Research at the Universidade do Vale do Taquari - Univates in Lajeado in Brazil has revealed more than 100 genetic mutations in the SARS-CoV virus. The findings could lead to the development of drugs and other treatments against COVID-19.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports and led by Professor Luis Fernando Saraiva Macedo Timmers, was funded through a BRL 100,000 (US $20,000) donation from BRF.
Using genomic and structural analysis, the research team evaluated and mapped the genetic modifications found in more than 627 samples of SARS-Cov-2 collected across Brazil. They identified 109 mutations in the virus that caused the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“This information could help understand the impact of these mutations on the stability of the viral proteins, the efficacy of vaccines and to monitor how different the viruses are (here) when compared to other regions,” the authors wrote.
“Genomic and structural analysis have brought to light the diversity of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Several mutations were (and still are being) described within different regions of the world, and the identification of such mutation sites could potentially help the scientific community to build bridges between molecular and disease manifestations.”
In addition to Univates, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Ufrgs), the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) and the University of Tübingen (Germany) participated in the research.
BRF invests in COVID-19 research
In 2020, BRF announced plans to donate more than BRL 50 million (US $10 million) worth of food, medical supplies and support to research and social development funds, to contribute to the efforts made to fight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BRF has not responded to a WATTPoultry request for comment.
Formerly known as Brasil Foods, BRF is the second largest poultry producer in Brazil and the third largest in the world. According to the WATT Poultry International Top Companies survey, BRF slaughters 1.554 billion broilers annually.
View our continuing coverage of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
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