mSphere (Jun 2021)

Temporal Dynamics and Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Demonstrate the Necessity of Ongoing Viral Genome Sequencing in Ontario, Canada

  • Calvin P. Sjaarda,
  • Jennifer L. Guthrie,
  • Samira Mubareka,
  • Jared T. Simpson,
  • Bettina Hamelin,
  • Henry Wong,
  • Leanne Mortimer,
  • Robert Slinger,
  • Andrew G. McArthur,
  • Marc Desjardins,
  • Allison McGeer,
  • Tony Mazzulli,
  • Katya Douchant,
  • Danielle Brabant-Kirwan,
  • Ramzi Fattouh,
  • Aaron Campigotto,
  • Samir N. Patel,
  • Nahuel Fittipaldi,
  • Robert I. Colautti,
  • Prameet M. Sheth

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00011-21
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 3

Abstract

Read online

Genome-wide variation in SARS-CoV-2 reveals evolution and transmission dynamics which are critical considerations for disease control and prevention decisions. Here, we review estimates of the genome-wide viral mutation rates, summarize current COVID-19 case load in the province of Ontario, Canada (5 January 2021), and analyze published SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Ontario (collected prior to 24 November 2020) to test for more infectious genetic variants or lineages.