[Characterization of COVID-19 Diagnosis Based on Whole Genome Sequencing in Gyeongbuk Region]

In order to analyze the differences between the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnostic tests in Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea, this study was performed full length genome analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) used by Ion Torrent Genexus Integrated Sequencer and dedicated analysis program. Full-length genomic sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 were obtained from specimen of 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19. As a result of the analysis, the Omicron sub-lineages were BA.1.1 (n=5), BA.2 (n=4), and BA.2.3 (n=4). In detail, R61C or R61H were confirmed in the E gene, meanwhile L142W and 166-178 nucleotide sequences were deleted in the ORF1ab NSP3 region. In the analysis using a computer program, mutations in the E gene region (R61H) were not useful as a target region for COVID-19 Real-time RT-PCR. Amino acid mutation (L142W) and nucleotide deletion (166-178) in the ORF1ab NSP3 region have been identified to affect diagnosis of COVID-19 with specific diagnostic kits. Thus, these results suggest that the detailed lineage and genetic mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 using the whole genome sequencing could be a critical tool for the COVID-19 diagnosis.