Phylogenomic tracing of asymptomatic transmission in a COVID-19 outbreak

Ju Zhang; Nan Ding; Yangzi Song; Rui Song; Yang Pan; Linghang Wang; Shuo Yan; Qi Wang; Shanfang Ma; Lirong Wei; Fengting Yu; Lianhe Lu; Fujie Zhang; Chen Chen; Hui Zeng

The Innovation (May 2021)

Phylogenomic tracing of asymptomatic transmission in a COVID-19 outbreak

Ju Zhang,
Nan Ding,
Yangzi Song,
Rui Song,
Yang Pan,
Linghang Wang,
Shuo Yan,
Qi Wang,
Shanfang Ma,
Lirong Wei,
Fengting Yu,
Lianhe Lu,
Fujie Zhang,
Chen Chen,
Hui Zeng

Affiliations

Ju Zhang: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China
Nan Ding: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China
Yangzi Song: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China
Rui Song: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
Yang Pan: Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China
Linghang Wang: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China
Shuo Yan: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
Qi Wang: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
Shanfang Ma: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
Lirong Wei: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
Fengting Yu: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China
Lianhe Lu: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Corresponding author
Fujie Zhang: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China; Corresponding author
Chen Chen: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China; Corresponding author
Hui Zeng: Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Beijing 100015, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 2
p. 100099

Abstract

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SARS-CoV-2 has caused over 100 million deaths and continues to spread rapidly around the world. Asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is the Achilles’ heel of COVID-19 public health control measures. Phylogenomic data on SARS-CoV-2 could provide more direct information about asymptomatic transmission. In this study, using a novel MINERVA sequencing technology, we traced asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 patients in Beijing, China. One hundred and seventy-eight close contacts were quarantined, and 14 COVID-19 patients were laboratory confirmed by RT-PCR. We provide direct phylogenomic evidence of asymptomatic transmission by constructing the median joining network in the cluster. These data could help us to determine whether the current symptom-based screening should cover asymptomatic persons.

Published in The Innovation

ISSN: 2666-6758 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General)
Website: https://www.cell.com/the-innovation

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