The emergence of new variants of respiratory hardening syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has marked a new stage in the COVID-19 pandemic. Phylogenetic and epidemiologic studies suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 genetic line may be associated with increased viral transmission in humans. It was also classified as “Variant of Concern” (VOC B.1.1.7) in December 2020. It was first discovered in Kent, United Kingdom, in September 2020, this new variant has been discovered since that is in more than 29 countries around the world, including the USA.
Using phylodynamic techniques to investigate the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 line B.1.1.7
Recently bioRxiv* pre-print paper, Belgian and US researchers consider a study in which they used solemn phylodynamic methods to determine the rapid rise of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 “Variant of Concern ”more likely as a result of global dispersal than the homogenous evolution from multiple locations.
On January 7, 2021, the team downloaded the B.1.1.7 genomic sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 line available on the public GISAID database – approximately 8,786 full-length genome sequences from 29 countries. The majority (96.4%, n = 8468) of the series were from the UK, and approximately 318 series were from other countries, with 13 from North America – 8 from the USA and 5 from Canada.
“To estimate the timing of the introduction of B.1.1.7 changes outside the UK, we used a multivariate analysis approach as previously described by our organization for HIV. “
The researchers combined these B.1.1.7 sequences with a representative set of non-B.1.1.7 sequences (n = 3,163) on the basis of sequence homology. The final set of 11,949 sequences was aligned with MAFFT7, and Appearance of Load Fylogeny was detected using IQ-TREE v2.1.28.
The resulting phylogeny showed that all B.1.1.7 samples were available along with high support. VOC series B.1.1.7 outside the UK along with those from the UK. Since the evolution of concentration can cause incorrect concentration, the same approach was repeated after the exclusion of variable positions described in B.1.1.7. line and the results were similar.
Map of the B.1.1.7 genomic sequences available on GISAID as of 7 January 2020. Countries are colored according to the number of publicly available B.1.1.7 sequences.
Results show that the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 version first originated in the UK and spread worldwide
The results of the study did not suggest that the established mutations of VOC B.1.1.7 occurred independently in many places. The patterns of decision-making agree with the view that the new variant first appeared in the UK and spread across the globe.
The researchers believe that the initial and subsequent global distribution of the VOC B.1.1.7 variant was enabled by global connectivity and increased human mobility. The rapid global release of the new VOC variant B.1.1.7 indicates that current constraints are not sufficient to prevent the spread of new and emerging variables of SARS-CoV-2.
The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant arose in the UK and spread worldwide from there. Suggestions in the phylogeny are colored according to line and country of origin (blue indicates support from the UK, red indicates support from outside the UK, and black corresponds to other lines).
The branch leading the VOC B.1.1.7 shoreline is near perfect support (0.99 Shimodaira Hasegawa branch support (SH) 9-11). A. All series included. B. A pictorial subset of B 1.1.7 taxis from the UK (in blue) and other countries (in red). The finger length scale (s / s / y) is indicated at the base. A tree display was received with the package R “ggtree” 13.
The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant arose in the UK and spread worldwide from there. Suggestions in the phylogeny are colored according to line and country of origin (blue indicates support from the UK, red indicates support from outside the UK, and black corresponds to other lines).
The branch leading the VOC B.1.1.7 shoreline is near perfect support (0.99 Shimodaira Hasegawa branch support (SH) 9-11). A. All series included. B. A pictorial subset of B 1.1.7 taxis from the UK (in blue) and other countries (in red). The finger length scale (s / s / y) is indicated at the base. A tree display was received with the package R “ggtree” 13.
According to the authors, similar to viruses such as Ebola, HIV, and HCV, actions to create SARS-CoV-2 transmission should be created with a broader perspective outside the national level. While local reductions in SARS-CoV-2 infection may be successful in the absence of population immunity, diseases imported from other countries can trigger new waves of viral transmission, which may be reduced. with new and possibly more aggressive phenotypic properties of the introduced viral strains. “Like Ebola, HCV, and HIV, side effects to SARS-CoV-2 transmission should be developed with a broader perspective than nationally. Furthermore, without population immunity, a successful local reduction in the SARS- burden will occur. CoV-2 inhibited introduced infections that suppressed new waves of viral transmission, possibly exacerbated by the modern phenotypic properties of the introduced strains. “
* Important messageSource