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Harianjogja.com, SLEMAN– The Genetic Working Group of the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing (FKKMK) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) published the identification results of whole genome sequencing (WGS) of four isolates in Yogyakarta and Central Java.
Three of them were found to contain the D614G mutation.
The chairman of the Genetic Working Group of the UGM FKKMK, Gunadi said that the results of this identification had been published in GISAID. The results of this research are similar to the global percentage showing that 77.5% of the total 92,090 isolates in the world contain a D614G mutation of the previous type, namely D614.
“It turns out four [isolat] that we checked, three isolates contained the mutation. This fits perfectly [dengan persentase dunia], because the GISAID data shows 77.5%. If it turns out to be three-quarters, it means that this mutation has dominated, as a matter of fact in the world, “explained Gunadi when contacted by Harianjogja.com on Tuesday (1/9/2020).
He continued, Indonesia has reported that up to nine of the 24 isolates published in GISAID contain the D614G mutation. In addition to DIY-Central Java, this mutation was also found in isolates from Surabaya 2, isolates from West Java 2, Tangerang 1, and Jakarta 1. These data are still centered on the island of Java because outside of Java , the research conducted has not used Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
Furthermore, the results of this research also show that the D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 virus has a 10-fold higher infectious power. However, Gunadi emphasized that the infection rate was only found at the level of the viral cells studied, not in humans or communities.
So how this mutation affects the community still needs more research.
“The infection is still at the cellular level, not yet in the community. Again, more research is needed in the community or society,” he said.
Still, Gunadi emphasized that people should not lower their guard and ignore the mutation of this virus. Because, the prevalence of this mutation throughout the world shows that this virus can adapt to the situation of its host.
“In February, this mutation was a minority, but when it was detected six months later until this August, this mutation dominated by 77.5%.
From there you can see why this virus has adapted to humans as its host. That’s what we have to think about, that this mutant can survive, which means that it can infect more people, maybe it can escape the human immune system, “Gunadi said.
Furthermore, according to him, this research also did not mention whether this mutation was related to the severity of the disease, but only to the extent of its infection. This is because the severity of SARS-CoV-2 is influenced by many factors, such as risk factors for the presence of comorbidities. “D614G is infectious 10 times, but it does not affect the severity of the disease, because many factors influence it,” he said.
Therefore, he urged citizens to remain alert to this virus. According to him, all parties should be more disciplined in implementing health protocols, such as washing hands, wearing masks and avoiding crowds.
