학술논문
Genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ghana from 2020-2021
Document Type
Original Paper
Author
Morang’a, Collins M.; Ngoi, Joyce M.; Gyamfi, Jones; Amuzu, Dominic S. Y.; Nuertey, Benjamin D.; Soglo, Philip M.; Appiah, Vincent; Asante, Ivy A.; Owusu-Oduro, Paul; Armoo, Samuel; Adu-Gyasi, Dennis; Amoako, Nicholas; Oliver-Commey, Joseph; Owusu, Michael; Sylverken, Augustina; Fenteng, Edward D.; M’cormack, Violette V.; Tei-Maya, Frederick; Quansah, Evelyn B.; Ayivor-Djanie, Reuben; Amoako, Enock K.; Ogbe, Isaac T.; Yemi, Bright K.; Osei-Wusu, Israel; Mettle, Deborah N. A.; Saiid, Samirah; Tapela, Kesego; Dzabeng, Francis; Magnussen, Vanessa; Quaye, Jerry; Opurum, Precious C.; Carr, Rosina A.; Ababio, Patrick T.; Abass, Abdul-Karim; Akoriyea, Samuel K.; Amoako, Emmanuella; Kumi-Ansah, Frederick; Boakye, Oliver D.; Mibut, Dam K.; Odoom, Theophilus; Ofori-Boadu, Lawrence; Allegye-Cudjoe, Emmanuel; Dassah, Sylvester; Asoala, Victor; Asante, Kwaku P.; Phillips, Richard O.; Osei-Atweneboana, Mike Y.; Gyapong, John O.; Kuma-Aboagye, Patrick; Ampofo, William K.; Duedu, Kwabena O.; Ndam, Nicaise T.; Bediako, Yaw; Quashie, Peter K.; Amenga-Etego, Lucas N.; Awandare, Gordon A.
Source
Nature Communications. 13(1)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
2041-1723
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the fastest evolving pandemics in recent history. As such, the SARS-CoV-2 viral evolution needs to be continuously tracked. This study sequenced 1123 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from patient isolates (121 from arriving travellers and 1002 from communities) to track the molecular evolution and spatio-temporal dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 variants in Ghana. The data show that initial local transmission was dominated by B.1.1 lineage, but the second wave was overwhelmingly driven by the Alpha variant. Subsequently, an unheralded variant under monitoring, B.1.1.318, dominated transmission from April to June 2021 before being displaced by Delta variants, which were introduced into community transmission in May 2021. Mutational analysis indicated that variants that took hold in Ghana harboured transmission enhancing and immune escape spike substitutions. The observed rapid viral evolution demonstrates the potential for emergence of novel variants with greater mutational fitness as observed in other parts of the world.
In this genomic epidemiology study from Ghana, the authors sequence ~1,000 SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes from March 2020 to September 2021. They describe changes in the predominant circulating lineages over time and infer how variants of concern were likely introduced into the country.
In this genomic epidemiology study from Ghana, the authors sequence ~1,000 SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes from March 2020 to September 2021. They describe changes in the predominant circulating lineages over time and infer how variants of concern were likely introduced into the country.