Our team of scientists has identified the variant that has since been given B.1.617. It is generally present in a small percentage of the samples, but its presence has increased in recent weeks, ”said Dr. Agrawal. Scientists from other countries had more details. The new species has been detected in at least five Indian states, including Maharashtra, Delhi and India Punjab, all of which have contributed to the increase in cases in the country, in addition to variants B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (South Africa) and P.1 (Brazil) which are also (in) India, ”said William A. Haseltine, former professor at Harvard Medical School, in an article in Forbes
He wrote that while the extent to which the strain had spread was unknown, of the 2,844 sequences submitted to the GISAID database from India since March 1, 162 sequences were classified as B.1,617, or about 6%. “This percentage is likely to increase,” he said.

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