The US Air Force (USAF) Genetics Center of Excellence at Keesler Air Force Base (AFB) and Defense Health Agency (DHA) have collaborated to aid the scientific research to sequence the SARS-CoV-2 genome responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keesler AFB has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, academic institutions and Dod labs, including the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, US, to conduct the research.
Major Mauricio De Castro said: “If you know the genomic sequence, you can know what to target for treatment, medications, vaccines, etc.”
Across the world, researchers are working to decipher the genetic code of the virus to help develop a vaccine or effective treatment against the virus. To date, they have shared over 10,000 viral genome sequences of the novel coronavirus.
