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316798

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity in Zambia: Single center study

Article

Last updated: 25 Dec 2024

Subjects

-

Tags

Medical virology

Abstract

Background:  The emergency of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) variants has led to COVID-19 worldwide with substantial social and economic consequences. SARS CoV-2 S-glycoproteins are involved in viral entry to human cells. They are naturally the main target of host immune responses, and most vaccine designs are based on them. SARS-CoV-2 variants are categorized as variants of interest (VOI) or variants of concern (VOC) because they are deadly and highly transmissible, causing illness by overcoming the host immune system. Material and Methods: The COVID-19 patients' samples were isolated for genome sequencing to identify the mutations that alter the viral genotypic traits. Genome annotation and phylogenetic analysis were performed using MEGA 7.0. Results: Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the omicron variant of concern and sub-variants XBB, XBB.2.6, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1 are the most prevalent variants in Lusaka, Zambia. Analysis of the translated protein sequences in this study revealed D614G mutation in all the sequences. This mutation has previously been implicated in viral transmission, increasing the infectivity, replication efficacy, stability of virions, and virulence in its human host.  Conclusion: Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome provided crucial information on the variant and its source as it spreads in Lusaka from person to person. This research has a huge potential in genomic epidemiology, where genomic surveillance is employed to detect new mutations or SARS-CoV-2 variants, which can help the virus to spread rapidly, increase disease severity, or even evade vaccine-induced immunity.

DOI

10.21608/mid.2023.229457.1592

Keywords

COVID-19, Variants of concern, genome sequencing, phylogenetic tree, genomic surveillance

Authors

First Name

Emmanuel

Last Name

Zulu

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Institute of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia

Email

emmanuelzulu1810@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Rodrick

Last Name

Katete

MiddleName

S.

Affiliation

Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mzuzu University, Luwinga, Malawi

Email

rskatete@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Paul

Last Name

Simusika

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Institute of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia

Email

psimusika@yahoo.co.uk

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Mable

Last Name

Mutengo

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Institute of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia

Email

mablem38@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Freeman

Last Name

Chabala

MiddleName

W.

Affiliation

Institute of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia

Email

wagadfreeman86@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Mpanga

Last Name

Kasonde

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Genome Sequencing and Bioinformatics Unit, Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), Lusaka, Zambia

Email

mpanga.kasonde@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

4

Article Issue

4

Related Issue

43799

Issue Date

2023-11-01

Receive Date

2023-08-15

Publish Date

2023-11-01

Page Start

1,088

Page End

1,099

Print ISSN

2682-4132

Online ISSN

2682-4140

Link

https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/article_316798.html

Detail API

https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=316798

Order

5

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,157

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Microbes and Infectious Diseases

Publication Link

https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity in Zambia: Single center study

Details

Type

Article

Created At

25 Dec 2024