Molecular surveillance of the on-going SARS-COV-2 epidemic in Ribeirao Preto City, Brazil

• Published in: Infection, genetics and evolution Vol. 93; p. 104976
• Main Authors: Slavov, Svetoslav Nanev, Giovanetti, Marta, dos Santos Bezerra, Rafael, Fonseca, Vagner, Santos, Elaine Vieira, Rodrigues, Evandra Strazza, Adelino, Talita, Xavier, Joilson, Borges, Josiane Serrano, Evaristo, Mariane, Lima, Mauricio Teixeira, de Carvalho Pereira, Glauco, Yamamoto, Aparecida Yulie, Clé, Diego Villa, Calado, Rodrigo Tocantins, Covas, Dimas Tadeu, Alcantara, Luiz Carlos Junior, Kashima, Simone
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-09-2021; Published by Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - virology; Evolution, Molecular; Female; Genome, Viral; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; P.1; Phylogeny; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; Short Communication; Variants of concern; VOC; Whole genome; Brazil; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; P.1; Whole genome; Variants of concern; VOC; Phylogeny
• ISSN: 1567-1348; 1567-7257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104976

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of an unprecedented worldwide pandemic. Brazil demonstrates one of the highest numbers of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, and São Paulo State is the epicenter of the pandemics in the country. Nevertheless, little is known about the SARS-CoV-2 circulation in other cities in the State than São Paulo city. The objective of this study was to analyze phylogenetically SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in city of Ribeirão Preto at the beginning of the pandemic and during the actual second wave. Twenty-nine nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RNA positive samples were sequenced by nanopore technology (18 obtained at the initial period of the pandemic and 11 during the second wave) and analyzed them phylogenetically. The performed analysis demonstrated that the majority of the strains obtained in the initial period of the pandemic in Ribeirão Preto belonged mainly to the B1.1.33 lineage (61.1%), but B.1.1 (27.8%) and B.1.1.28 (11.1%) lineages were also identified. In contrast, the second wave strains were composed exclusively by the Brazilian variant of concern (VOC) P.1 (91%) and P.2 (9%) lineages. The obtained phylogenetic results were suggestive of successive SARS-CoV-2 lineage substitution in this Brazilian region by the P.1 VOC. The performed study examines the SARS-CoV-2 genotypes in Ribeirão Preto city via genomic surveillance data. The obtained findings can contribute for continuous long-term genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 due to the accelerated dynamics of viral lineage substitution, predict further waves and examine lineage behavior during SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
•The phylogenetic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Ribeirão Preto are unknown.•The second SARS-CoV-2 strains were compared to the initial period of the pandemic.•The genetic characterization of circulating SARS-CoV-2 can predict further outbreaks and vaccine responses.