TY - JOUR
T1 - Spread of multiple SARS-CoV-2 lineages April-August 2020 anticipated the second pandemic wave in Lombardy (Italy)
AU - Tallarita, Monica
AU - Giardina, Federica
AU - Novazzi, Federica
AU - Gaiarsa, Stefano
AU - Batisti Biffignandi, Gherard
AU - Paolucci, Stefania
AU - Rovida, Francesca
AU - Piralla, Antonio
AU - Baldanti, Fausto
N1 - Funding Information:
AP and FB have received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 101003650. This study was supported by “Ricerca Finalizzata” from Ministry of Health, Italy (grants no. GR‐2013‐02358399 and COVID‐2020‐12371817).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - During the early phase of the pandemic (20 February–4 April 2020), we have investigated the temporal and geographical evolution of the virus in Lombardy showing the circulation of at least seven lineages distributed differently in the Region. In the present study, the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 was monitored in a period between two pandemic waves in order to track the circulation of new variants (April-August 2020). A great majority of SARS-CoV-2 strains (70.8%) belonged to lineages B, B.1, B.1.1 and B.1.1.1, and five strains belonging to four lineages were already reported in Italy (B.1.1.148, B.1.1.162, B.1.1.71, and B.1.425). In addition, 21 SARS-CoV-2 strains belonged to six lineages not previously observed in Italy were detected. No variants of concern were observed. A total of 152/1274 (11.3%) amino acid changes were observed among spike gene sequences and only 26/152 (17.1%) occurred in the receptor-binding domain region of the spike protein. Results of this study are indicative of ongoing transmission throughout the lockdown period, rather than re-introduction of novel lineages past lockdown. The use of molecular epidemiology in Italy should be promoted in order to provide additional understanding of the transmission of the disease and to have major effect on controlling the spread of disease.
AB - During the early phase of the pandemic (20 February–4 April 2020), we have investigated the temporal and geographical evolution of the virus in Lombardy showing the circulation of at least seven lineages distributed differently in the Region. In the present study, the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 was monitored in a period between two pandemic waves in order to track the circulation of new variants (April-August 2020). A great majority of SARS-CoV-2 strains (70.8%) belonged to lineages B, B.1, B.1.1 and B.1.1.1, and five strains belonging to four lineages were already reported in Italy (B.1.1.148, B.1.1.162, B.1.1.71, and B.1.425). In addition, 21 SARS-CoV-2 strains belonged to six lineages not previously observed in Italy were detected. No variants of concern were observed. A total of 152/1274 (11.3%) amino acid changes were observed among spike gene sequences and only 26/152 (17.1%) occurred in the receptor-binding domain region of the spike protein. Results of this study are indicative of ongoing transmission throughout the lockdown period, rather than re-introduction of novel lineages past lockdown. The use of molecular epidemiology in Italy should be promoted in order to provide additional understanding of the transmission of the disease and to have major effect on controlling the spread of disease.
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U2 - 10.1111/pai.13641
DO - 10.1111/pai.13641
M3 - Article
C2 - 35080310
AN - SCOPUS:85123597687
SN - 0905-6157
VL - 33
SP - 89
EP - 92
JO - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
JF - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
IS - S27
ER -