Genome Evolution and Early Introductions of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Mexico.

ABSTRACT: A new variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), named Omicron (Pango lineage designation B.1.1.529), was first reported to the World Health Organization by South African health authorities on 24 November 2021. The Omicron variant possesses numerous mutations associated with increased transmissibility and immune escape properties. In November 2021, Mexican authorities reported Omicron's presence in the country. In this study, we infer the first introductory events of Omicron and the impact that human mobility has had on the spread of the virus. We also evaluated the adaptive evolutionary processes in Mexican SARS-CoV-2 genomes during the first month of the circulation of Omicron. We inferred 160 introduction events of Omicron in Mexico since its first detectio

SUBMITTER: Castelan-Sanchez HG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9793848 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature