Genomic Sequencing News and Research

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COVID-19 infections in Australian healthcare workers

A team of researchers performed state-wide SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiological investigations to recognize health care worker transmission dynamics and support optimizing healthcare system readiness for similar future outbreaks.

17 Sep 2021

UK Prime Minister sets out plan to manage Covid throughout autumn and winter

The Prime Minister has today set out the government's plan to manage Covid throughout autumn and winter.

14 Sep 2021

Jumpcode Genomics and TGen collaborate on genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2

Jumpcode Genomics, a genome technology platform company focused on improving the understanding of human biology, announced today a collaboration with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, to aid investigations into the genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

14 Sep 2021

Potential variant of interest in South Africa assigned to the PANGO lineage C.1.2

Continual genomic surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 strains in South Africa has revealed an increase in the number of sequences belonging to C.1 lineage during the third wave (May 2021) of SARS-CoV-2 infections. This observation was unexpected because C.1 was last reported in January 2021.

26 Aug 2021

Study suggests algorithm may help optimize future COVID-19 vaccine design

Scientists predict the COVID-19 pandemic is on its way to becoming endemic. The rising spread of COVID-19 variants such as Delta has helped infect unvaccinated and some vaccinated individuals. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the best way to protect against severe illness and death, but there may be a need for vaccines to protect against a specific variant.

23 Aug 2021

The emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Lambda (B.1.621) variant

A new study details the genomic characteristics and descent of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest.

23 Aug 2021

Genomic surveillance is vital to combat COVID-19

Although the development and increasingly widespread availability of effective and safe vaccines provides the greatest hope for the future recovery from the increasingly devastating COVID-19 pandemic, genomic surveillance is emerging as a vital necessity to achieve effective mitigation and containment.

18 Aug 2021

Cote d’Ivoire launches Ebola vaccination of first responders and health workers

Cote d’Ivoire has launched Ebola vaccination of high-risk populations, including health workers and first responders in Abidjan, where an Ebola outbreak was declared on 14 August.

17 Aug 2021

Cote d’Ivoire declares the country’s first case of Ebola since 1994

The Ministry of Health of Cote d’Ivoire today confirmed the country’s first case of Ebola since 1994. This came after the Institut Pasteur in Cote d’Ivoire confirmed the Ebola Virus Disease in samples collected from a patient, who was hospitalized in the commercial capital of Abidjan, after arriving from Guinea.

17 Aug 2021

Real-time genomics to track SARS-CoV-2 help contain transmission in New Zealand

A recent study discusses how New Zealand rapidly employed real-time genomics to contain new COVID-19 cases.

16 Aug 2021

Study shows efficacy of gamma irradiation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate in mouse model

A new study reports a more rapid method of viral inactivation in an effort to increase the appeal of inactivated viral vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.

10 Aug 2021

New streamlined approach for high-coverage genome sequencing of single yeast cells

A single cell can reveal much about the biological world through genomic sequencing. Scientists can compare a single, isolated cell to other samples, analyzing the differences and similarities to better understand how the organisms originated and evolved - or even to discover entirely new species.

6 Aug 2021

Purifying selection drives time-dependency of short-term mutation rates in SARS-CoV-2 and pH1N1 influenza

A new paper, available on the medRxiv* preprint server, indicates the adaptation undergone by the SARS-CoV-2 molecular genome and the pH1N1 influenza pandemic strain during the first year of their spread, separately. Using statistical and phylogenetic skills, the researchers present a picture of the emergence, rates of change, and of growth, of these two viruses as time passes.

3 Aug 2021

In-depth sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 variants crucial in controlling outbreaks

In this interview, News-Medical speaks to Professor Dana Crawford about her research efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2 Aug 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Q493R protein mutation shows resistance to monoclonal antibodies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a letter detailing a case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in an immunocompromised patient who did not respond well to monoclonal antibody treatment. The resistance to treatment stemmed from an escape mutation on the spike protein known as Q4923R.

2 Aug 2021

World's most sophisticated COVID-19 sequencing system

In response to the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United Kingdom, the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium was formed to rapidly sequence SARS-CoV-2 genomes as part of a national-scale genomic surveillance strategy.

29 Jul 2021

Comprehensive genomic sequencing essential to capitalize precision medicine for pediatric cancer care

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have demonstrated that comprehensive genomic sequencing of all pediatric cancer patients is feasible and essential to capitalize on the lifesaving potential of precision medicine.

26 Jul 2021

New live cell models lay the groundwork for studies into mitochondrial diseases

The mitochondrion has garnered quite the reputation for its role as the "powerhouse of the cell." These tiny, but mighty organelles play various life-sustaining roles, from powering our own cells and organs to fueling chemical and biological processes.

15 Jul 2021

Nanopore technology allows point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing

As the SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread worldwide and cause disease and death on a devastating scale, genomic sequencing has become a primary method of keeping track of emerging variants and new outbreaks. A new medRxiv* preprint explores the role of nanopore sequencing in this effort.

14 Jul 2021

Israeli study of breakthrough infections following full BNT-Pfizer vaccination, 40% immunocompromised

Severe forms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) linked to high mortality rates might arise in a minority of fully-vaccinated individuals with many co-occurring medical conditions, finds a recent study by Israeli researchers published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

13 Jul 2021