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“The investigation of the virus genome is a strategic issue. We are talking about the diagnosis and prediction of the epidemiological situation of COVID-19. We cannot wait any longer,” says Professor Kęstutis Petrikonis, Vice-Rector for Studies at LSMU, who also works in the Council of Health Experts convened by the president.
According to him, this issue has been raised in the Board of Health Experts for six weeks.
It is suggested that a consortium of institutions that have already conducted research on the genome (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vilnius University, Kaunas Clinics, Santara Clinics, etc.) could continuously monitor the coronavirus in the country.
According to the researchers, research on the SARS-CoV-2 genome is currently carried out only at the initiative of researchers, as there is no strategy for such research, there is no funding for it, there are no process management procedures.
The project funded by the Lithuanian Scientific Council has been completed, all its works have been completed. According to Vaiva Lesauskaitė, LSMU vice chancellor for science, when it comes to the near future of COVID-19 genome sequencing research in Lithuania, research funding and managing all processes raise the most questions.
“These problems must be solved at the government level by bringing together specialists with the necessary competencies and experience in this field,” the LSMU report said.
V.Lesauskaitė recalled that the coronavirus came from animals, so it is necessary to study its genome.
“(…) It is important to take into account studies of the genonavirus genome in animals, as confirmed by outbreaks in tissue farms. Other infected animals can also appear, and at LSMU we can quickly perform genome sequencing, monitor morbidity, perform all necessary tests, ”said the professor.
LSMU Vice Chancellor for Science, Professor Vaiva Lesauskaitė. LSMU photo
In early January, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė told reporters that the government was considering funding research into the coronavirus genome sequence to detect viral mutations.
He acknowledged that it was very important to do this, but said that there were no solutions, as it was still being discussed which way to go: whether to fund individual research urgently or to do it on a large scale and systematically. .
Lithuanian scientists have reported two studies on the so-called British strain of COVID-19. Neither Kaunas nor Vilnius identified a “worrisome” strain of virus B.1.1.7.
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