Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Thailand reveals mixed imported populations, a local lineage expansion and a virus with truncated ORF7a

Virus Res. 2021 Jan 15:292:198233. doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2020.198233. Epub 2020 Nov 21.

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global public health threat. Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 was implemented in March of 2020 at a major diagnostic hub in Bangkok, Thailand. Several virus lineages supposedly originated in many countries were found, and a Thai-specific lineage, designated A/Thai-1, has expanded to be predominant in Thailand. A virus sample in the SARS-CoV-2 A/Thai-1 lineage contains a frame-shift deletion at ORF7a, encoding a putative host antagonizing factor of the virus.

Keywords: COVID-19; Genomic surveillance; SARS-CoV-2; Thailand.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Frameshift Mutation
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Public Health
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics*
  • Thailand
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • ORF7a protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Viral Proteins