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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/50196
INSIGHTS ON THE SARS-COV- 2 GENOME VARIABILITY: THE LESSON LEARNED IN BRAZIL AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE FUTURE OF PANDEMICS
Author
Affilliation
São Paulo State University. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil / Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro. Campus Universitário Iturama. Iturama, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimento para Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimento para Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro. Campus Universitário Iturama. Iturama, MG, Brazil.
São Paulo State University. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil / Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro. Campus Universitário Iturama. Iturama, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimento para Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Centro de Integração de Dados e Conhecimento para Saúde. Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro. Campus Universitário Iturama. Iturama, MG, Brazil.
São Paulo State University. São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil / Federal University of Uberlândia. Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
Abstract
Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-
2
spread in Brazil, few studies have been published analysing the variability of viral
genome. Herein, we described the dynamic of SARS-CoV-
2
strains circulating in Brazil from May to September 2020, to better
understand viral changes that may affect the ongoing pandemic. Our data demonstrate that some of the mutations identified
are currently observed in variants of interest and variants of concern, and emphasize the importance of studying previous
periods in order to comprehend the emergence of new variants. From 720 SARS-CoV-
2
genome sequences, we found few sites
under positive selection pressure, such as the D614G (98.5 %) in the spike, that has replaced the old variant; the V1167F in the
spike (41 %), identified in the P.2 variant that emerged from Brazil during the period of analysis; and I292T (39 %) in the N protein.
There were a few alterations in the UTRs, which was expected, however, our data suggest that the emergence of new variants
was not influenced by mutations in UTR regions, since it maintained its conformational structure in most analysed sequences.
In phylogenetic analysis, the spread of SARS-CoV-
2
from the large urban centres to the countryside during these months could
be explained by the flexibilization of social isolation measures and also could be associated with possible new waves of infection.
These results allow a better understanding of SARS-CoV-
2
strains that have circulated in Brazil, and thus, with relevant
infomation, provide the potential viral changes that may have affected and/or contributed to the current and future scenario of
the COVID-19
pandemic.
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