Methods and Strategies of Bioinformatics Experts to Overcome the Corona Virus Pandemic

Kapanlagi.com - At the beginning of 2020, a serious disaster struck the entire face of the earth in the form of a deadly virus outbreak named Covid-19 or the corona virus. As of Monday (6/4), the number of patients in Indonesia alone who tested positive for this virus has reached more than 2,000, with 164 of them declared recovered while 198 have died.

Based on these facts, the government is now working very seriously to find a way out of this global pandemic. Meanwhile, health experts continue to conduct studies and research to find the right treatment for Covid-19. This also applies to experts in the field of bioinformatics.

Dr.rer.nat, Arli Aditya Parikesit, Head of the Bioinformatics Department at the Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences (i3l), explained that the cause of COVID-19 can be analyzed using bioinformatics. The aim is to find diagnostic, treatment, and prevention solutions in the form of vaccines.

"In the context of diagnostics, what is done is navigation to the SARS-CoV-2 genome database to find conserved regions that can be developed as markers for molecular diagnosis. Then, in the context of treatment, there are two strategies being developed by bioinformaticians," he explained, as quoted by KapanLagi.com.

1. Possibility of Success Always Exists

Illustration of COVID-19 antivirus research. ©2020 AFP Photo/STR/China Out

The first strategy is to use existing drug databases. Then the second is to use the herbal database that has been widely developed in China. After that, we move on to the stage of vaccine development using immunoinformatics methods to design a new generation of vaccines that are safer, considering that their genetic material is not included.

Arli added that there is currently a consortium of bioinformatics scholars, namely MABBI (Indonesian Bioinformatics and Biodiversity Society), which is now working hard to find diagnostic, treatment, and prevention methods for COVID-19. And i3l is fully involved in the consortium.

"The biggest challenge of all this is the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, which is in the form of RNA, making it very prone to mutations. This is what makes vaccine development very challenging, although with the use of bioinformatics and the latest molecular biomedical instruments, the possibility of success always exists," he concluded.

2. Follow Government's Recommendations

For now, the public is expected to follow the government's recommendations to quarantine at their respective homes and implement physical distancing. Adhering to these rules is equivalent to helping experts and the government to promptly address this pandemic.

"In general, follow the guidelines from the government, which are benchmarked to WHO's SOP, such as physical distancing, frequent handwashing, wearing masks, and others. Do not go to the hospital if you are not seriously ill and especially follow the instructions from the neighborhood association (RT/RW) regarding the security of each area," he concluded.

(kpl/gtr)