Inside a medical institute in rural Britain, scientists are working to trace thousands of coronavirus cases.
Using live data from the British government, they work to identify different strands of the virus and how they came to the country.
Experts say the work is crucial to help officials decide if a localised lockdown – now in place in half of the UK – needs to be put in place.
Coronavirus is composed of 30,000 pairs of chemical units known as RNA or ribonucleic acid.
Once the virus enters a human cell, this RNA – a chemically different form of genetic material to human DNA – is replicated. This in turn produces more virus particles that can be shed and create new infections.
Some lineages become extinct almost immediately. Some spread significantly through the community
By sequencing the virus’s RNA, scientists can determine where infections originated and how they are spreading – which can highlight the best way to prevent new cases. The research can also determine if the virus is mutating.
When it comes to sequencing the coronavirus, the UK is the world leader, accounting for about half of the 160,000 samples sequenced globally.
About 3,000 of the UK’s tally have been analysed at the Quadram Institute, a research centre in Norwich in eastern England that is one of more than a dozen UK establishments carrying out sequencing.
And its work has never been more important. A second wave of Covid-19 is wreaking havoc on countries across the world. Many countries have reimposed lockdowns, while the pandemic has claimed more than a million lives globally so far.
Most samples are from the surrounding county of Norfolk, which could be the most heavily sequenced part of the world given its population of less than a million, according to Dr Justin O’Grady, who heads the institute’s coronavirus effort. The work has, says Dr O’Grady, who normally researches the genetic diversity of microorganisms, been “hectic and rewarding”.
“It’s a departure from my normal day job,” he says. “We have to respond quickly to outbreaks. There’s a large team of people and they’re all working very hard and they’re very good.
“It’s great to see the data being utilised directly for public health interventions.”
It takes several hours in the laboratory to complete the steps to sequence the viral RNA, which is dissolved in liquid after being collected by nasal swabs, throat swabs or both.
The viral RNA is cut into sections that are about 400 base pairs long, which are then sequenced and fitted together by machine like a jigsaw.
By analysing variation between samples from different areas, scientists can determine the pattern of evolution of the coronavirus. The genetic differences are caused by naturally occurring mutations, with the virus accumulating changes at a rate of about two base pairs per month.
An evolutionary tree of branches or lineages shows where samples originated, such as whether they are local or from somewhere else.
If lineages are assigned colours, researchers can produce pie charts showing where the coronaviruses found in a given area came from.
In a recent paper co-authored by Dr O’Grady based on results from more than 1,500 samples sequenced at the Quadram Institute, the researchers identified 100 distinct lineages. These in turn belonged to 26 global lineages, indicating the coronavirus has been introduced to this part of the UK multiple times.
“There are many, many different lineages,” says Dr O’Grady. “Some become extinct almost immediately. Some spread significantly through the community.
“The lockdown had a major impact on what was spread around, and reduced the number spreading, obviously. Certain lineages didn’t transmit; certain ones stayed.”
The majority of coronavirus samples in Norfolk can be traced back to lineages originating in France, Italy and Spain, mirroring, says Dr O’Grady, the picture across the UK.
Most importantly, because lineage data indicates how the coronavirus is spreading within an area, it can be used to control spread.
For example, samples from people working in a Norfolk food processing plant that suffered a coronavirus outbreak were almost identical, indicating the outbreak resulted from spread within the plant and not from multiple infections from outside. This meant that measures to prevent spread within the facility were vital.
Similarly, sequencing identified a “sub-lineage” associated with six care homes, showing the coronavirus was spreading from one facility to another.
Sequencing data can be provided in as little as 24 hours, helping public health officials to decide the best way to control spread.
“It’s great to see the data we [provide] being used directly for public health interventions,” says Dr O’Grady.
The Norwich institution is one of several across the UK and their work is proving crucial in tackling the pandemic.
Sequencing information also offers clues as to whether the coronavirus is evolving in a way that could render early vaccines ineffective. The indications so far are welcome.
Dr O’Grady says there have been about 12,000 mutations in the coronavirus’s genome in total, with individual samples typically carrying about 10. Crucially, most seem to be insignificant.
“They appear and they disappear,” he says. “They’re not in regions [of the coronavirus genome] that are important. Typically things that cause problems are in the spike protein or that change the shape of the [viral] proteins."
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
ENGLAND SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Read more from Kareem Shaheen
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8" /></head><body><!--PSTYLE=* Labels%3aFH Label 18 Sport--><p>Beach soccer</p><!--PSTYLE=BY Byline--><p>Amith Passela</p><p /></body></html>
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SQUADS
South Africa:
JP Duminy (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, Robbie Frylinck, Beuran Hendricks, David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle (wkt), Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi
Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed
Fixtures
Oct 26: Bloemfontein
Oct 29: Potchefstroom
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
Directed by Sam Mendes
Starring Dean-Charles Chapman, George MacKay, Daniel Mays
4.5/5
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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