Variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pose a major challenge as some of these may have altered virulence, transmissibility, the potential to cause re-infections, and even breakthrough infections in the fully vaccinated. It is essential in this scenario to identify virus variants rapidly, at scale, along with associated epidemiological and clinical data. Pune city has been heavily affected by the pandemic with very high infection rates. The goal of this study is to identify virus variants circulating in the city and to determine the association of these variants with the dynamics of infection spread and clinical outcomes. These data will be critical for local authorities to devise strategies for containment of the infection, clinical management of the infected, and to project healthcare infrastructural requirements.

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Covid-Seq Information (updated 1st September 2022)

Samples sequenced ~20,000

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                                                                              Distribution of variants

Covid-Seq Team IISER, Pune

• Dr. Krishanpal Karmodiya

• Prof. Aurnab Ghose

• Dr. Joy Merwin Monteiro

• Prof. Sanjeev Galande

• Prof. LS Shashidhara

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Current Team Members:

• Soumen Khan

• Dipti Deshpande

• Pradnya Kadam

• Unnati Bhalerao

• Manisha Tupekar

• Ismat Sayyed

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Media Coverage 

Genomic data critical for future pandemic preparedness

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In just over a month, Omicron in 83% Covid samples in Pune

 

Consortium of national labs to upscale genome sequencing

 

BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron now dominant in Pune: IISER

 

India witnesses 90 per cent jump in Covid-19 cases as guard drops

 

The hits and misses of India’s ambitious COVID-19 genome sequencing project

 

Omicron's BA.2.38 may have caused recent spike in Maharashtra

 

Monkeypox virus shows accelerated evolution, says study

 

Close eye on BA.2.75, says WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan

 

Omicron and What Next in the Pandemic!

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