Oregon’s COVID-19 story emerges from gene sequencing

16 genomes from OHSU show great diversity

By Casey Williamson May 18, 2020 Portland, Oregon

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Brendan O'Connell isolates viral RNA from a sputum sample from a patient positive for COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2. Researchers at OHSU are sequencing COVID-19-positive samples and comparing genomes to characterize how COVID-19 is spreading around the country and world and how it entered and is spreading in Oregon. (OHSU)

(OHSU)

Brian O’Roak, Ph.D. (OHSU)

Brian J. O'Roak, Ph.D., associate professor of molecular and medical genetics in the OHSU School of Medicine. (OHSU/John Valls)

COVID-19 genome sequencing

Ruth O'Connell, Ph.D., is inspecting samples going through cDNA synthesis, which converts the single stranded viral RNA into double stranded molecule that then can be sequenced. Researchers at OHSU are sequencing COVID-19-positive samples and comparing genomes to characterize how COVID-19 is spreading around the country and world and how it entered and is spreading in Oregon. (OHSU)

(OHSU)