Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FKKMK) UGM supports efforts to handle the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia through several research and innovation activities. One of the successful research and innovation milestones achieved in August 2020 was the Genetics Working Group of FKKMK UGM in proposing 4 SARS-Cov-2 genome sequencing with good coverage quality from 4 COVID-19 patients.
“It is not only for research interest, but also for global vaccines development or especially Merah Putih vaccines because one of the significant factors in vaccine manufacture is the type of mutation or clade,” said the Head of the Genetic Working Group, dr. Gunadi, SpBA., PhD., on Thursday (27/8).
Of the 4 SARS-Cov-2 genome sequencing, 3 data have been successfully published in the global database of coronavirus genome sequencing ‘GISAID’ on Tuesday (24/08). The 3 SARS-Cov-2 isolates were named hCoV-19/Indonesia/YO-202449/2020, hCoV19/Indonesia/YO-200927/2020, and hCoV-19/Indonesia/YO-781481/2020.
Gunadi further said that the publication of genome sequencing at GISAID is expected to be important information for scientists worldwide to understand the coronavirus, including its mutations, and support vaccine development.
“Through these results, we can contribute to the development of vaccines or coronavirus therapies in the future,” he said.
With this achievement, Universitas Gadjah Mada joins LBM Eijkmann, Universitas Airlangga, and West Java, who published their genome sequencing on GISAID beforehand. GISAID is an international database that has collaborative data from scientists worldwide and provides genetic/genomic, clinical, and epidemiological data related to flu viruses, including SARS-Cov-2.
The Genetics Working Group of FKKMK UGM is in the process of identifying the SARS-Cov-2 genome sequence in collaboration with the Wates Veterinary Center, Kulon Progo, DIY, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, the FKKMK UGM COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory (Department of Microbiology and Diagnostic Laboratory of the Tahija World Mosquito Program Foundation/ WMP Yogyakarta Center for Tropical Medicine), Integrated Research Laboratory of FKKMK UGM, Department of Computer Science and Electronics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences UGM and COVID-19 referral hospital.
Besides Gunadi, the researchers involved are drh. Hendra Wibawa, PhD. dr. Marcellus, dr. Mohamad S. Hakim, PhD, dr. Edwin W. Daniwijaya, PhD, dr. Ludhang P. Rizki, MSc, SpMK, Endah Supriyati, MSc, dr. Eggi Arguni, SpAK, PhD, dr. Titik Nuryastuti, PhD, SpMK(K), Prof. dr. Tri Wibawa, PhD, SpMK(K), dr. Dwi AA Nugrahaningsih, MSc, PhD, Afiahayati, PhD, dr. Siswanto, SpP, dr. Beby Dewi Sartika, SpPD, dr. Ardorisye Saptaty Fornia, SpP, dr. Alvin S. Kalim, dr. Desyifa Mursalin, dr. Dyah Ayu Puspitarani, dr. Kemala Athollah, and dr. Dwiki Afandy.
Gunadi added that the samples published on GISAID came from the first batch of research. For now, the team is preparing the running sequencing of the SARS-Cov-2 genome for the next batch.
“By learning from our experience in batch 1, it is hoped that the next batch will succeed in identifying more significant SARS-Cov-2 genome sequencing,” he concluded.
