Whole-Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from Quarantine Hotel Outbreak.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Leong LEX
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8314830 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description: Not available
| S-BSST662 | biostudies-other
Project description:BackgroundWe report an outbreak investigation to map intra-hospital transmission among health care workers (HCW) using epidemiological and whole-genome sequencing data.MethodsFourteen clinical wards (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19) with high infection rates of SARS-CoV-2 among HCW were selected and demographical, epidemiological and sequencing data were collected of all HCW testing positive by RT-PCR. Clustered cases were identified based on first disease onsets and differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP's) and were analysed for additional characteristics.ResultsData was collected for 123 HCW. Out of 123 HCW, 65 (53%) worked at eight non-COVID-19 wards, 56 (46%) at four COVID-19 wards, one (<1%) worked on several wards and for one (<1%) it was unknown. One major cluster (n = 34) and three minor clusters (n = 2,3,4; total n = 9) comprising of 43 HCW (35%) were found after comparing our study population (n = 123) with the circulating regional sequences (n = 819). In clustered cases work was most often the suspected source of infection and continuing work while having symptoms occurred in all clusters, ranging from 1-6 days.ConclusionOur findings strongly indicate transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among HCW. Whole-genome sequencing is useful for identification of clusters and can give direction to targeted infection prevention measures.
| S-EPMC10065229 | biostudies-literature
Project description:As the world is struggling to control the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there is an urgency to develop effective control measures. Essential information is encoded in the virus genome sequence with accurate and complete SARS-CoV-2 sequences essential for tracking the movement and evolution of the virus and for guiding efforts to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs. While there is unprecedented SARS-CoV-2 sequencing efforts globally, approximately 19 to 43 per cent of the genomes generated monthly are gapped, reducing their information content. The current study documents the genome gap frequencies and their positions in the currently available data and provides an alternative primer set and a sequencing scheme to help improve the quality and coverage of the genomes.
| S-EPMC7928614 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Extensive studies and analyses into the molecular features of severe acute respiratory syndrome related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have enhanced the surveillance and investigation of its clusters and transmission worldwide. The whole genome sequencing (WGS) approach is crucial in identifying the source of infection and transmission routes by monitoring the emergence of variants over time and through communities. Varying SARS-CoV-2 genomics capacity and capability levels have been established in public health laboratories across different Australian states and territories. Therefore, laboratories performing SARS-CoV-2 WGS for public health purposes are recommended to participate in an external proficiency testing program (PTP). This study describes the development of a SARS-CoV-2 WGS PTP. The PTP assessed the performance of laboratories while providing valuable insight into the current state of SARS-CoV-2 genomics in public health across Australia. Part 1 of the PTP contained eight simulated SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative specimens to assess laboratories' wet and dry laboratory capacity. Part 2 involved the analysis of a genomic dataset that consisted of a multi-FASTA file of 70 consensus genomes of SARS-CoV-2. Participating laboratories were required to (1) submit raw data for independent bioinformatics analysis, (2) analyse the data with their processes, and (3) answer relevant questions about the data. The performance of the laboratories was commendable, despite some variation in the reported results due to the different sequencing and bioinformatics approaches used by laboratories. The overall outcome is positive and demonstrates the critical role of the PTP in supporting the implementation and validation of SARS-CoV-2 WGS processes. The data derived from this PTP will contribute to the development of SARS-CoV-2 bioinformatic quality control (QC) and performance benchmarking for accreditation.
| S-EPMC9239710 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC8447387 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic has spread very fast around the world. A few days after the first detected case in South Africa, an infection started in a large hospital outbreak in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Phylogenetic analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes can be used to trace the path of transmission within a hospital. It can also identify the source of the outbreak and provide lessons to improve infection prevention and control strategies. This manuscript outlines the obstacles encountered in order to genotype SARS-CoV-2 in near-real time during an urgent outbreak investigation. This included problems with the length of the original genotyping protocol, unavailability of reagents, and sample degradation and storage. Despite this, three different library preparation methods for Illumina sequencing were set up, and the hands-on library preparation time was decreased from twelve to three hours, which enabled the outbreak investigation to be completed in just a few weeks. Furthermore, the new protocols increased the success rate of sequencing whole viral genomes. A simple bioinformatics workflow for the assembly of high-quality genomes in near-real time was also fine-tuned. In order to allow other laboratories to learn from our experience, all of the library preparation and bioinformatics protocols are publicly available at protocols.io and distributed to other laboratories of the Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa (NGS-SA) consortium.
| S-EPMC7464704 | biostudies-literature
Project description:During the course of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reports of mutations with effects on spreading and vaccine effectiveness emerged. Large scale mutation analysis using rapid SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is often unavailable but could support public health organizations and hospitals in monitoring transmission and rising levels of mutant strains. Here we report a novel WGS technique for SARS-CoV-2, the EasySeq™ RC-PCR SARS-CoV-2 WGS kit. By applying a reverse complement polymerase chain reaction (RC-PCR), an Illumina library preparation is obtained in a single PCR, thereby saving time, resources and facilitating high-throughput screening. Using this WGS technique, we evaluated SARS-CoV-2 diversity and possible transmission within a group of 173 patients and healthcare workers (HCW) of the Radboud university medical center during 2020. Due to the emergence of variants of concern, we screened SARS-CoV-2 positive samples in 2021 for identification of mutations and lineages. With use of EasySeq™ RC-PCR SARS-CoV-2 WGS kit we were able to obtain reliable results to confirm outbreak clusters and additionally identify new previously unassociated links in a considerably easier workaround compared to current methods. Furthermore, various SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest were detected among samples and validated against an Oxford Nanopore sequencing amplicon strategy which illustrates this technique is suitable for surveillance and monitoring current circulating variants.
| S-EPMC8487099 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We developed an extraction-free qPCR assay to identify Omicron BA.1 cases and verified lineage by sequencing. We find that BA.2 variants show almost twice the viral load (Ct) compared to both BA.1 as well as Delta variants.
2022-05-25 | E-MTAB-11650 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:BackgroundDuring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to infection both at work and in their communities. Determining where HCWs might have been infected is challenging based on epidemiological data alone. At Akershus University Hospital, Norway, several clusters of possible intra-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission were identified based on routine contact tracing. To investigate these clusters further, we added whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2 virus to routine contact tracing among HCWs and between HCWs and patients. This study illustrates both the potential power and challenges with high-resolution genotyping in outbreak settings.AimThe aim was to determine whether clusters of suspected intra-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission could be resolved by combining WGS of SARS-CoV-2 with contact tracing data.MethodsEpidemiological data were collected during routine contact tracing of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive HCWs. Possible outbreaks were identified as wards with two or more infected HCWs defined as close contacts who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 less than three weeks apart. Viral RNA from naso-/oropharyngeal samples underwent nanopore sequencing according to the manufacturer's instructions (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) in direct compliance to the Artic Network protocol (https://artic.network/ncov-2019).ResultsFive outbreaks were suspected from contact tracing. Viral consensus sequences from 24 HCWs, two patients and seven anonymous samples were analysed. Two outbreaks were confirmed, one refuted, two remained undetermined. One new potential outbreak was discovered.ConclusionCombined with epidemiological data, nanopore WGS was a useful tool for investigating intra-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission. WGS helped resolve questions about possible outbreaks and guide local infection prevention and control measures.
| S-EPMC7908852 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Following the detection of the first imported case of COVID-19 in the northern sector of Ghana, we molecularly characterized and phylogenetically analysed sequences, including three complete genome sequences, of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 obtained from nine patients in Ghana. We performed high-throughput sequencing on nine samples that were found to have a high concentration of viral RNA. We also assessed the potential impact that long-distance transport of samples to testing centres may have on sequencing results. Here, two samples that were similar in terms of viral RNA concentration but were transported from sites that are over 400 km apart were analyzed. All sequences were compared to previous sequences from Ghana and representative sequences from regions where our patients had previously travelled. Three complete genome sequences and another nearly complete genome sequence with 95.6% coverage were obtained. Sequences with coverage in excess of 80% were found to belong to three lineages, namely A, B.1 and B.2. Our sequences clustered in two different clades, with the majority falling within a clade composed of sequences from sub-Saharan Africa. Less RNA fragmentation was seen in sample KATH23, which was collected 9 km from the testing site, than in sample TTH6, which was collected and transported over a distance of 400 km to the testing site. The clustering of several sequences from sub-Saharan Africa suggests regional circulation of the viruses in the subregion. Importantly, there may be a need to decentralize testing sites and build more capacity across Africa to boost the sequencing output of the subregion.
| S-EPMC7959303 | biostudies-literature