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Six passengers from the UK tested positive for the so-called English variant of Covid-19 because they have the typical S gene mutations for this variant. The news came after the work carried out by researchers from the Southern Zooprophylactic Experimental Institute, in synergy with Tigem and Ceinge. Further studies are being conducted in close collaboration with researchers at the Spallanzani Institute.
In fact, since Sunday the 20th, all UK passengers have undergone a molecular nasopharyngeal swab and the positives have been immediately identified and monitored. Sequencing was done immediately to determine if the strain belonged to the English variant. After the researchers’ tireless work, it turned out that 6 have the variant’s typical S gene mutations. The study is part of the Gencovid project, which began in the Campania Region in the first months of the pandemic with the aim of studying the virus in depth through the punctuality of sampling in the territory, the identification of outbreaks and reconstruction. phylogenetics of the virus and its spread. .
A scientific approach from the best research institutions in Campania that, thanks to the synergy of researchers, has allowed the Campania Region to identify and sequence around 2000 samples in the different phases of the pandemic, data that will be published in a few days on the international platform Gisaid and will be available. of the international scientific community. Gencovid was born from the Izsm which, with 400,000 swabs analyzed in the Portici laboratories and with specialized operating units, has allowed focused and immediate interventions in emergency management. Once the RNA was extracted and prepared, Tigem – Italian excellence in molecular biology – was in charge of the sequencing, an additional sample aliquot was also used, in collaboration with the CEINGE researchers, to isolate the viral strains and test experimentally in vitro, in cell models, the efficacy of different molecules with potential inhibitory activity of the replicative capacity of the virus.
“Identification of the six positive cases – declared President Vincenzo De Luca – It follows the Region’s ordinance that blocked flights from the UK immediately after news of the discovery of the new variant. In the next few days, careful control and filtering of arrivals and the evolution of the epidemic will continue to ensure maximum security conditions. This survey carried out by our centers of excellence in the field of research funded by the Region in March is of great scientific importance and of great support for the work to come ”.
“At TIGEM we have developed a technology that now allows us to analyze, with high precision and reliability, the viral genome in a large number of swabs per day. By December 31, we plan to sequence the viral genome in more than 1000 SARS-CoV-2 positive swabs. “ declared the Prof. Davide Cacchiarelli, coordinator of the Covid19 genomic sequencing unit at TIGEM.
“This important result is the result of the enormous effort that all the staff of the Zooprophylactic Institute, coordinated by Dr. Pellegrino Cerino, has been working in Campania for months, processing more than 400 thousand swabs in our laboratories and carrying out, thanks to specialized operational units, specific interventions in emergency management in the Campania region ” declared the Dr. Antonio Limone, director of the Zooprophylactic Institute.
“The appearance of this pandemic has led us researchers to Telethon to go out into the field in the fight against Covid19 exploiting our genetic abilities. The discovery of the so-called English variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the swabs of people arriving from London to Capodichino airport further underlines the importance of studying the evolution of the viral genome, both to decide the containment measures to adopt, and in the future monitor the possible appearance of aggressive or vaccine resistant variants. From now on, the diagnostic answer that we will have to give to a person who performs the swab will not only be if SARS-CoV-2 is present or not, but which variant it is. “ declared the Prof. Andrea Ballabio, director of TIGEM and coordinator of the research project on Covid19 funded by the Campania Region.
