학술논문
Dynamics of Early Establishment of SARS-CoV-2 VOC Omicron Lineages in Minas Gerais, Brazil
Document Type
article
Author
Mariane Talon de Menezes; Filipe Romero Rebello Moreira; Charles Whittaker; Franciele Martins Santos; Daniel Costa Queiroz; Victor Geddes; Paula Luize Camargos Fonseca; Jaqueline Góes de Jesus; Franciane Mendes-Oliveira; Valquíria Reis-Souza; Bibiana Santos; Danielle Alves Gomes Zauli; Aline Brito de Lima; Cristiane de Brito Mendonça; Luige Biciati Alvim; Joice do Prado Silva; Frederico Scott Varella Malta; Alessandro Clayton de Souza Ferreira; Nuno R. Faria; Ester Cerdeira Sabino; Renato Santana Aguiar
Source
Viruses, Vol 15, Iss 2, p 585 (2023)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1999-4915
14691957
14691957
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.