UK Genome Project , Takes Aim at Tracking , Respiratory Viruses.br 'The Guardian' reports that U.K. labs have been sequencing thousands of COVID genomes every day to track circulating variants since the pandemic began.br Now, scientists at the Sanger Institute are working br on a project to develop large-scale genomic br surveillance for multiple respiratory viruses. .br The Respiratory Virus and Microbiome Initiative br will monitor for influenza, RSV, adenovirus, br rhinovirus and other emerging threats.br The Respiratory Virus and Microbiome Initiative br will monitor for influenza, RSV, adenovirus, br rhinovirus and other emerging threats.br It comes out of the simple idea that what br we’ve done for COVID, we should now be br doing for all respiratory viruses, because br if we can establish a better understanding br of these viruses, we can be in a better br place to understand their transmission br and how to develop vaccines against them. , Dr. Ewan Harrison at the Wellcome br Sanger Institute, via 'The Guardian' .br It comes out of the simple idea that what br we’ve done for COVID, we should now be br doing for all respiratory viruses, because br if we can establish a better understanding br of these viruses, we can be in a better br place to understand their transmission br and how to develop vaccines against them. , Dr. Ewan Harrison at the Wellcome br Sanger Institute, via 'The Guardian' .br The genome sequencing method could br be used to rapidly identify which virus, br or viruses, are present in a patient. .br It allows you to detect known br viruses, but also perhaps new br viruses, or viruses that have br mutated and are therefore no longer br picked up by [standard PCR tests]. , Dr. Antonia Ho, consultant in infectious diseases br and clinical senior lecturer at the MRC-University br of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, via 'The Guardian' .br It allows you to detect known br viruses, but also perhaps new br viruses, or viruses that have br mutated and are therefore no longer br picked up by [standard PCR tests]. , Dr. Antonia Ho, consultant in infectious diseases br and clinical senior lecturer at the MRC-University br of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, via 'The Guardian' .br 'The Guardian' reports that knowing which viruses are br present could guide individual treatment while also br ensuring that vaccines remain as protective as possible.br The public health impact of this br should not be underestimated br and has been clearly demonstrated br by the COVID-19 vaccine program. , Dr. Catherine Hyams at the Universitybr of Bristol, via 'The Guardian' .br The public health impact of this br should not be underestimated br and has been clearly demonstrated br by the COVID-19 vaccine program. , Dr. Catherine Hyams at the Universitybr of Bristol, via 'The Guardian' .