Global Transmission Pathway Verification and Comparative Analysis Using Tens of Thousands of Data Worldwide
Assisting Diagnostic Kit, Vaccine, and Treatment Development Through COVID-19 Variant Analysis
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] Microbiome big data platform company ChunLab introduced the epidemiological tracking platform 'EzCOVID19' on the 16th, which analyzes the transmission routes and mutation patterns of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worldwide.
A ChunLab official explained, "The biggest advantage of the cloud-based COVID-19 virus analysis platform (EzCOVID19), developed with our own technology, is that it can be analyzed even in countries, research institutions, and clinics without bioinformatics infrastructure or the ability to conduct epidemiological investigations."
He added, "As long as there is next-generation sequencing (NGS) data of isolated strains or viruses directly collected from COVID-19 patients, results can be quickly and accurately compared and analyzed with global data. Anywhere in the world, by inputting COVID-19 virus genome data, analysis results can be confirmed in just 10 minutes."
Due to the global spread of the COVID-19 virus, governments around the world are spending enormous costs and time monitoring the mutation patterns of the virus. Accordingly, the demand for bioinformatics analysis is also increasing. ChunLab operates 'EzBioCloud,' a cloud-based system with the world's largest user base in the bacterial diagnosis field, uniquely among domestic companies. In response to global demand, it has established the world's first platform that can rapidly analyze NGS data and perform epidemiological investigations in a one-stop manner.
The analysis results are composed of content that can identify molecular genetic characteristics such as virus mutations, comparisons with existing viruses, and evolutionary patterns by comparing tens of thousands of COVID-19 virus genome data produced worldwide. Because mutation analysis can be performed quickly, continuous mutation analysis can help predict future variants and assist in the development of diagnostic kits, vaccines, and therapeutics for variants.
Recent research results indicate that the COVID-19 virus can mutate approximately once every 12 days, and it is expected to take a considerable amount of time until the virus epidemic ends. This is why mutation tracking is important.
Prediction of mutation and evolutionary patterns of the COVID-19 virus can aid in the development of antiviral drugs that inhibit virus replication, such as Remdesivir and Avigan, and can also analyze mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein, which binds to human cells. It is expected to be applicable to the development of gene vaccines targeting the RBD as well.
If the ‘EzCOVID19’ analysis service becomes widespread globally, the evolution of the DNA (Data-Network-AI)-based system will accelerate further, enabling more precise analysis than currently possible. Precise analysis will speed up the development of vaccines and therapeutics based on virus transmission routes and mutation analysis, allowing rapid response even in the event of new infectious disease outbreaks.
Yoon Seok-hwan, head of the Bioinformatics Research Institute, who oversaw the development of the data-based COVID-19 virus analysis platform, explained, "Considering the global crisis situation such as the rapid spread of COVID-19, the increase in patients with unknown transmission routes, and the prediction of a second pandemic, we first opened a cloud-based COVID-19 virus analysis platform."
He emphasized, "The analysis platform rapidly analyzes COVID-19 virus sequence data produced in various ways and is a cloud-based COVID-19 genome big data analysis platform capable of comparative analysis with large-scale whole genome data produced worldwide. This platform technology can also be applied to data-based platforms for new infectious diseases that may occur in the future."
ChunLab is also expected to seek cooperation with global pharmaceutical companies. Consortium formation using COVID-19 whole genome sequence data is actively underway in countries around the world, including the United Kingdom. Investments in this area are also accelerating.
ChunLab CEO Chun Jong-sik said, "With the launch of a global platform that can check virus spread and mutation patterns in a short time in a one-stop manner, an era will open where anyone can analyze data directly as long as they have NGS data," adding, "ChunLab will lead the global standards and popularization market in the bioinformatics field."
The analysis platform service can be accessed from anywhere in the world through the EzCOVID19 site. Due to the global spread of the COVID-19 virus, the existing PCR diagnostic market is rapidly transitioning to next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, and the market for bioinformatics analysis continues to grow. ChunLab plans to generate revenue linked with the global cloud service ‘EzBioCloud.’
On the 23rd of last month, ChunLab was selected for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s project on 'Analysis of COVID-19 Virus Evolutionary Patterns and Molecular Genetic Characteristics' based on its COVID-19 virus analysis platform technology. The project involves comparing genome data of COVID-19 viruses isolated from Korean patients with global COVID-19 virus sequences, identifying mutation rates and main type characteristics of coronaviruses occurring in Korea, and analyzing the correlation between COVID-19 virus genomes and transmission through well-conducted epidemiological investigations.
ChunLab was externally recognized for the excellence of its proprietary microbiome precision classification platform core technology through its experience analyzing the whole genome of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that occurred in 2015.
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