Russian scientists succeeded in sequencing the full genome of coronavirus

19 March 2020, Thursday

Specialists of FSBI «A.A. Smorodintsev Scientific Research Institute of Influenza» of Health Ministry of Russia sequenced the first complete genome of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 from Russia from the material of a patient with COVID-19.

“Operational genetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viruses is crucial to understanding the evolution of the new coronavirus and its dynamics.” - said the acting Director of A.A. Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza Dmitry Lioznov. This coronavirus is new; therefore it is critically important to be able to determine the path of its spread and its entry into the territory of Russia, its change. This information will help in the development of vaccines and antiviral medicines for the treatment of coronavirus.