AMAM Junaid Suddique, head of Pathology Department of Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and SM Mahbubur Rashid, a teacher of Dhaka University, supervised the research while Hamid Hossain and Nazmul Hasan from Monash University, Malaysia, and Asma Salauddin, Rasheduzzaman and Mehedi Hasan, three students of CU, contributed in analysing the data and information. The study was published in the International journal Virus Research.

Contacted, Dr Adnan said there are 34 unique mutations in the country and they will have to be studied further to see whether they are liable in increasing the number of Covid-19 cases at present in the country and whether they are more or less potent in spreading infection than the previous ones.

Rasel Das said the significance of the study was it has found some unique mutations of SARS COV-2 and the study also found that the tendency of mutation in D164G was frequent.

He said their study would show a guideline to research further on whether the vaccines are effective against the unique strains found in the country.

Mahbub Hasan said it is important to further research on the unique mutations found in the country to ensure none of them have the potential to cause more harm.

AMAM Junaid Siddique said the study revealed the necessity of further research on SARS COV-2 strains found in the country, adding, especially, samples should be collected from those who come from abroad and who are affected seriously to know whether they are infected by any vulnerable strains and whether the vaccines are effective against those.