One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar

Fatiha M. Benslimane; Hebah A. Al Khatib; Ola Al-Jamal; Dana Albatesh; Sonia Boughattas; Ayeda A. Ahmed; Meryem Bensaad; Shameem Younuskunju; Yasmin A. Mohamoud; Mashael Al Badr; Abdalla A. Mohamed; Reham A. El-Kahlout; Tasneem Al-Hamad; Dina Elgakhlab; Fatima H. Al-Kuwari; Chadi Saad; Andrew Jeremijenko; Abdullatif Al-Khal; Muna A. Al-Maslamani; Roberto Bertollini; Einas A. Al-Kuwari; Hamad E. Al-Romaihi; Salih Al-Marri; Mohammed Al-Thani; Radja M. Badji; Hamdi Mbarek; Yasser Al-Sarraj; Joel A. Malek; Said I. Ismail; Laith J. Abu-Raddad; Peter V. Coyle; Asmaa A.Al Thani; Hadi M. Yassine

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883

One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar

Fatiha M. Benslimane
, Hebah A. Al Khatib
, Ola Al-Jamal
, Dana Albatesh
, Sonia Boughattas
, Ayeda A. Ahmed
, Meryem Bensaad
, Shameem Younuskunju
, Yasmin A. Mohamoud
, Mashael Al Badr
, Abdalla A. Mohamed
, Reham A. El-Kahlout
, Tasneem Al-Hamad
, Dina Elgakhlab
, Fatima H. Al-Kuwari
, Chadi Saad
, Andrew Jeremijenko
, Abdullatif Al-Khal
, Muna A. Al-Maslamani
, Roberto Bertollini

Einas A. Al-Kuwari, Hamad E. Al-Romaihi, Salih Al-Marri, Mohammed Al-Thani, Radja M. Badji, Hamdi Mbarek, Yasser Al-Sarraj, Joel A. Malek, Said I. Ismail, Laith J. Abu-Raddad, Peter V. Coyle, Asmaa A.Al Thani, Hadi M. Yassine^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Qatar, a country with a strong health system and a diverse population consisting mainly of expatriate residents, has experienced two large waves of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we report on 2634 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from infected patients in Qatar between March-2020 and March-2021, representing 1.5% of all positive cases in this period. Despite the restrictions on international travel, the viruses sampled from the populace of Qatar mirrored nearly the entire global population’s genomic diversity with nine predominant viral lineages that were sustained by local transmission chains and the emergence of mutations that are likely to have originated in Qatar. We reported an increased number of mutations and deletions in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in a short period. These findings raise the imperative need to continue the ongoing genomic surveillance that has been an integral part of the national response to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 profile and re-emergence in Qatar.

Original language	English
Article number	768883
Journal	Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Volume	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883
Publication status	Published - 17 Nov 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

COVID19
N481K
Qatar
SARS-CoV-2
variant analysis

Access to Document

10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883

Cite this

Benslimane, F. M., Al Khatib, H. A., Al-Jamal, O., Albatesh, D., Boughattas, S., Ahmed, A. A., Bensaad, M., Younuskunju, S., Mohamoud, Y. A., Al Badr, M., Mohamed, A. A., El-Kahlout, R. A., Al-Hamad, T., Elgakhlab, D., Al-Kuwari, F. H., Saad, C., Jeremijenko, A., Al-Khal, A., Al-Maslamani, M. A., ... Yassine, H. M. (2021). One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 11, Article 768883. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883

@article{ec167e2aec5f4300b230493553638b3e,

title = "One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar",

abstract = "Qatar, a country with a strong health system and a diverse population consisting mainly of expatriate residents, has experienced two large waves of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we report on 2634 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from infected patients in Qatar between March-2020 and March-2021, representing 1.5\% of all positive cases in this period. Despite the restrictions on international travel, the viruses sampled from the populace of Qatar mirrored nearly the entire global population{\textquoteright}s genomic diversity with nine predominant viral lineages that were sustained by local transmission chains and the emergence of mutations that are likely to have originated in Qatar. We reported an increased number of mutations and deletions in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in a short period. These findings raise the imperative need to continue the ongoing genomic surveillance that has been an integral part of the national response to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 profile and re-emergence in Qatar.",

keywords = "COVID19, N481K, Qatar, SARS-CoV-2, variant analysis",

author = "Benslimane, \{Fatiha M.\} and \{Al Khatib\}, \{Hebah A.\} and Ola Al-Jamal and Dana Albatesh and Sonia Boughattas and Ahmed, \{Ayeda A.\} and Meryem Bensaad and Shameem Younuskunju and Mohamoud, \{Yasmin A.\} and \{Al Badr\}, Mashael and Mohamed, \{Abdalla A.\} and El-Kahlout, \{Reham A.\} and Tasneem Al-Hamad and Dina Elgakhlab and Al-Kuwari, \{Fatima H.\} and Chadi Saad and Andrew Jeremijenko and Abdullatif Al-Khal and Al-Maslamani, \{Muna A.\} and Roberto Bertollini and Al-Kuwari, \{Einas A.\} and Al-Romaihi, \{Hamad E.\} and Salih Al-Marri and Mohammed Al-Thani and Badji, \{Radja M.\} and Hamdi Mbarek and Yasser Al-Sarraj and Malek, \{Joel A.\} and Ismail, \{Said I.\} and Abu-Raddad, \{Laith J.\} and Coyle, \{Peter V.\} and Thani, \{Asmaa A.Al\} and Yassine, \{Hadi M.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 Benslimane, Al Khatib, Al-Jamal, Albatesh, Boughattas, Ahmed, Bensaad, Younuskunju, Mohamoud, Al Badr, Mohamed, El-Kahlout, Al-Hamad, Elgakhlab, Al-Kuwari, Saad, Jeremijenko, Al-Khal, Al-Maslamani, Bertollini, Al-Kuwari, Al-Romaihi, Al-Marri, Al-Thani, Badji, Mbarek, Al-Sarraj, Malek, Ismail, Abu-Raddad, Coyle, Thani and Yassine.",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

day = "17",

doi = "10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

journal = "Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology",

issn = "2235-2988",

publisher = "Frontiers Media SA",

}

Benslimane, FM, Al Khatib, HA, Al-Jamal, O, Albatesh, D, Boughattas, S, Ahmed, AA, Bensaad, M, Younuskunju, S, Mohamoud, YA, Al Badr, M, Mohamed, AA, El-Kahlout, RA, Al-Hamad, T, Elgakhlab, D, Al-Kuwari, FH, Saad, C, Jeremijenko, A, Al-Khal, A, Al-Maslamani, MA, Bertollini, R, Al-Kuwari, EA, Al-Romaihi, HE, Al-Marri, S, Al-Thani, M, Badji, RM, Mbarek, H, Al-Sarraj, Y, Malek, JA, Ismail, SI, Abu-Raddad, LJ, Coyle, PV, Thani, AAA & Yassine, HM 2021, 'One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar', Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, vol. 11, 768883. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883

TY - JOUR

T1 - One Year of SARS-CoV-2

T2 - Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar

AU - Benslimane, Fatiha M.

AU - Al Khatib, Hebah A.

AU - Al-Jamal, Ola

AU - Albatesh, Dana

AU - Boughattas, Sonia

AU - Ahmed, Ayeda A.

AU - Bensaad, Meryem

AU - Younuskunju, Shameem

AU - Mohamoud, Yasmin A.

AU - Al Badr, Mashael

AU - Mohamed, Abdalla A.

AU - El-Kahlout, Reham A.

AU - Al-Hamad, Tasneem

AU - Elgakhlab, Dina

AU - Al-Kuwari, Fatima H.

AU - Saad, Chadi

AU - Jeremijenko, Andrew

AU - Al-Khal, Abdullatif

AU - Al-Maslamani, Muna A.

AU - Bertollini, Roberto

AU - Al-Kuwari, Einas A.

AU - Al-Romaihi, Hamad E.

AU - Al-Marri, Salih

AU - Al-Thani, Mohammed

AU - Badji, Radja M.

AU - Mbarek, Hamdi

AU - Al-Sarraj, Yasser

AU - Malek, Joel A.

AU - Ismail, Said I.

AU - Abu-Raddad, Laith J.

AU - Coyle, Peter V.

AU - Thani, Asmaa A.Al

AU - Yassine, Hadi M.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Benslimane, Al Khatib, Al-Jamal, Albatesh, Boughattas, Ahmed, Bensaad, Younuskunju, Mohamoud, Al Badr, Mohamed, El-Kahlout, Al-Hamad, Elgakhlab, Al-Kuwari, Saad, Jeremijenko, Al-Khal, Al-Maslamani, Bertollini, Al-Kuwari, Al-Romaihi, Al-Marri, Al-Thani, Badji, Mbarek, Al-Sarraj, Malek, Ismail, Abu-Raddad, Coyle, Thani and Yassine.

PY - 2021/11/17

Y1 - 2021/11/17

N2 - Qatar, a country with a strong health system and a diverse population consisting mainly of expatriate residents, has experienced two large waves of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we report on 2634 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from infected patients in Qatar between March-2020 and March-2021, representing 1.5% of all positive cases in this period. Despite the restrictions on international travel, the viruses sampled from the populace of Qatar mirrored nearly the entire global population’s genomic diversity with nine predominant viral lineages that were sustained by local transmission chains and the emergence of mutations that are likely to have originated in Qatar. We reported an increased number of mutations and deletions in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in a short period. These findings raise the imperative need to continue the ongoing genomic surveillance that has been an integral part of the national response to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 profile and re-emergence in Qatar.

AB - Qatar, a country with a strong health system and a diverse population consisting mainly of expatriate residents, has experienced two large waves of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we report on 2634 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from infected patients in Qatar between March-2020 and March-2021, representing 1.5% of all positive cases in this period. Despite the restrictions on international travel, the viruses sampled from the populace of Qatar mirrored nearly the entire global population’s genomic diversity with nine predominant viral lineages that were sustained by local transmission chains and the emergence of mutations that are likely to have originated in Qatar. We reported an increased number of mutations and deletions in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in a short period. These findings raise the imperative need to continue the ongoing genomic surveillance that has been an integral part of the national response to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 profile and re-emergence in Qatar.

KW - COVID19

KW - N481K

KW - Qatar

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - variant analysis

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85120706280

U2 - 10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883

DO - 10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883

M3 - Article

C2 - 34869069

AN - SCOPUS:85120706280

SN - 2235-2988

VL - 11

JO - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

JF - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

M1 - 768883

ER -

One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this