An Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) scientist takes a look at Covid-19 detection kit at the institute’s lab, in Tangerang, Banten on Aug. 31,2020 (JG Photo/Yudha Baskoro)
BY: THE JAKARTA GLOBE
FEBRUARY 23, 2021
Jakarta. Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology and Universitas Pelita Harapan (MRIN-UPH) have actually been welcomed to participate in an unique consortium to series the whole-genome of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that triggers Covid-19, as a real-time security of the viral variations in Indonesia.
Within this consortium, MRIN-UPH will be able to work together with government-funded research institutes such as Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology and leading public universities to provide whole-genome sequencing information of the virus in a future, the institute said in a statement on Tuesday.
” The Covid-19 pandemic has been gripping the world for more than a year. This alarming circumstance is aggravated by the introduction of numerous SARS-CoV-2 versions of issue, such as the British variant B. 1.1.7 and the South Africa alternative B. 1.351, as they are assumed to be more transmissible, positioning a higher danger to the world,” it said.
” It is, for that reason, essential that the genomic security ability of this infection is improved worldwide.”
The institute and the university, both are based in Banten province, have been participating in the global science effort GISAID that supplies genomic information of the SARS-CoV-2 considering that mid-2020
GISAID helps with open-access genomic epidemiology and real-time surveillance in a coordinated effort to monitor the emergence of brand-new COVID-19 viral pressures across the globe.
” MRIN-UPH is the first personal research institute in Indonesia to take part in this seriously essential examination, by sending 17 sequences of the Spike (S) gene, the responsible gene for the viral entry into human cells,” it said.
” This partial genome sequencing was totally done by MRIN-UPH, by utilizing its own equipment of Hereditary Analyzer and Sequencer.”
Its first information submission to GISAID was done on May 12, 2020, corresponding with the 91 st birthday of MRIN Founder, Dr. Mochtar Riady.
The federal government obviously noticed MRIN-UPH’s active role in the worldwide efforts to monitor the introduction of brand-new coronavirus versions and used them a function in the consortium established by the Health Ministry and the Research and Innovation Ministry.
Indonesia has just contributed 351 whole-genome sequencing information of the virus to date.
” An active contribution by MRIN-UPH in the viral whole-genome surveillance would certainly be required in order to supply more information from Indonesia,” the statement reads.
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