Genetic and evolutionary analysis of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the region surrounding Islamabad, Pakistan

This study highlights multiple SARS-CoV-2 lineages co-circulating during the peak of a second COVID-19 wave in Pakistan (Nov 2020-Feb 2021), with virus origins traced to the United States of America and Saudi Arabia. Ten SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were used for ONT library preparation. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis determined that the patients were infected with lineage B.1.1.250, originally identified in the United Kingdom and Bangladesh during March and April of 2020, and in circulation until the time of this study in Europe, USA and Australia. Lineage B.1.261 was originally identified in Saudi Arabia with widespread local dissemination in Pakistan. One sample clustered with the parental B.1 lineage and the other with lineage B.6 originally from Singapore. In the future, monitoring the evolutionary dynamics of circulating lineages in Pakistan will enable improved tracing of the viral spread, changing trends of their expansion trajectories, persistence, changes in their demographic dynamics, and provide guidance for better implementation of control measures.PMID:34271187 | DOI:10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105003

Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 16, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Sana Tamim Nidia S Trovao Peter Thielen Tom Mehoke Brian Merritt Aamer Ikram Muhammad Salman Muhammad Masroor Alam Massab Umair Nazish Badar Adnan Khurshid Nayab Mehmood Source Type: research