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TIDREC suggests going beyond diagnosis to study Covid-19 genetics

KUALA LUMPUR: In addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, universities can actually contribute beyond diagnostic testing, said Universiti Malaya's Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC) director Professor Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar.

With genome sequencing, scientists can monitor the changes of the virus to understand its transmission and find out if different strains have emerged in the country.

Advanced research in drugs and testing can also pave the way for a breakthrough to reduce and combat the impacts of Covid-19.

“In Malaysia, we are more focused on dealing with the problems, without actively finding a solution.

“An integrated pandemic preparedness plan would include employing scientists with different expertise to help tackle the outbreak.

“Scientists are now being called in to help with the backlog of tests at the public health laboratories, but not to find a cure.”

Sazaly has over three decades of research experience in infectious diseases especially in dengue and other arbovirus infections.

TIDREC houses the only high level biocontainment laboratory in the country certified to meet the World Health Organisation and European Union requirements.

“The lab can handle any highly virulent pathogens which now include the SARS-CoV-2, the agent that causes the Covid-19 disease. We’re now looking into developing antivirals.”

With the ability to block the copying of RNA genomes, antiviral drugs have the potential to help treat Covid-19 patients.

“Unfortunately, as it often happened, with the red tapes and bureaucratic rigmarole, by the time the funds are approved for research, the outbreak would have gone away.

Research funding needs to be disbursed now for solutions to be developed in a timely manner.

“Scientists should have been embedded in the Covid-19 team from day one as it is done in countries like China, South Korea and Singapore. The United Kingdom has also rolled out clinical trials which may be able to reduce the number of ICU cases.”

The voices of scientists, who developed the testing methods, need to be heard, he said.

“It is the scientists who would better understand the mechanisms of how the virus replicates and interacts with the host immune responses and how diagnostics are developed and evaluated.”

Covid-19 is mutating, with eight different strains currently spreading across the world. According to Sazaly, this calls for the identification of the genetic sequence of the virus in the country.

“Right now, we don’t know where the virus strains that are infecting the clusters in Malaysia came from. Is it from China or other sources? Single or multiple sources?

“We need to do a full genome sequencing of virus isolates of those who succumbed to the disease and at least 10 each from the main outbreak clusters. We need to see whether the virus has mutated and evolved.”

TIDREC has the technology and expertise for rapid genome sequencing, he said, but has yet to receive a virus sample.

“We want to understand why most patients would contract mild or asymptomatic infections while others develop more severe symptoms. By figuring out the reason, we can help prevent more people from going into intensive care.”

He suggested four strategies to contain the outbreak namely massive aggressive testing, immediate treatment including the use of antiviral drugs, identifying where the virus is coming from and its genetic changes, and as a long-term solution, vaccination.

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