SARS-CoV-2 Variants by Whole-Genome Sequencing in a University Hospital in Bangkok: First to Third COVID-19 Waves

Chayanee Setthapramote; Thanwa Wongsuk; Chuphong Thongnak; Uraporn Phumisantiphong; Tonsan Hansirisathit; Maytawan Thanunchai

doi:10.3390/pathogens12040626

SARS-CoV-2 Variants by Whole-Genome Sequencing in a University Hospital in Bangkok: First to Third COVID-19 Waves

Pathogens. 2023 Apr 21;12(4):626. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12040626.

Authors

Chayanee Setthapramote¹, Thanwa Wongsuk¹, Chuphong Thongnak¹, Uraporn Phumisantiphong^{1

2}, Tonsan Hansirisathit², Maytawan Thanunchai^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok 10300, Thailand.
² Department of Central Laboratory and Blood Bank, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok 10300, Thailand.
³ Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.

Abstract

Background: Multiple severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants emerged globally during the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. From April 2020 to April 2021, Thailand experienced three COVID-19 waves, and each wave was driven by different variants. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of circulating SARS-CoV-2 using whole-genome sequencing analysis.

Methods: A total of 33 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples from three consecutive COVID-19 waves were collected and sequenced by whole-genome sequencing, of which, 8, 10, and 15 samples were derived from the first, second, and third waves, respectively. The genetic diversity of variants in each wave and the correlation between mutations and disease severity were explored.

Results: During the first wave, A.6, B, B.1, and B.1.375 were found to be predominant. The occurrence of mutations in these lineages was associated with low asymptomatic and mild symptoms, providing no transmission advantage and resulting in extinction after a few months of circulation. B.1.36.16, the predominant lineage of the second wave, caused more symptomatic COVID-19 cases and contained a small number of key mutations. This variant was replaced by the VOC alpha variant, which later became dominant in the third wave. We found that B.1.1.7 lineage-specific mutations were crucial for increasing transmissibility and infectivity, but not likely associated with disease severity. There were six additional mutations found only in severe COVID-19 patients, which might have altered the virus phenotype with an inclination toward more highly pathogenic SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusion: The findings of this study highlighted the importance of whole-genome analysis in tracking newly emerging variants, exploring the genetic determinants essential for transmissibility, infectivity, and pathogenicity, and helping better understand the evolutionary process in the adaptation of viruses in humans.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; disease severity; genetic diversity; mutation; whole-genome sequencing.

Grants and funding

14-63/Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand