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Updated: Aug 5, 2025
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Quantification and Whole Genome Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater and Air Samples
Published on: June 30, 2023
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Genomic characterization and molecular evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.
Amanda de Menezes Mayer1, Patrícia Aline Gröhs Ferrareze2, Luiz Felipe Valter de Oliveira3
1Center of Biotechnology, Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology (PPGBCM), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Virology
|March 29, 2023
Summary
This study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Southern Brazil, revealing distinct viral lineages and identifying adaptive selection sites in key proteins. Understanding these genomic patterns is crucial for tracking the COVID-19 pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Genomics
- Molecular Evolution
Background:
- The SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, has evolved into various lineages since late 2019.
- The Gamma lineage, originating in Brazil, significantly contributed to the pandemic's second wave.
- Brazil has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Esteio city, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
- To comparatively analyze genomes from the first two years of the pandemic in Rio Grande do Sul.
- To understand the genomic and evolutionary patterns of SARS-CoV-2 in Southern Brazil.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenomic analysis of sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes.
- Molecular evolutionary analysis of viral proteins.
- Comparative genomic analysis of pandemic data from Rio Grande do Sul.
Main Results:
- Phylogenomic analysis identified monophyletic groups for Alpha, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron lineages, alongside other circulating strains in Rio Grande do Sul.
- Molecular evolutionary analysis detected multiple sites under adaptive selection in SARS-CoV-2 membrane and nucleocapsid proteins.
- Specific adaptive pressures were noted, potentially stabilizing membrane protein structure and destabilizing the nucleocapsid's C-terminal domain.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into the genomic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Southern Brazil.
- Identified adaptive selection sites may influence viral protein function and adaptation.
- Genomic surveillance in Brazil is essential for understanding and managing SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
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