tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Viruses
. 2023 Feb 20;15(2):585.
doi: 10.3390/v15020585.
Dynamics of Early Establishment of SARS-CoV-2 VOC Omicron Lineages in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Mariane Talon de Menezes[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Filipe Romero Rebello Moreira[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Charles Whittaker[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Franciele Martins Santos[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Daniel Costa Queiroz[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Victor Geddes[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Paula Luize Camargos Fonseca[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jaqueline Góes de Jesus[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Franciane Mendes-Oliveira[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Valquíria Reis-Souza[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bibiana Santos[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Danielle Alves Gomes Zauli[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Aline Brito de Lima[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Cristiane de Brito Mendonça[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Luige Biciati Alvim[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Joice do Prado Silva[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Frederico Scott Varella Malta[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Alessandro Clayton de Souza Ferreira[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Nuno R Faria[SUP] 2 4 8 [/SUP], Ester Cerdeira Sabino[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Renato Santana Aguiar[SUP] 1 3 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
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, São 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.
Keywords: Omicron; SARS-CoV-2; genomic surveillance; variants of concern; viral evolution.
. 2023 Feb 20;15(2):585.
doi: 10.3390/v15020585.
Dynamics of Early Establishment of SARS-CoV-2 VOC Omicron Lineages in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Mariane Talon de Menezes[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Filipe Romero Rebello Moreira[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Charles Whittaker[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Franciele Martins Santos[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Daniel Costa Queiroz[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Victor Geddes[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Paula Luize Camargos Fonseca[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jaqueline Góes de Jesus[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Franciane Mendes-Oliveira[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Valquíria Reis-Souza[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Bibiana Santos[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Danielle Alves Gomes Zauli[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Aline Brito de Lima[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Cristiane de Brito Mendonça[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Luige Biciati Alvim[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Joice do Prado Silva[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Frederico Scott Varella Malta[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Alessandro Clayton de Souza Ferreira[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Nuno R Faria[SUP] 2 4 8 [/SUP], Ester Cerdeira Sabino[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Renato Santana Aguiar[SUP] 1 3 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36851799
- PMCID: PMC9962645
- DOI: 10.3390/v15020585
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, São 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.
Keywords: Omicron; SARS-CoV-2; genomic surveillance; variants of concern; viral evolution.