Dr Niranjan Patil, Microbiology & Infectious Molecular Biology-Head, Metropolis Healthcare highlights that technologies such as chatbot and virtualised patient care have provided means to triage and allocate care at a previously inconceivable scale. High performance computing used in sequencing technologies and artificial intelligence have fast-tracked research into understanding the virus and evolving targeted therapeutics towards treatment and prevention of transmission
Technology has played a critical role in providing response to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and following COVID-19 pandemic. The virus’s combination of transmissibility and lethality has challenged medical experts, public health experts and uncovered the limitation of the conventional public health tools. However, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has responded to the need for a new practice of diagnostic or preventive health testing and public health that exemplifies opportunities for improved swiftness, sensitivity, and scale. Technologies such as chatbot and virtualised patient care have provided means to triage and allocate care at a previously inconceivable scale. High performance computing used in sequencing technologies and artificial intelligence have fast-tracked research into understanding the virus and evolving targeted therapeutics towards treatment and prevention of transmission.
Molecular methods such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing, which detects the presence of viral genetic material, are used for diagnosing COVID-19 infections. This information is then used to inform public health decisions related to contact tracing and isolation/quarantine measures. Point of care testing devices which offer rapid nucleic acid detection were employed at airports or major events during the pandemic. COVID-19 variant screening test had become popular at the onset of Omicron wave. Other promising tools include CRISPR/ CAS based lateral flow assay were developed and attempted with limited utility.
In addition, molecular methods such as sequencing play a crucial role in controlling COVID-19 by aiding in the detection and characterisation of the virus, tracking its spread, and understanding its genetic makeup. Since SARS CoV2 virus is a single stranded RNA virus and highly prone to undergo mutation, viral genome sequencing becomes a critical method for identifying the trends in viral genome changes occurring globally.
Sequencing allows scientists to identify and track new variants of the virus as they arise, which is essential for predicting its behavior and developing effective vaccines and treatments. Thus, whether a strain is Alpha, Delta, Omicron were identified, tracked and vaccine constituents were included based on changes in the viral genome. Also targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibody cocktail, antivirals have been used based on the viral strain identified. Genomic surveillance, which involves sequencing the virus samples collected from infected individuals, can also help identify hotspots of transmission in the community and monitor the spread of the virus. It may also be used in hospital settings to identify the potential source of outbreak in healthcare settings.
Overall, molecular methods such as sequencing are critical tools in the fight against COVID-19, helping to identify new variants, track the spread of the virus, and inform public health decisions. In coming times multi stake holders along with technology organisations would be required to be prepared for the challenges to prevent such pandemics in future. As lessons from the current pandemic, use of newer technologies should be considered and pursued in addition to traditional approaches.