Scientists from INNO Diagnostics and Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) of Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) scientific research center, discovered a variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease COVID-19 in tests conducted on the island.
The strain identified by the PHSU scientists contains the 69-70 deletion, which is present in the variant recently detected in the UK, UK B.1.1.7. According to data recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 315 cases of this variant have been discovered in the United States, as indicated by Dr. Vanessa Rivera-Amill, Scientific Director of INNO Diagnostics.
“From mid-December 2020, we started analyzing the results of molecular diagnostic tests to determine if we had interesting samples. In the laboratory we develop a test that allows us to confirm whether we have the variant between the stored samples. Since then, the group of scientists, consisting of laboratory technicians Andrea Arias and Raphael Sánchez, clinical director Dr. Gerardo Hernández, along with this servant with the research process until the variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was discovered, ”said Rivera-Amill, explaining that this variant, which is first discovered on the island, has consequences for public health, as the literature studied shows that these variants can spread more easily between humans, however, he stressed that the identification of this variant is an important step for the country’s scientific community, as “it impacts the impact of the spread in the communities will help soften ”.
Dr. Kenira Thompson, president of Ponce Research Institute and vice president of research at PHSU, in turn, reported that once identification of the variant was confirmed, she immediately contacted the Puerto Rico Secretary of Health. “We knew it was likely that there were already variants of COVID-19 in Puerto Rico. As scientists, it is our responsibility to provide data that not only aids in the development of other scientific tests, but also the prevention strategies being implemented in the country. We have a team of scientists with a great sense of dedication and dedication to the sciences being made in Puerto Rico. Since the start of managing the pandemic on the island, we have worked tirelessly to contribute from science to finding solutions that enable us to contribute to protecting the health and life of everyone ”, Thompson said.
INNO Diagnostics is a reference laboratory for immunology and the first laboratory affiliated with an academic center to process molecular samples to detect the virus that causes COVID-19. With a history of 30 years, INNO Diagnostics is characterized by the development and implementation of diagnostic reference tests, as well as genotyping and the detection of viral load for HIV. It is the only National Health Organization (WHO) certified laboratory for HIV genotype determination in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Latin America and provides diagnostic services to these regions.
For more information about Ponce Health Sciences University, interested persons can visit www.psm.edu
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