Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants by genomic analysis of wastewater samples in Israel.

ABSTRACT: Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 spread and identification of variants in sewers has been demonstrated to accurately detect prevalence of viral strains and is advantageous to clinical sampling in population catchment size. Herein, we utilized an established nationwide system of wastewater sampling and viral concentration approaches to perform large-scale surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants in nine different locations across Israel that were sampled from August 2020 to February 2021 and sequenced (n = 58). Viral sequences obtained from the wastewater samples had high coverages of the genome, and mutation analyses successfully identified the penetration of the B.1.1.7 variant into Israel in December 2020 in the central and north regions, and its spread into additional regions in January and Febru

SUBMITTER: Bar-Or I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8142738 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature