Genomic monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 B1.1.7 (WHO VOC Alpha) in the Sao Paulo state, Brazil

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Slavov, Svetoslav Nanev ; Bezerra, Rafael dos Santos ; Rodrigues, Evandra Strazza ; Santos, Elaine Vieira ; Borges, Joseane Serrano ; de la Roque, Debora Glenda Lima ; Patan, Jose Salvatore Leister ; Lima, Alex Ranieri Jeronimo ; Ribeiro, Gabriela ; Viala, Vincent Louis ; de Lima, Loyze Paola Oliveira ; Martins, Antonio Jorge ; Barros, Claudia Renata dos Santos ; Marqueze, Elaine Cristina ; Bernardino, Jardelina de Souza Todao ; Moretti, Debora Botequio ; Brassaloti, Ricardo Augusto ; Cassano, Raquel de Lello Rocha Campos ; Mariani, Pilar Drummond Sampaio Correa ; Kitajima, Joao Paulo ; Santos, Bibiana ; Assato, Patricia Akemi ; da Costa, Felipe Allan da Silva ; Poleti, Mirele Daiana ; Lesbon, Jessika Cristina Chagas ; Mattos, Elisangela Chicaroni ; Banho, Cecilia Artico ; Sacchetto, Livia ; Moraes, Marilia Mazzi ; Grotto, Rejane Maria Tommasini ; Souza-Neto, Jayme A. ; Giovanetti, Marta ; de Alcantara, Luiz Carlos Junior ; Nogueira, Mauricio Lacerda ; Fukumasu, Heidge ; Coutinho, Luiz Lehmann ; Calado, Rodrigo Tocantins ; Neto, Raul Machado ; Covas, Dimas Tadeu ; Sampaio, Sandra Coccuzzo ; Elias, Maria Carolina ; Kashima, Simone

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: VIRUS RESEARCH; v. 308, p. 6-pg., 2022-01-15.

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 alpha VOC (also known as lineage B.1.1.7) initially described in the autumn, 2020 in UK, rapidly became the dominant lineage across much of Europe. Despite multiple studies reporting molecular evidence suggestive of its circulation in Brazil, much is still unknown about its genomic diversity in the state of Sao Paulo, the main Brazilian economic and transportation hub. To get more insight regarding its transmission dynamics into the State we performed phylogenetic analysis on all alpha VOC strains obtained between February and August 2021 from the Sao Paulo state Network for Pandemic Alert of Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. The performed phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the alpha VOC genomes were interspersed with viral strains sampled from different Brazilian states and other countries suggesting that multiple independent Alpha VOC introductions from Brazil and overseas have occurred in the Sao Paulo State over time. Nevertheless, large monophyletic clusters were also observed especially from the Central-West part of the Sao Paulo State (the city of Bauru) and the metropolitan region of the Sao Paulo city. Our results highlight the Alpha VOC molecular epidemiology in the Sao Paulo state and reinforce the need for continued genomic surveillance strategies for the real-time monitoring of potential emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants during the ever-growing vaccination process. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/05367-3 - Convalescent donor plasma to treat patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19)
• Grantee: Rodrigo do Tocantins Calado de Saloma Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/26950-6 - RED BLOOD CELL ALLOIMMUNIZATION IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE: IDENTIFICATION OF RH VARIANTS AND IMMUNE MARKERS
• Grantee: Evandra Strazza Rodrigues Sandoval
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/15826-5 - Evaluation of the impact of emerging and reemerging viruses in the field of hemotherapy and stem-cell transplantation by multiple-research approach
• Grantee: Svetoslav Nanev Slavov
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 19/08528-0 - Application of bioinformatic procedures for identification of the impact of the viral infections in hemotherapy
• Grantee: Rafael dos Santos Bezerra
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master