Virus biobank implementation and development of a computer system to control the storage, identification, and reporting of virus samples

• Grant number: 24/08272-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Viviane Fongaro Botosso
• Grantee: Taimá Naomi Furuyama
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11946-9 - Technological Innovation Platform for Health Emergencies, AP.CCD

Abstract

Several environmental and social factors can cause an increase in the interface between humans and animals (direct or indirect contact), and potentially increase the risk of transmission and adaptation of viruses between species, facilitating the establishment of a zoonotic disease. This phenomenon, called spillover, has occurred, most frequently, due to RNA viruses. The high host plasticity of these viruses is considered a positive predictive factor, as this characteristic is associated with increased efficient and sustainable transmission among humans, as was the case with HIV, Ebola, and SARS-CoV-2. Continuous epidemiological monitoring studies are crucial for rapid response to emergencies caused by viruses such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. For such studies to be viable, it is important to maintain and share viral samples, so that they are properly stored, treated, transported, and cataloged. It is necessary to program a qualitative and quantitative monitoring project for the transport of materials and samples. In this context, this project aims to implement a virus biobank and develop a computer system to control the storage, identification, and reporting of viral samples. The proposed system, developed by a multidisciplinary team, aims to serve laboratories that are unable to purchase existing platforms on the market, due to their high cost (for example, research laboratories), and require a storage and organization system for their samples. That said, we have drawn up an execution schedule covering twelve months.