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New tool from Fiocruz allows quick Sars-CoV-2 variants detection


25/02/2021

Marlúcia Seixas (Fiocruz Amazônia)

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The genomic surveillance in Brazil gains a reinforcement with the new assay for the Sars-CoV-2 strains detection, by means of the RT-PCR protocol, developed by researchers from the Leônidas & Maria Deane Institute (ILMD/Fiocruz Amazônia). The tool was announced by the researcher and vice director of Research and Innovation at Fiocruz Amazônia, Felipe Naveca. The new trial allows screening of the most important strains in circulation in Brazil.

“The tool is an innovative product that was developed in our laboratory. There are other similar protocols, but this one was validated against 87 samples already sequenced, which gives us a great confidence in the result ”, comments Naveca.

The test results were obtained based on the 87 samples testing, confirmed by nucleotide sequencing and the Pangolin tool. In addition, the strains were also manually reviewed for the defining of their synapomorphies.

“It is possible to make hundreds of samples daily, because the real-time PCR protocol is much easier and more direct than sequencing, so we are able to do hundreds of samples per day with our capacity today”, comments Naveca.

The researcher highlights the importance of Sars-CoV-2 reater genetic surveillance in Brazil, and the new tool will contribute to the monitoring of strains that circulate in cities. The assay was designed to detect a deletion that exists in all VOCs (Variants of Concern) so far, so it is designed for strains or variants that appear or have the same deletion.

Soon, the trial will be available in several laboratories, as negotiations are already being carried out to make the tool available. The Central Public Health Laboratory of Amazonas (Lacen-AM) will be the first to use the product, then Rondônia, Roraima, Mato Grosso do Sul, Ceará, Rio de Janeiro and other interested laboratories.

“We are unable to serve everyone, at first, because the inputs purchased quantity are not enough to send to Brazil as a whole, but with this validation on a larger scale, we can have this in greater quantity. Fiocruz already has a decision to include this assay in the diagnosis, so, in addition to the diagnosis saying whether it is Sars-CoV-2 or not, the differentiation will also be included to assess whether it is one of the three variants of importance ”, comments Naveca.

Felipe Naveca is a pioneer in the genetic Sars-CoV-2 sequencing in the Northern Region. Until January 13 of this year, he and his team had already acquired 250 genomes sequenced from samples from Amazonas, 177 from Manaus and 73 from 24 municipalities in the State, in addition the laboratory led by him serves other states on the subject genomics of the new coronavirus.

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