1
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Chen NFG, Chaguza C, Gagne L, Doucette M, Smole S, Buzby E, Hall J, Ash S, Harrington R, Cofsky S, Clancy S, Kapsak CJ, Sevinsky J, Libuit K, Park DJ, Hemarajata P, Garrigues JM, Green NM, Sierra-Patev S, Carpenter-Azevedo K, Huard RC, Pearson C, Incekara K, Nishimura C, Huang JP, Gagnon E, Reever E, Razeq J, Muyombwe A, Borges V, Ferreira R, Sobral D, Duarte S, Santos D, Vieira L, Gomes JP, Aquino C, Savino IM, Felton K, Bajwa M, Hayward N, Miller H, Naumann A, Allman R, Greer N, Fall A, Mostafa HH, McHugh MP, Maloney DM, Dewar R, Kenicer J, Parker A, Mathers K, Wild J, Cotton S, Templeton KE, Churchwell G, Lee PA, Pedrosa M, McGruder B, Schmedes S, Plumb MR, Wang X, Barcellos RB, Godinho FMS, Salvato RS, Ceniseros A, Breban MI, Grubaugh ND, Gallagher GR, Vogels CBF. Development of an amplicon-based sequencing approach in response to the global emergence of mpox. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002151. [PMID: 37310918 PMCID: PMC10263305 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2022 multicountry mpox outbreak concurrent with the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic further highlighted the need for genomic surveillance and rapid pathogen whole-genome sequencing. While metagenomic sequencing approaches have been used to sequence many of the early mpox infections, these methods are resource intensive and require samples with high viral DNA concentrations. Given the atypical clinical presentation of cases associated with the outbreak and uncertainty regarding viral load across both the course of infection and anatomical body sites, there was an urgent need for a more sensitive and broadly applicable sequencing approach. Highly multiplexed amplicon-based sequencing (PrimalSeq) was initially developed for sequencing of Zika virus, and later adapted as the main sequencing approach for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we used PrimalScheme to develop a primer scheme for human monkeypox virus that can be used with many sequencing and bioinformatics pipelines implemented in public health laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sequenced clinical specimens that tested presumptively positive for human monkeypox virus with amplicon-based and metagenomic sequencing approaches. We found notably higher genome coverage across the virus genome, with minimal amplicon drop-outs, in using the amplicon-based sequencing approach, particularly in higher PCR cycle threshold (Ct) (lower DNA titer) samples. Further testing demonstrated that Ct value correlated with the number of sequencing reads and influenced the percent genome coverage. To maximize genome coverage when resources are limited, we recommend selecting samples with a PCR Ct below 31 Ct and generating 1 million sequencing reads per sample. To support national and international public health genomic surveillance efforts, we sent out primer pool aliquots to 10 laboratories across the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and Portugal. These public health laboratories successfully implemented the human monkeypox virus primer scheme in various amplicon sequencing workflows and with different sample types across a range of Ct values. Thus, we show that amplicon-based sequencing can provide a rapidly deployable, cost-effective, and flexible approach to pathogen whole-genome sequencing in response to newly emerging pathogens. Importantly, through the implementation of our primer scheme into existing SARS-CoV-2 workflows and across a range of sample types and sequencing platforms, we further demonstrate the potential of this approach for rapid outbreak response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas F. G. Chen
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Chrispin Chaguza
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Luc Gagne
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthew Doucette
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sandra Smole
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Erika Buzby
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joshua Hall
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Ash
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rachel Harrington
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Seana Cofsky
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Selina Clancy
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Curtis J. Kapsak
- Theiagen Genomics, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Joel Sevinsky
- Theiagen Genomics, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Kevin Libuit
- Theiagen Genomics, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Park
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Peera Hemarajata
- Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratories, Downey, California, United States of America
| | - Jacob M. Garrigues
- Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratories, Downey, California, United States of America
| | - Nicole M. Green
- Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratories, Downey, California, United States of America
| | - Sean Sierra-Patev
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island State Health Laboratory, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Kristin Carpenter-Azevedo
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island State Health Laboratory, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Richard C. Huard
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island State Health Laboratory, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Claire Pearson
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Kutluhan Incekara
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Christina Nishimura
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jian Ping Huang
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Emily Gagnon
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ethan Reever
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jafar Razeq
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Anthony Muyombwe
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Vítor Borges
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Ferreira
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniel Sobral
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Silvia Duarte
- Technology and Innovation Unit, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Santos
- Technology and Innovation Unit, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luís Vieira
- Technology and Innovation Unit, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carly Aquino
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Isabella M. Savino
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Karinda Felton
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Moneeb Bajwa
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Nyjil Hayward
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Holly Miller
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Allison Naumann
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Ria Allman
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Neel Greer
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, Delaware, United States of America
| | - Amary Fall
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Heba H. Mostafa
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Martin P. McHugh
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel M. Maloney
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Dewar
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Juliet Kenicer
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Abby Parker
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Katharine Mathers
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Wild
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Seb Cotton
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kate E. Templeton
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - George Churchwell
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Philip A. Lee
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Maria Pedrosa
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Brenna McGruder
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Sarah Schmedes
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Matthew R. Plumb
- Minnesota Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Xiong Wang
- Minnesota Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Regina Bones Barcellos
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernanda M. S. Godinho
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Richard Steiner Salvato
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Aimee Ceniseros
- Idaho Bureau of Laboratories, Boise, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Mallery I. Breban
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Nathan D. Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Glen R. Gallagher
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island State Health Laboratory, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Chantal B. F. Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Chen NF, Chaguza C, Gagne L, Doucette M, Smole S, Buzby E, Hall J, Ash S, Harrington R, Cofsky S, Clancy S, Kapsak CJ, Sevinsky J, Libuit K, Park DJ, Hemarajata P, Garrigues JM, Green NM, Sierra-Patev S, Carpenter-Azevedo K, Huard RC, Pearson C, Incekara K, Nishimura C, Huang JP, Gagnon E, Reever E, Razeq J, Muyombwe A, Borges V, Ferreira R, Sobral D, Duarte S, Santos D, Vieira L, Gomes JP, Aquino C, Savino IM, Felton K, Bajwa M, Hayward N, Miller H, Naumann A, Allman R, Greer N, Fall A, Mostafa HH, McHugh MP, Maloney DM, Dewar R, Kenicer J, Parker A, Mathers K, Wild J, Cotton S, Templeton KE, Churchwell G, Lee PA, Pedrosa M, McGruder B, Schmedes S, Plumb MR, Wang X, Barcellos RB, Godinho FM, Salvato RS, Ceniseros A, Breban MI, Grubaugh ND, Gallagher GR, Vogels CB. Development of an amplicon-based sequencing approach in response to the global emergence of human monkeypox virus. medRxiv 2023:2022.10.14.22280783. [PMID: 36299420 PMCID: PMC9603838 DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.14.22280783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The 2022 multi-country monkeypox (mpox) outbreak concurrent with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for genomic surveillance and rapid pathogen whole genome sequencing. While metagenomic sequencing approaches have been used to sequence many of the early mpox infections, these methods are resource intensive and require samples with high viral DNA concentrations. Given the atypical clinical presentation of cases associated with the outbreak and uncertainty regarding viral load across both the course of infection and anatomical body sites, there was an urgent need for a more sensitive and broadly applicable sequencing approach. Highly multiplexed amplicon-based sequencing (PrimalSeq) was initially developed for sequencing of Zika virus, and later adapted as the main sequencing approach for SARS-CoV-2. Here, we used PrimalScheme to develop a primer scheme for human monkeypox virus that can be used with many sequencing and bioinformatics pipelines implemented in public health laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sequenced clinical samples that tested presumptive positive for human monkeypox virus with amplicon-based and metagenomic sequencing approaches. We found notably higher genome coverage across the virus genome, with minimal amplicon drop-outs, in using the amplicon-based sequencing approach, particularly in higher PCR cycle threshold (lower DNA titer) samples. Further testing demonstrated that Ct value correlated with the number of sequencing reads and influenced the percent genome coverage. To maximize genome coverage when resources are limited, we recommend selecting samples with a PCR cycle threshold below 31 Ct and generating 1 million sequencing reads per sample. To support national and international public health genomic surveillance efforts, we sent out primer pool aliquots to 10 laboratories across the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and Portugal. These public health laboratories successfully implemented the human monkeypox virus primer scheme in various amplicon sequencing workflows and with different sample types across a range of Ct values. Thus, we show that amplicon based sequencing can provide a rapidly deployable, cost-effective, and flexible approach to pathogen whole genome sequencing in response to newly emerging pathogens. Importantly, through the implementation of our primer scheme into existing SARS-CoV-2 workflows and across a range of sample types and sequencing platforms, we further demonstrate the potential of this approach for rapid outbreak response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas F.G. Chen
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chrispin Chaguza
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Luc Gagne
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sandra Smole
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erika Buzby
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua Hall
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stephanie Ash
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Seana Cofsky
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Selina Clancy
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicole M. Green
- Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratories, Downey, CA, USA
| | - Sean Sierra-Patev
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island State Health Laboratory, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Richard C. Huard
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island State Health Laboratory, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Claire Pearson
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Jian Ping Huang
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, CT, USA
| | - Emily Gagnon
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, CT, USA
| | - Ethan Reever
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, CT, USA
| | - Jafar Razeq
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Rocky Hill, CT, USA
| | | | - Vítor Borges
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Ferreira
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniel Sobral
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Silvia Duarte
- Technology and Innovation Unit, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniela Santos
- Technology and Innovation Unit, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luís Vieira
- Technology and Innovation Unit, Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carly Aquino
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, DE, USA
| | | | | | - Moneeb Bajwa
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, DE, USA
| | | | - Holly Miller
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, DE, USA
| | | | - Ria Allman
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, DE, USA
| | - Neel Greer
- Delaware Public Health Laboratory, Smyrna, DE, USA
| | - Amary Fall
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Martin P. McHugh
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Daniel M. Maloney
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK,Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rebecca Dewar
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Juliet Kenicer
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Abby Parker
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Katharine Mathers
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jonathan Wild
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Seb Cotton
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kate E. Templeton
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - George Churchwell
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Philip A. Lee
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Maria Pedrosa
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Brenna McGruder
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah Schmedes
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Matthew R. Plumb
- Minnesota Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Xiong Wang
- Minnesota Department of Health, Public Health Laboratory, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Regina Bones Barcellos
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernanda M.S. Godinho
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Richard Steiner Salvato
- Centro Estadual de Vigilância em Saúde, Secretaria Estadual da Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Mallery I. Breban
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nathan D. Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Glen R. Gallagher
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA,Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island State Health Laboratory, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Chantal B.F. Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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3
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Singh M, Novitsky V, Howison M, Carpenter-Azevedo K, Huard R, King E, Kantor R. 1896. Statewide Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Rhode Island. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac492.1523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Global genomic surveillance has allowed identification of SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Statewide variant characterization can guide local public health mitigations and provide educational opportunities. We characterized statewide evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Rhode Island (RI).
Methods
Deidentified RI SARS-CoV-2 sequences since 2/2020, generated at authors, CDC and commercial laboratories, were extracted from https://www.gisaid.org. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses were conducted with available tools and custom python scripts and, after quality control, sequences were classified as variants of Concern (VOC), variants being monitored (VBM), or non-VOC/non-VBM, per CDC definitions. Specific mutations that are characteristic of the most recent VOCs (Delta or Omicron) were explored outside of their designated lineages.
Results
Of the 1.1 million RI population, 14,933 SARS-CoV-2 sequences were available between 2/2020 and 3/2022. These included 1,542 (11%) sequences from 37 non-VOC/non-VBM lineages until 2/2021, most commonly B.1.2 (21%), B.1.375 (13%), and B.1.517 (6%); 2,910 (19%) sequences from 7 VBM lineages between 3-6/2021, most commonly Alpha (48%), Iota (34%), and Gamma (10%); and 10,481 (70%) sequences from 2 VOC lineages, including 7,574 (72%) Delta mostly between 6/2021 and 12/2021, and 2,907 (28%) Omicron mostly between 1/2022 and 3/2022. Phylogeny showed expected clustering of local variants within regional and global sequences, and continued viral evolution over time. Further VOC evolution was observed, including 87 Delta sub-lineages, most commonly AY.103 (17%), AY.3 (15%), and AY.44 (12%); and 4 Omicron sub-lineages BA.1 (61%), BA.1.1 (32%), BA.2 (7%), and BA.3 (< 1%). Omicron-associated mutations S:del69/70, S:H655Y, or N:P13L were observed in 219 Delta sequences, and Delta-associated mutations ORF1b:G662S, N:D377Y, or M:I82T were observed in 16 Omicron sequences.
Conclusion
Statewide SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance allows for continued characterization of locally circulating variants and monitoring of viral evolution. Such data guide public health policies, inform the local health force, and mitigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on public health.
Disclosures
Rami Kantor, MD, Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjot Singh
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University , Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Vladimir Novitsky
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University , Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Mark Howison
- Research Improving People’s Lives , Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | - Richard Huard
- State Health Laboratories , Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Ewa King
- State Health Laboratories , Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Rami Kantor
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University , Providence, Rhode Island
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4
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Singh M, Novitsky V, Carpenter-Azevedo K, Howison M, Huard RC, King E, Kantor R. SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Rhode Island; May 2022 Update. R I Med J (2013) 2022; 105:6-11. [PMID: 35834172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genomic surveillance allows identification of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. We provide an update on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Rhode Island (RI). METHODS All publicly available SARS-CoV-2 RI sequences were retrieved from https://www.gisaid.org. Genomic analyses were conducted to identify variants of concern (VOC), variants being monitored (VBM), or non-VOC/non-VBM, and investigate their evolution. RESULTS Overall, 17,340 SARS-CoV-2 RI sequences were available between 2/2020-5/2022 across five (globally recognized) major waves, including 1,462 (8%) sequences from 36 non-VOC/non-VBM until 5/2021; 10,565 (61%) sequences from 8 VBM between 5/2021-12/2021, most commonly Delta; and 5,313 (31%) sequences from the VOC Omicron from 12/2021 onwards. Genomic analyses demonstrated 71 Delta and 44 Omicron sub-lineages, with occurrence of variant-defining mutations in other variants. CONCLUSION Statewide SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance allows for continued characterization of circulating variants and monitoring of viral evolution, which inform the local health force and guide public health on mitigation efforts against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjot Singh
- Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | | | | | - Mark Howison
- Research Improving People's Life, Providence, RI
| | - Richard C Huard
- Rhode Island Department of Health State Health Laboratories, Providence, RI
| | - Ewa King
- Rhode Island Department of Health State Health Laboratories, Providence, RI
| | - Rami Kantor
- Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI
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5
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Earnest R, Uddin R, Matluk N, Renzette N, Turbett SE, Siddle KJ, Loreth C, Adams G, Tomkins-Tinch CH, Petrone ME, Rothman JE, Breban MI, Koch RT, Billig K, Fauver JR, Vogels CBF, Bilguvar K, De Kumar B, Landry ML, Peaper DR, Kelly K, Omerza G, Grieser H, Meak S, Martha J, Dewey HB, Kales S, Berenzy D, Carpenter-Azevedo K, King E, Huard RC, Novitsky V, Howison M, Darpolor J, Manne A, Kantor R, Smole SC, Brown CM, Fink T, Lang AS, Gallagher GR, Pitzer VE, Sabeti PC, Gabriel S, MacInnis BL, Tewhey R, Adams MD, Park DJ, Lemieux JE, Grubaugh ND. Comparative transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta and Alpha in New England, USA. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100583. [PMID: 35480627 PMCID: PMC8913280 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant rose to dominance in mid-2021, likely propelled by an estimated 40%-80% increased transmissibility over Alpha. To investigate if this ostensible difference in transmissibility is uniform across populations, we partner with public health programs from all six states in New England in the United States. We compare logistic growth rates during each variant's respective emergence period, finding that Delta emerged 1.37-2.63 times faster than Alpha (range across states). We compute variant-specific effective reproductive numbers, estimating that Delta is 63%-167% more transmissible than Alpha (range across states). Finally, we estimate that Delta infections generate on average 6.2 (95% CI 3.1-10.9) times more viral RNA copies per milliliter than Alpha infections during their respective emergence. Overall, our evidence suggests that Delta's enhanced transmissibility can be attributed to its innate ability to increase infectiousness, but its epidemiological dynamics may vary depending on underlying population attributes and sequencing data availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Earnest
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Rockib Uddin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nicholas Matluk
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME 04333, USA; Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Augusta, ME 04333, USA
| | - Nicholas Renzette
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Sarah E Turbett
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | | | - Gordon Adams
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Mary E Petrone
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Jessica E Rothman
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Mallery I Breban
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Robert Tobias Koch
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Kendall Billig
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Joseph R Fauver
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Chantal B F Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Kaya Bilguvar
- Yale Center for Genome Analysis, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Departments of Neurosurgery and Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Medical Genetics, Acibadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bony De Kumar
- Yale Center for Genome Analysis, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Marie L Landry
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - David R Peaper
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Kevin Kelly
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Greg Omerza
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Heather Grieser
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME 04333, USA; Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Augusta, ME 04333, USA
| | - Sim Meak
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME 04333, USA; Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Augusta, ME 04333, USA
| | - John Martha
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME 04333, USA; Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Augusta, ME 04333, USA
| | | | - Susan Kales
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | | | | | - Ewa King
- Rhode Island Department of Health, State Health Laboratories, Providence, RI 02904, USA
| | - Richard C Huard
- Rhode Island Department of Health, State Health Laboratories, Providence, RI 02904, USA
| | - Vlad Novitsky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Mark Howison
- Research Improving People's Lives, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Josephine Darpolor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Akarsh Manne
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Rami Kantor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02906, USA
| | - Sandra C Smole
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | | | - Timelia Fink
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Andrew S Lang
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Glen R Gallagher
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Virginia E Pitzer
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Stacey Gabriel
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Ryan Tewhey
- Department of Medical Genetics, Acibadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Mark D Adams
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Daniel J Park
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jacob E Lemieux
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Nathan D Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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6
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Allen RA, Williams CL, Penrod Y, McCloskey C, Carpenter-Azevedo K, Huard RC, King E, Terence Dunn S. A pyrosequencing protocol for rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants. J Med Virol 2022; 94:3661-3668. [PMID: 35416308 PMCID: PMC9088475 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) is the primary method used to monitor the distribution and emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) variants around the world; however, it is costly and time‐consuming to perform and is not widely available in low‐resourced geographical regions. Pyrosequencing has the potential to augment surveillance efforts by providing information on specific targeted mutations for rapid identification of circulating and emerging variants. The current study describes the development of a reverse transcription (RT)‐PCR‐pyrosequencing assay targeting >65 spike protein gene (S) mutations of SARS‐CoV‐2, which permits differentiation of commonly reported variants currently circulating in the United States with a high degree of confidence. Variants typed using the assay included B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.1.529 (Omicron), B.1.351 (Beta), B.1.375, B.1.427/429 (Epsilon), B.1.525 (Eta), B.1.526.1 (Iota), B.1.617.1 (Kappa), B.1.617.2 (Delta), B.1.621 (Mu), P1 (Gamma), and B.1.1 variants, all of which were confirmed by the NGS data. An electronic typing tool was developed to aid in the identification of variants based on mutations detected by pyrosequencing. The assay could provide an important typing tool for rapid identification of candidate patients for monoclonal antibody therapies and a method to supplement SARS‐CoV‐2 surveillance efforts by identification of circulating variants and novel emerging lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher L Williams
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Yvonne Penrod
- OU Health Laboratories, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | | | | | - Richard C Huard
- Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Laboratories, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Ewa King
- Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Laboratories, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - S Terence Dunn
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
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7
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Earnest R, Uddin R, Matluk N, Renzette N, Siddle KJ, Loreth C, Adams G, Tomkins-Tinch CH, Petrone ME, Rothman JE, Breban MI, Koch RT, Billig K, Fauver JR, Vogels CB, Turbett S, Bilguvar K, De Kumar B, Landry ML, Peaper DR, Kelly K, Omerza G, Grieser H, Meak S, Martha J, Dewey HH, Kales S, Berenzy D, Carpenter-Azevedo K, King E, Huard RC, Smole SC, Brown CM, Fink T, Lang AS, Gallagher GR, Sabeti PC, Gabriel S, MacInnis BL, Tewhey R, Adams MD, Park DJ, Lemieux JE, Grubaugh ND. Comparative transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta and Alpha in New England, USA. medRxiv 2021:2021.10.06.21264641. [PMID: 34642698 PMCID: PMC8509091 DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.06.21264641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant quickly rose to dominance in mid-2021, displacing other variants, including Alpha. Studies using data from the United Kingdom and India estimated that Delta was 40-80% more transmissible than Alpha, allowing Delta to become the globally dominant variant. However, it was unclear if the ostensible difference in relative transmissibility was due mostly to innate properties of Delta's infectiousness or differences in the study populations. To investigate, we formed a partnership with SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance programs from all six New England US states. By comparing logistic growth rates, we found that Delta emerged 37-163% faster than Alpha in early 2021 (37% Massachusetts, 75% New Hampshire, 95% Maine, 98% Rhode Island, 151% Connecticut, and 163% Vermont). We next computed variant-specific effective reproductive numbers and estimated that Delta was 58-120% more transmissible than Alpha across New England (58% New Hampshire, 68% Massachusetts, 76% Connecticut, 85% Rhode Island, 98% Maine, and 120% Vermont). Finally, using RT-PCR data, we estimated that Delta infections generate on average ∼6 times more viral RNA copies per mL than Alpha infections. Overall, our evidence indicates that Delta's enhanced transmissibility could be attributed to its innate ability to increase infectiousness, but its epidemiological dynamics may vary depending on the underlying immunity and behavior of distinct populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Earnest
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Rockib Uddin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nicholas Matluk
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME 04333
- Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Augusta, ME 04333
| | - Nicholas Renzette
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | | | | | - Gordon Adams
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Mary E. Petrone
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Jessica E. Rothman
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Mallery I. Breban
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Robert Tobias Koch
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Kendall Billig
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Joseph R. Fauver
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Chantal B.F. Vogels
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Sarah Turbett
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kaya Bilguvar
- Yale Center for Genome Analysis, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Medical Genetics, Acibadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bony De Kumar
- Yale Center for Genome Analysis, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Marie L. Landry
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - David R. Peaper
- Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Kevin Kelly
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Greg Omerza
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Heather Grieser
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME 04333
- Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Augusta, ME 04333
| | - Sim Meak
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME 04333
- Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Augusta, ME 04333
| | - John Martha
- Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME 04333
- Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, Augusta, ME 04333
| | | | - Susan Kales
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | | | | | - Ewa King
- Rhode Island Department of Health, State Health Laboratories, Providence, RI 02904, USA
| | - Richard C. Huard
- Rhode Island Department of Health, State Health Laboratories, Providence, RI 02904, USA
| | - Sandra C. Smole
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston MA 02130, USA
| | | | - Timelia Fink
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston MA 02130, USA
| | - Andrew S. Lang
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston MA 02130, USA
| | | | | | - Stacey Gabriel
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | - Ryan Tewhey
- Department of Medical Genetics, Acibadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Mark D. Adams
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Daniel J. Park
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jacob E. Lemieux
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Nathan D. Grubaugh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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8
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Kantor R, Novitsky V, Carpenter-Azevedo K, Howison M, Manne A, Darpolor JK, Bobenchik A, Tripathi A, Huard RC, King E. SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Rhode Island. R I Med J (2013) 2021; 104:16-20. [PMID: 34279520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is a worldwide public health emergency caused by SARS-CoV-2. Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 emerging variants is important for pandemic monitoring and informing public health responses. Through an interstate academic-public health partnership, we established Rhode Island's capacity to sequence SARS-CoV-2 genomes and created a systematic surveillance program to monitor the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the state. We describe circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Rhode Island; provide a timeline for the emerging and expanding contribution of variants of concern (VOC) and variants of interest (VOI), from their first introduction to their eventual predominance over other lineages; and outline the frequent identification of known adaptively beneficial spike protein mutations that appear to have independently arisen in non-VOC/non-VOI lineages. Overall, the described Rhode Island- centric genomic surveillance initiative provides a valuable perspective on SARS-CoV-2 in the state and contributes data of interest for future epidemiological studies and state-to-state comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rami Kantor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Vladimir Novitsky
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | | | - Mark Howison
- Research Improving People's Life, Providence, RI
| | - Akarsh Manne
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Josephine K Darpolor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | | | | | - Richard C Huard
- Rhode Island Department of Health, State Health Laboratories, Providence, RI
| | - Ewa King
- Rhode Island Department of Health, State Health Laboratories, Providence, RI
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