Genomic Characterisation and Epidemiology of XBB Recombinant Variant of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Uttarakhand using Next Generation Sequencing: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Geetika Rana,
Department of Microbiology, Government Doon Medical College, Patel Nagar, Dehradun-248001, Uttarakhand, India.
E-mail: drgeetikarana@gmail.com
Introduction: Following the surge of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in late 2019, there was an 11-month period of relative evolutionary stability. However, since late 2020, SARS-CoV-2 evolution has been characterised by the emergence of mutation sets impacting virus characteristics like transmissibility and antigenicity, termed “variants of concern.” This shift likely responds to changing immune profiles within the human population. There is mounting evidence suggesting that post-vaccination serum is less effective in neutralising certain SARS-CoV-2 genotypes. XBB is a recombinant variant comprising sublineages BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 of the Omicron variant.
Aim: To investigate the genomic characterisation and epidemiology of the XBB recombinant variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Uttarakhand, India.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Viral Research Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL Lab), Government Doon Medical College (GDMC), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. A total of 1,162 nasopharyngeal swabs received between September 2022 and February 2023 from various healthcare facilities were included for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of coronavirus. NGS was performed and all results were forwarded to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) and the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) for variant determination. Data collection occurred from March to April 2023, with data analysis following from May to June 2023. Statistical analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel and Omnicalculator.
Results: Among the 1,162 processed samples, 41 (3.53%) were identified as the XBB variant of Omicron. Within the XBB variants, XBB.2 was predominant 22 (53.7%). Maximum XBB samples (38, 92.7%) originated from District Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 has been evolving and advancing with each new variant coming across. As XBB is impacting both previously infected individuals and those vaccinated, there is an imperative to develop new and efficacious vaccines against circulating variants to reduce associated risks of morbidity and mortality.
Coronavirus variants, Coronavirus disease-2019 vaccines, Omicron variants
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2024/67424.19312
Date of Submission: Sep 13, 2023
Date of Peer Review: Nov 22, 2023
Date of Acceptance: Feb 22, 2024
Date of Publishing: Apr 01, 2024
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? No
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS:
• Plagiarism X-checker: Sep 14, 2023
• Manual Googling: Nov 29, 2023
• iThenticate Software: Feb 20, 2024 (11%)
ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin
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