Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages Indicates Early Circulation of P.1 (Gamma) Variant of Concern in Southern Brazil.

ABSTRACT: The SARS-CoV-2 P.1 lineage emerged in Amazonas (AM), North Brazil and its evolution has been dynamically reported associated with increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion. Here, we evaluated the lineages circulating in 29 cities in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Southern Brazil between March 2020 and May 2021 and investigated the genetic events associated with the emergence of the P.1. A total of 202 oro/nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 specimens from patients during routine hospital care were submitted to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic and Bayesian Evolutionary Analyses of the P.1 lineage were carried out to determine the relationship between sequences from RS and AM and dated their common ancestor and origin. One hundred six (53%) sequences were assigned as P.1 and most carried the 22 l

SUBMITTER: Wink PL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8849062 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature