Jamil-ur-Rahman Center for Genome Research, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
National Institute of Virology, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
Transbound Emerg Dis. 2022 Sep;69(5):e2418-e2430. doi: 10.1111/tbed.14586. Epub 2022 May 17.
Surveillance of genetic diversity of the SARS-CoV-2 is extremely important to detect the emergence of more infectious and deadly strains of the virus. In this study, we evaluated mutational events in the SARS-CoV-2 genomes through whole genome sequencing. The samples were collected from COVID-19 patients in different major cities of Pakistan during the four waves of the pandemic (May 2020 to July 2021) and subjected to whole genome sequencing. Using in silico and machine learning tools, the viral mutational events were analyzed, and variants of concern and of interest were identified during each of the four waves. The overall mutation frequency (mutations per genome) increased during the course of the pandemic from 12.19 to 23.63, 31.03, and 41.22 in the first, second, third, and fourth waves, respectively. We determined that the viral strains rose to higher frequencies in local transmission. The first wave had three most common strains B.1.36, B.1.160, and B.1.255, the second wave comprised B.1.36 and B.1.247 strains, the third wave had B.1.1.7 (Alpha variant) and B.1.36 strains, and the fourth waves comprised B.1.617.2 (Delta). Intriguingly, the B.1.36 variants were found in all the waves of the infection indicating their survival fitness. Through phylogenetic analysis, the probable routes of transmission of various strains in the country were determined. Collectively, our study provided an insight into the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in the spatiotemporal local transmission during different waves of the pandemic, which aided the state institutions in implementing adequate preventive measures.
监测 SARS-CoV-2 的遗传多样性对于发现更具传染性和致命性的病毒株非常重要。在这项研究中,我们通过全基因组测序评估了 SARS-CoV-2 基因组中的突变事件。这些样本是在大流行的四个波次(2020 年 5 月至 2021 年 7 月)期间从巴基斯坦不同主要城市的 COVID-19 患者中采集的,并进行了全基因组测序。使用计算机模拟和机器学习工具,分析了病毒的突变事件,并在每个波次中鉴定了关注和感兴趣的变体。在大流行过程中,总体突变频率(每个基因组的突变数)从第一波的 12.19 增加到第二波的 13.63、第三波的 23.03 和第四波的 31.03 和 41.22。我们确定病毒株在当地传播中上升到更高的频率。第一波有三种最常见的株系 B.1.36、B.1.160 和 B.1.255,第二波包括 B.1.36 和 B.1.247 株系,第三波有 B.1.1.7(Alpha 变体)和 B.1.36 株系,第四波包括 B.1.617.2(Delta)。有趣的是,B.1.36 变体在感染的所有波次中都被发现,表明其生存适应性。通过系统发育分析,确定了该国各种株系的可能传播途径。总的来说,我们的研究提供了对大流行不同波次期间 SARS-CoV-2 谱系在时空本地传播中的进化的深入了解,这有助于国家机构实施充分的预防措施。