In Campania, 48 coronavirus variants have been identified since the beginning of the pandemic.
This is what emerges from a study on monitoring the most aggressive strains by Anna Maria Rachiglio, a pharmacologist at the Pascale Institute in Naples, published in the scientific journal "Journal of Translation Medicine."
"The study - Rachiglio explains - has described for the first time the typology of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Campania, revealing the presence of significant heterogeneity in viral strains since the early stages of the pandemic. The data are derived from the sequencing of the virus genome obtained from molecular swabs collected between March and April 2020 from individuals residing primarily in the provinces of Naples and Caserta.
rapid virus sequencing protocol at pascale
To ensure the high efficiency of the variant monitoring system, and using highly sophisticated equipment, a rapid virus sequencing protocol has been developed at the Mercogliano del Pascale laboratories, directed by Nicola Normanno, which allows for complete viral sequence analysis within 24 hours of a molecular swab.
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The Genexus is a fully automated, high-throughput Next Generation Sequencing system capable of sequencing up to 32 samples in 24 hours. "The use of a high-throughput system - continues Rachiglio - in fact, it has made it possible to significantly speed up sequencing compared to standard procedures and to obtain the complete viral genome even from samples that presented a very low number of copies of the virus". Comparison of the obtained sequences with the Wuhan-Hu-1 reference genome revealed the presence of 48 nucleotide variants, most of which were observed in the Orf1ab and Spike regions, including 12 previously undetected. Specifically, most of the samples from the Naples area belong to seven different clusters, consistent with what is expected in densely populated areas.
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The results obtained are the fruit of the collaboration between Pascale, Federico II University and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, thanks to funding from the Campania regionThe project, strongly supported by the scientific director of the Naples Cancer Institute, Gerardo Botti, was attended, in various capacities, by: Published by the Association of American Architects, Inc. Meanwhile, monitoring of variants continues at Pascale, which is coordinating a study to characterize the viral strains causing infection in cancer patients and healthcare workers. "The research - says the general director of the Neapolitan oncology center Attilio Bianchi - has now transcended divisive approaches, increasingly taking on a precise, systemic meaning. Covid has acted as a catalyst, decisively and definitively emphasizing the osmosis of knowledge. Congratulations to the team that produced this research and to all those who help us seek new paths every day.
