SUST researchers discover 30 strains of coronavirus in Sylhet

A team of researchers from the Department of Genetics Engineering and Biotechnology (GEB) at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has found 30 strains of coronavirus in the Sylhet region.

At a press conference at the university on Tuesday, researchers claimed that 6 of the 30 strains in Sylhet are not found anywhere else in the world. However, the remaining 24 types exist in other countries as well.

GM Noor Nabi Azad Jewel, assistant professor of GEB department of SUST said, "We collected samples of coronavirus from different areas of Sylhet division and sequenced their genomes. We found a new mutation in the corona genome (Genome: 27862: Del: ATCAT) that has not yet been discovered anywhere else in the world."

"In Sunamganj and Habiganj, analyses of 10 corona genes revealed 47 changes in the protein label. Of these, 30 modified coronaviruses are brand new in the context of Bangladesh," he added.

He said, "GEB department of SUST is working on the mutants to unravel the nature and diversity of covid in Bangladesh. Through these studies, we will be able to determine (ahead of time) the vaccine with the maximum efficacy in our country."

Vice-Chancellor of SUST Farid Uddin Ahmed said, "We are launching a coronavirus identification lab with the University's own funding. We are also conducting research on the nature and spread of coronavirus, which is a unique achievement for SUST."

Treasurer of SUST Professor Anwarul Islam; Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences Dr SM Abu Sayem; Head Professor of the Department of GEB Dr Shamsul Haque Pradhan; Assistant Professor GM Noor Nabi Azad Jewel; PhD Research Fellow Nazmul Hasan, and others were present at the conference.