National Institute for Infectious Diseases has released two UK Variant sequences (at GISAID), Italy/CAM-INMI-117/2020 and Italy/CAM-INMI-118/2020, from Dec 20 collections from 26F and 27F

Italy/CAM-INMI-117/2020 26F

matched UK variant with 3 AAs deleted in Spike protein, 3 AAs deleted in NSP6 and Q27 stop codon in NS8

map update

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1aQDSL2LwQFbuoCAg_nIOPK8D-LIJ5MYd&ll=41.18759296742666%2C13.905372299999996&z=8

Italy/CAM-INMI-118/2020 27F

matched UK variant with 3 AAs deleted in Spike protein, 3 AAs deleted in NSP6 and Q27 stop codon in NS8

map update

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1aQDSL2LwQFbuoCAg_nIOPK8D-LIJ5MYd&ll=41.18759296742666%2C13.905372299999996&z=8

26/12/2020 - Six passengers from the United Kingdom tested positive for the so-called English variant of Covid-19 because they have the S gene mutations typical of this variant. The news emerged following the work carried out by the researchers of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of the South, in synergy with Tigem and Ceinge. Further studies are underway in close collaboration with researchers from the Spallanzani Institute.

In fact, since Sunday 20, all passengers from the United Kingdom have been subjected to a molecular nasopharyngeal swab and the positives have been promptly identified and monitored. Immediately, sequencing was performed to ascertain whether the strain belonged to the English variant. After the relentless work of the researchers, it emerged that 6 have the S gene mutations typical of the variant.
The study is part of the Gencovid project, which started from the Campania Region in the first months of the pandemic with the aim of studying the virus in depth through the timeliness of sampling on the territory, the identification of outbreaks and the phylogenetic reconstruction of the virus and its spread. . A scientific boarding of the best Campania research institutions which, thanks to the synergy of the researchers, has allowed the Campania Region to identify and sequence about 2000 samples in the various phases of the pandemic, data that will be published in a few days on the international Gisaid platform and made available of the international scientific community. Gencovid was born from the Izsm which, with 400,000 swabs analyzed in the laboratories of Portici and with specialized operating units, allowed targeted and immediate interventions in the management of emergencies. Once the RNA was extracted and prepared, the Italian excellence Tigem for molecular biology took care of the sequencing, a further aliquot of sample, in collaboration with the CEINGE researchers, was also used to isolate the viral strains and experimentally test in vitro, on cellular models, the efficacy of different molecules with potential inhibitory activity of the replicative capacity of the virus.

"The identification of the six positive cases - declared the President Vincenzo De Luca - is subsequent to the ordinance of the Region with which flights from the United Kingdom were blocked immediately after the news of the discovery of the new variant. It will continue in the coming days. a careful work of control and filter with respect to the arrivals and the evolution of the epidemic, to ensure maximum safety conditions. This survey developed by our centers of excellence is of great scientific importance and great support for the work to come. as part of the research funded by the Region in March ".

http://www.regione.campania.it/regione/it/news/primo-piano/covid-19-6-passeggeri-arrivati-da-londra-positivi-alla-variante-inglese-de-luca-risultato-importante-proseguono-i-controlli-e-la-ricerca