The Medical Research Agency (ABM) and the Malopolska Center of Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University (MCB UJ) in Krakow are launching a study monitoring the genetic variability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Poland.

The aim of the project will be to monitor the variability and evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Poland in the next 18 months. The immediate effect will be the constant verification of the presence of potentially dangerous variants (VOC) in the country, but also the analysis of the virus evolution in terms of the effectiveness of the vaccine and the possibility of reinfection, or the effectiveness of the available RT-qPCR diagnostic tests – said Prof. Krzysztof Pyrć, MCB of the Jagiellonian University.

Project scientists will focus on ‘sequencing virus isolates collected from patients meeting epidemiological criteria and bioinformatically analyzing the data obtained’. On this basis, it will be possible to identify the existing genetic variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, taking into account risk factors.