Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) Genome Center has identified a new sub-variant of the Omicron type of the corona virus 22D:Omicron/BA.2.75 in the bodies of three Bangladeshis. Last Sunday, a group of researchers from the Genome Center of JUST identified this new strain of corona through the partial (spike protein) genome sequence of the virus collected from three infected people in Jashore.
According to the research team of JUST genome Center, the three affected persons are men. One of whom is 55 years old and the other two are 85 years old. One of the victims is under treatment in hospital and others are receiving treatment at home. The victims have various mild symptoms including fever, sore throat, cold and cough.
The research team also reported that the BA.2.75 sub-variant has the same mutation in the spike protein as the BA.2 variant of Omicron. This sub-variant of Omicron was first detected in India in July. Besides, this sub-variant was detected in different countries of the world last August. Vaccinated persons are also infected with this sub-variant. In the upcoming days, this sub-variant may cause more infections than the other sub-variants that are currently infectious that scientists believe.
JUST Vice Chancellor and Director of Genome Center Professor Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain said, this sub-variant is able to evade the human immune system easily. For this, there is no alternative to strictly follow the corona hygiene rules including using masks. He said, soon it will be possible to know more information about this by sequencing the complete genome and the work of identifying this sub-variant will continue at the Genome Center. It is to be noted that earlier local infections of delta and omicron variants of corona virus were also detected at the Genome Center.
JUST microbiology Department Chairman and Associate Director of Genome Center Professor Dr. Iqbal Kabir Zahid led the research team to identify this new sub-variant of Corona. The other members are- Chairman of Biomedical Engineering Department Dr. Hasan Md. Al-Imran, Chairman of the Department of Nutrition and Food Technology Prof. Dr. Shirin Nigar, Associate Professor of Microbiology Department Dr. Tanvir Islam, Dr. Selina Akhter, Dr. Abhinu Kibaria Islam, Genome Center Research Assistant Prashant Kumar Das, Md. Ali Ahsan Setu and others.
