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 Genome sequencing can help scientists monitor small changes in the
virus at a national or international scale to understand how it is
spreading and provide insight into how different cases are linked.
"When a new 'mystery' coronavirus case is identified, every minute
counts," Ira Deveson, scientist at the Garvan Institute of Medical
Research, said in a report, prepared in collaboration with the
University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Genomic testing helps track the source of mystery cases, the ones
whose source of infection remains unknown. But results often take
more than 24 hours now.
The novel coronavirus genome is about 30,000 letters long, but tiny
compared with the 3 billion letters that make up the DNA, or
deoxyribonucleic acid, of the human genome.
The virus can alter the genetic signature of the hosts as it
replicates itself inside them.
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"By identifying this genetic variation, we can establish how
different cases of coronavirus are linked," UNSW scientist Rowena
Bull said.
Australia has largely avoided the high number of cases and deaths
from the virus compared with other developed countries, cautiously
easing restrictions after reporting zero local COVID-19 cases for
the past several days.
It has reported just under 28,000 cases of COVID-19 and 908 deaths
since the pandemic began but estimates there are fewer than 50
active cases remaining, mostly returned travelers from overseas in
hotel quarantine.
(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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