Genetic Signatures

Genetic Signatures Limited – Annual Report 2021 The coronavirus pandemic began in China in late 2019 (COVID-19) and is caused by the severe acute respiratory corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Scientists have been studying the coronavirus family, single stranded RNA viruses, for some time, including MERS, SARS and the seasonal respiratory coronaviruses, in an attempt to understand their potential to cause a global pandemic. By January 2020 scientists in China and then France rapidly sequenced and shared the entire SARS- CoV-2 genome. Genetic Signatures moved quickly to use its 3base ™ technology to develop a rapid, accurate, low-cost diagnostic test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 Genetic tools are also key to understanding how people respond to and how we can potentially treat COVID-19 infections. The genetic makeup of each person contributes to their susceptibility and response to the virus along with other factors like underlying health. Since March 2020 research teams have studied the genomes of more than 100,000 people with COVID-19 trying to find genes that might indicate who is susceptible to severe disease 2 . A dozen or so genetic variants have strong statistical association with severe COVID-19 3 . Studies of common and rare mutations are helping us to understand the biological mechanisms of disease and what drugs to test including those that boost natural antiviral defences. genes. Genetic Signatures’ EasyScreen ™ SARS- CoV-2 Detection Kit uses a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which remains a ‘gold standard’ for SARS-CoV-2 detection. EasyScreen ™ detection kits can be readily used with a range of front-end sampling approaches and back-end diagnostic (pathology) laboratories. Over the past year Genetic Signatures achieved significant domestic and international registrations and sales of its EasyScreen ™ SARS-CoV-2 Detection Kit . Detecting SARS-CoV-2 will remain critical to understanding and managing the pandemic, which has an uncertain duration and severity 1 . This is particularly key to understanding who is susceptible to and mechanisms underlying ‘long- Covid’ in order to continue to develop treatments. There remains a particular need to study the genomes of non-European populations to more fully understand and address how COVID-19 is impacting populations across the world. Viral infections have the ability to alter the epigenetic code and leave imprints in the human genome. Genetic Signatures is investigating how it can use its 3base ™ technology platform to detect certain genetic markers as an indicator of severe COVID-19. Detecting SARS-CoV-2 Understanding COVID-19 Risks and Treatments SARS-CoV-2 Update The COVID Virus