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Genomic Surveillance of Circulating SARS-CoV-2 in South East Italy: A One-Year Retrospective Genetic Study |
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| Authors: | Loredana Capozzi Angelica Bianco Laura Del Sambro Domenico Simone Antonio Lippolis Maria Notarnicola Graziano Pesole Lorenzo Pace Domenico Galante Antonio Parisi |
| Affiliation: | 1.Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Via Manfredonia, 20, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (L.C.); (A.B.); (L.D.S.); (D.S.); (L.P.); (D.G.);2.National Institute of Gastroenterology “S. de Bellis”, Institute of Research, Via Turi, 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy; (A.L.); (M.N.);3.Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, CNR, Via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy; |
| Abstract: | In order to provide insights into the evolutionary and epidemiological viral dynamics during the current COVID-19 pandemic in South Eastern Italy, a total of 298 genomes of SARS-CoV-2 strains collected in the Apulia and Basilicata regions, between March 2020 and January 2021, were sequenced. The genomic analysis performed on the draft genomes allowed us to assign the genetic clades and lineages of belonging to each sample and provide an overview of the main circulating viral variants. Our data showed the spread in Apulia and Basilicata of SARS-CoV-2 variants which have emerged during the second wave of infections and are being currently monitored worldwide for their increased transmission rate and their possible impact on vaccines and therapies. These results emphasize the importance of genome sequencing for the epidemiological surveillance of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants’ spread. |
| Keywords: | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance whole genome sequencing Nextstrain clade Pangolin lineage variants of concern |
