[ad_1]
A very rare variant described in only one other case in the world has been identified in the microbiology laboratory of Asst Sette Laghi, in Varese. That there was something different about one of the many swabs analyzed every day in the Lombard city, the laboratory team, led by Fabrizio Maggi, noticed immediately. The sequencing of the entire peak protein, that part of the SARS-CoV-2 coming into contact with the cells to be invaded, has in fact revealed a unique molecular structure, different from all the others, even from that of the other variants already identified in Varese in recent weeks, in some cases for the first time in Italy.
Covid in Rome, another 1,500 “South African” alarm infections: suspected case in Ostiense
Maggi, who also holds the chair of Microbiology at the University of Insubria, and his team studied this sequence and formulated a hypothesis. Hypothesis later confirmed by colleagues from San Raffaele of Milan that, in a short time, amplified and reconstructed the entire genome of the virus: the one identified in the Asst Sette Laghi Laboratory is “a variant of the virus found only once in the world, in a place very far from Italy, Thailand, isolated in a traveler returning from Egypt.
“The vaccine is still effective”
“The molecular structure of this variant does not seem to present characteristics that may reduce the efficacy of vaccines, on the other hand it shows genetic mutations to study”, specify the experts from the Varese Hospital Microbiology laboratory, led by Fabrizio Maggi. . “It will be equally interesting to reconstruct the trajectory of this variant, found in a patient admitted to the Circolo hospital,” specifies the health company. «The identification of this variant, which has only one other case described in the world, is the result of collaboration with colleagues from San Raffaele, and in particular with Massimo Clementi and Nicasio Mancini. But it is also the starting point for new studies and insights – Maggi is eager to explain – In particular, now that the entire genome of this variant of the virus has been reconstructed, we could understand its biological importance with in vitro studies and demonstrate its any impact. clinical and epidemiological in the population “.
I study
In the Microbiology laboratory, Maggi has organized a team of professionals dedicated to sequencing the variants of the new Coronavirus. “They are the ones who analyze the swabs and study the molecular structure of the variants, applying themselves as one of the reference centers for the identification of Sars-Cov-2 variants – continues the note – Their instruments are attributable to two technologies in particular One is the one that was baptized by the Il Circolo della Bontà Foundation, which donated it, ‘the Ferrari of the tamponì, worth more than 80 thousand euros ”. The other is the sequencing machine, already in use at Asst Sette Laghi Laboratories. And it is precisely this latest technology that has allowed the identification in Varese of all the already known variants of the new Coronavirus in recent months, with the support of the health department that, guiding with clinical care aimed above all at the prevention of contagion in the Covid ward of the Circolo hospital, has anticipated some indications in this regard. “Any patient who is suspected or certain that he is a carrier of a new, potentially more widespread or aggressive variant of the virus – explains Asst Sette Laghi’s medical director, Lorenzo Maffioli – is immediately isolated from all other patients as well.” Covid is assisted with the utmost care by the operators in the most appropriate environment for their conditions, observing with precision the internal rules of individual protection, also to protect the personnel involved in this activity ”.
Last updated: 18:10
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
[ad_2]
