ICGEB COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 Resource Page

From this page, the ICGEB offers Resources, Tools and Know-how to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, to its Member States, free of charge.

Alessandro Marcello, Group Leader, Molecular Virology lab, reached a major goal in the battle against coronavirus, isolating and sequencing the full genome of SARS-Cov-2 on 20 March 2020 (Read more). The full-genome sequencing of viral isolates is required to understand the genetic evolution of the virus during the pandemic and to track the origin of the viruses that reached the Region. The availability of viral isolates allows research on diagnostic, antivirals and vaccines to take place effectively.

This page is also linked to updates from Member States, the South-South Galaxy (UNOSSC), to the COVID-19 Innovation Hub of WIPO, and to the IASP.


Tools

The following tools are being made freely available to other researchers of the ICGEB constituency:

PROTOCOLS

REAGENTS for POSITIVE CONTROL

A synthetic RNA (MULTITARGET_RNA) containing target sequences from major diagnostic procedures, as suggested by the WHO

SEQUENCING SERVICE

Available for local isolates of the virus, through our partner lab in the AREA Science Park


LATEST PUBLICATIONS

Bitew, M., Hailu, G., et al. 2022. SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequence Obtained from Ethiopia. Microbiol. Resour Announc. doi: 10.1128/mra.01182-21

Interferon (IFN) protocol

Following recent reports about the possible beneficial effect of interferon alpha in Covid-19 infections ICGEB is offering its IFN protocol for production of interferon alpha developed in the Biotechnology Development Unit in Trieste to Member States upon request, free of charge. 
Please note, however, that there is not yet any definitive proof of a real benefit of interferon alpha formulations for the treatment of COVID-19.  

Links to further reading on this:

Your Donation helps

Between 1 March and 1 April 2020, ICGEB mobilised eight laboratories in Italy and India to deploy high-containment resources, experimental validation and therapeutic possibilities against COVID-19


Technical Assistance

Remote Technical Assistance

Available upon receipt of a signed Technical Assistance Agreement with the ICGEB during the reproduction of SOPs

Further Training Opportunities

Our staff is available to guide you through the possibilities available at ICGEB for further training 

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters

DISCLAIMER

All information, reagents, and knowhow provided through ICGEB are intended for research use only. The recipient agrees to use these in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the sequences and quality of materials, however, ICGEB cannot provide any warranty regarding their accuracy or quality. In particular, ICGEB makes no express or implied warranties of any kind, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. The recipient may acknowledge the source of sequences in any oral presentations or written publications concerning the research project by referring to the Laboratory of Molecular Virology, ICGEB, Trieste, Italy.


For scientific information

If you are interested in training for the development of improved surveillance and diagnostic tools to respond to the current crisis and improved strategies for prevention and treatment, please contact: 

Molecular Virology

[email protected]

For Technology Transfer information

If your Company/ Institute is interested in technology transfer opportunities and technical assistance to deal with the current crisis and improved strategies for prevention and treatment, please contact: 

Technology Transfer Office

[email protected]

For media and public information

If you wish to know more about the ICGEB Virus Task Force, please contact: 

Communications, Public Information, and Outreach
Tel: +39-340-5971692

[email protected]

[email protected]


Recent Updates

Damaged DNA (in green) in the lung of a COVID patient

Cell DNA damage underlies long-term effects caused by COVID-19 virus

10 gennaio 2022: Una nuova ricerca pubblicata su Nature Communications ha dimostrato l’efficacia di un nuovo farmaco biologico, un anticorpo monoclonale capace di bloccare la fibrosi e proteggere il muscolo cardiaco dopo un infarto del miocardio.

Antiviral Testing Results hailed by Sirona Biochem

Vancouver, Canada – February 27, 2023 – Sirona Biochem Corp announces it has received results from its research collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) to advance Sirona’s antiviral library of compounds.
Chris Smith the Naked Scientist at Trieste Next Science Festival, September 2022

ICGEB hosts celebrated Naked Scientists in Trieste

Chris Smith, Clinical Virologist at Cambridge University and co-presenter on the BBC’s The Naked Scientists, discusses “Viruses: Friends or Foes” with Lawrence Banks, ICGEB Director-General, and Mauro Giacca, King’s College London.