Page 33 - Annual report 2021-22

Annual Report 2021-22 |

the Megalab protocol and custom analysis platform were successful in assembling about 390 high
quality SARS nCoV genomes.

Under the multi-institutional GENOMEINDIA project - that is cataloguing genetic variation in Indians,
he is involved in creating an exhaustive catalog of genetic variations (common, low frequency, rare,
SNP's and structural) to construct a reference genome for the Indian population. Outreach and sample
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collection in November 2020 was started. Education and outreach activities were held at 45 locations
in 5 states and 18 population ethnic groups were mobilized to participate in the project. After the
informed consent, anthropometric data and phenotype data was collected. In total 1530 blood
samples were collected. The whole genome sequencing for 1069 samples including five control
samples (genome in a bottle) was completed.
Under INSACOG – multi-institutional collaboration, Sridhar Sivasubbu’s lab performed whole genome
sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples received from the assigned collection centres across India. This
involved whole genome sequencing of over 17,000 SARS-CoV-2 samples. The sequencing revealed that
several variants of concern/interest were circulating in the population during the period of the
analysis. Genome surveillance also helped identify the emergence of sub-lineages of Delta and
Omicron. The genome sequencing of SARS CoV2 virus enabled the public health policy decisions at
both central and state government levels in India. Whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 samples
for genomic surveillance would be continued as required by the INSACOG consortium.

“To see the world for a moment as something rich and strange is the
private reward of many a discovery.” — Edward M. Purcell