CHRF creates open platform to study genome sequence of coronavirus
CHRF asked interested parties to contact them via an e-mail— genomics@chrfbd.org—if they wished to add any significant sequences to the platform
The Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF) has created an open platform to monitor the changes and dynamics of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in Bangladesh.
Dr Somir Kumar Saha, executive director of CHRF announced the launch of the new platform on Thursday.
"Genome sequencing is crucial to monitor the changes, spread, dynamics and effects of the novel coronavirus in the country," the CHRF said in a statement.
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"There is no substitute for genome sequencing to understand the effectiveness of vaccines and antiviral drugs on variants in the country," the statement added.
According to the statement, since the first genome sequence of the virus was released from Bangladesh in May last year, many more research teams have joined the effort. So far, more than 700 sequences from Bangladesh have been submitted to the GISAID database.
CHRF has created a Bangladesh-centric platform in the 'nextstrain' website for all researchers in the country to understand the introduction and prevalence of a new strain of the virus in the country and to monitor the movement of other strains, the statement further added.
The platform will be updated as new variants of the virus and dynamic genome sequences from Bangladesh are added to the GISAID database.
The statement asked interested parties to contact CHRF via an e-mail— genomics@chrfbd.org— for any queries related to the platform or if they wished to add any significant sequences to the platform.
