Dynamics of Early Establishment of SARS-CoV-2 VOC Omicron Lineages in Minas Gerais, Brazil

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de Menezes, Mariane Talon ; Moreira, Filipe Romero Rebello ; Whittaker, Charles ; Santos, Franciele Martins ; Queiroz, Daniel Costa ; Geddes, Victor ; Fonseca, Paula Luize Camargos ; de Jesus, Jaqueline Goes ; Mendes-Oliveira, Franciane ; Reis-Souza, Valquiria ; Santos, Bibiana ; Zauli, Danielle Alves Gomes ; de Lima, Aline Brito ; de Brito Mendonca, Cristiane ; Alvim, Luige Biciati ; Silva, Joice do Prado ; Malta, Frederico Scott Varella ; Ferreira, Alessandro Clayton de Souza ; Faria, Nuno R. ; Sabino, Ester Cerdeira ; Aguiar, Renato Santana

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Viruses-Basel; v. 15, n. 2, p. 13-pg., 2023-02-01.

Abstract

Brazil is one of the nations most affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The introduction and establishment of new virus variants can be related to an increase in cases and fatalities. The emergence of Omicron, the most modified SARS-CoV-2 variant, caused alarm for the public health of Brazil. In this study, we examined the effects of the Omicron introduction in Minas Gerais (MG), the second-most populous state of Brazil. A total of 430 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) samples from November 2021 to June 2022 from Belo Horizonte (BH) city were sequenced. These newly sequenced genomes comprise 72% of all previously available SARS-CoV-2 genomes for the city. Evolutionary analysis of novel viral genomes reveals that a great diversity of Omicron sublineages have circulated in BH, a pattern in-keeping with observations across Brazil more generally. Bayesian phylogeographic reconstructions indicate that this diversity is a product of a large number of international and national importations. As observed previously, Sao Paulo state is shown as a significant hub for viral spread throughout the country, contributing to around 70% of all viral Omicron introductions detected in MG. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/14389-0 - Brazil-UK Centre for Arbovirus Discovery, Diagnosis, Genomics and Epidemiology (CADDE)
• Grantee: Ester Cerdeira Sabino
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants