Lucknow’s King George Medical University has stepped into the foray of genome sequencing study of the new strain of the novel coronavirus strain. Pitched as a large scale exercise, this study will help in identifying the genetic makeup of the mutant virus and provide better avenues of treatment and management of coronavirus.
Lucknow institutes investigate the variety & severity of new COVID strain
KGMU has already cemented its place as the primary institute of medical intelligence in Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh by testing more than 11 lakh samples of COVID-19 and initiating the plasma-transfusion treatment. Besides this, UP’s first COVID-19 test lab named ‘BSL Level three lab’ was also established in the Department of Microbiology, KGMU, which has conducted path-breaking research and testing coronavirus. Now, the medical university has undertaken the task of identifying the genome sequencing of the new strain of novel coronavirus, negating the need to send samples all the way to Pune, Maharashtra.
With the help of the reagent kits in Uttar Pradesh, similar activities will also be conducted at the National Botanical Research Institute and Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow. As per reports, the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi will join the league as well. The exercise will amp up the state’s footing on determining the variety and severity of the strain, providing better and more decisive treatment methods.
KGMU to use Genome Sequencer Machine to conduct research
The Head of Department of Microbiology had said that earlier that with the help of Genome Sequencer Machine, samples of 10 corona-positive patients have been examined. But after the purchase of reagent kits, samples on a larger scale can be examined. “We have tested ten samples of patients suffering from coronavirus, fortunately, not a single sample with a new strain was detected. After the purchase of the reagent kits required to analyse the genetic material of novel coronavirus, we will be able to test more samples every day. This sample test will only examine the new strain of coronavirus in the patient,” she stated.
The HOD further explained that genome sequencing is mandatory to check which strain is present in the patient suffering from Covid-19. For this, firstly an RT-PCR test of the patient will be done, if the report comes positive then the sample will be examined to identify the strain present in the patient.
Lucknow’s Medical excellence make a statement
With this advanced research activity, Lucknow’s medical excellence has buckled-up to be at par with global institutes investigating the new strain. Besides gaining first-hand insights about the virus, Lucknow will also be engaged in the process of developing efficient treatment modules, which will further its position across the globe as a pioneer in medicine and research.
