Whole genome sequence analysis showing unique SARS-CoV-2 lineages of B.1.524 and AU.2 in Malaysia

PLoS One. 2022 Feb 25;17(2):e0263678. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263678. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has spread throughout the world since its discovery in China, and Malaysia is no exception. WGS has been a crucial approach in studying the evolution and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in the ongoing pandemic. Despite considerable number of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences have been submitted to GISAID and NCBI databases, there is still scarcity of data from Malaysia. This study aims to report new Malaysian lineages of the virus, responsible for the sustained spikes in COVID-19 cases during the third wave of the pandemic. Patients with nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal swabs confirmed COVID-19 positive by real-time RT-PCR with CT value < 25 were chosen for WGS. The selected SARS-CoV-2 isolates were then sequenced, characterized and analyzed along with 986 sequences of the dominant lineages of D614G variants currently circulating throughout Malaysia. The prevalence of clade GH and G formed strong ground for the presence of two Malaysian lineages of AU.2 and B.1.524 that has caused sustained spikes of cases in the country. Statistical analysis on the association of gender and age group with Malaysian lineages revealed a significant association (p <0.05). Phylogenetic analysis revealed dispersion of 41 lineages, of these, 22 lineages are still active. Mutational analysis showed presence of unique G1223C missense mutation in transmembrane domain of the spike protein. For better understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 evolution in Malaysia especially with reference to the reported lineages, large scale studies based on WGS are warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / virology*
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Humans
  • Malaysia
  • Mutation*
  • Nasopharynx / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics*
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / genetics
  • Whole Genome Sequencing

Substances

  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

Grants and funding

The authors received funding for this work from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre @ IIUM for supporting this work. Hajar Fauzan Ahmad awarded for FRGS/1/2019/WAB13/UMP/03/1 and Ummu Afeera Zainulabid is Principal Investigator for SRG21-040-0040, respectively. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.