Indonesian institute finishes sequencing coronavirus strain

A visual rendering of the novel coronavirus is on display beside laboratory glassware at the Pasteur Institute laboratories in Lille, France, on March 9. - Bloomberg

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/ANN): The Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology has finished the first complete genome sequence of coronavirus samples from Indonesia. The new information is expected to help scientists better understand the particular strain of the virus that has swept across the country.

Eijkman Institute director Amin Soebandrio said the genetic sequence could help scientists understand the virus strain’s mutations, identify its origins and conduct fast and effective contact tracing to reduce its spread. He said the information could also help in the development of a vaccine.