India has finally shared two whole genome sequence data of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).
The two sequences were shared by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology. This news comes after The Hindu reported on March 4 that India has not shared any genome sequence data with the GISAID.
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“We shared the two sequences with GISAID on March 5 evening,” said Priya Abraham, Director of NIV. “We had shared the sequences with GenBank about two weeks ago.”
Date of sharing
However, the GenBank website clearly mentions that whole genome sequences of two oronasopharynx (mouth, nose, throat) samples collected on January 27 and 31 from two COVID-19 patients in Kerala were deposited in GenBank only on March 6 and not two weeks ago as the NIV Director claims.
The two sequences were shared by Dr. Varsha Potdar and others from NIV. Dr. Potdar heads the Influenza Group and her “major interest is molecular epidemiology of influenza and other respiratory viruses”.
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