IIT Jodhpur finds COVID-19 RNA variations using genome sequencing

Researchers studied fixation of intra-host variations into extra-host variations and mutations that lead to variants.

A research team of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur has used state-of-the-art genomic sequencing methods to identify variations in the RNA of the COVID-19 virus. The scientists have also studied the fixation of these intra-host variations into extra-host variations and mutations that lead to variants.  

The RNA structure of the COVID-19 virus frequently undergoes minor modifications within the host cells (‘intra-host variations’). These modifications occur at the nucleotide level - nucleotide being the building block of the RNA molecule

Many of these intra-host variations are caused by enzymes present in the host cell as an immune response. Thus, many of these variations are harmless or even destructive to the virus itself. However, some variations can enhance the survivability of the virus and become fixed as extra-host variations that could potentially lead to variants-of-concern.  

The team studied intra-host Single Nucleotide Variations (iSNV) using a sequencing platform called Illumina. During phase 1 of the project in 2020, scientists analysed the RNA structure of virus samples collected from China, Germany, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and different subpopulations of India to map the iSNV across the RNA structure of the virus.  

The study was conducted primarily by a team of computational graduates who aspire to work in the space of Big Data in computational “omics” sciences. The team, led by Mitali Mukerji, Head, Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, IIT Jodhpur, and Sunil Raghav, Scientist F, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, now plans to combine iSNV identification protocols with whole-genome sequencing in the future to enable more accurate models for viral epidemiology.  

Mukerji said, “We observed 16,410 iSNV sites spanning the viral genome, and a high density of alterations were present in critical areas that could alter or override the body’s ability to trigger an immune response.” 

Read more: 

• IIT Madras to offer certificate course in emerging technologies 
• Work towards improving income of weavers, artisans: Piyush Goyal tells NIFT 
• IIT Madras uses AI to study fuel production from biomass