Catch Me if You Can: Superspreading of COVID-19

Seema S Lakdawala; Vineet D Menachery

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2021.05.002

Catch Me if You Can: Superspreading of COVID-19

Trends Microbiol. 2021 Oct;29(10):919-929. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.05.002. Epub 2021 May 11.

Authors

Seema S Lakdawala¹, Vineet D Menachery²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA. Electronic address: Vimenach@utmb.edu.

Abstract

While significant insights have been gained concerning COVID-19, superspreading of coronaviruses remains a mystery. The vast majority of cases have been linked to a relatively small portion of infected individuals. Yet, the genetic sequence of the virus, severity of disease, and underlying host parameters, such as age, sex, and health conditions, are not clearly driving the superspreading phenomenon. In this commentary we discuss what is known and what is not known about coronavirus superspreader transmission and explore whether characteristics of the virion, the donor, or the environment contribute to this phenomenon.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; superspreading; transmission.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Age Factors
COVID-19 / transmission*
COVID-19 / virology
Health Status
Humans
SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
Sex Factors

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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