COVID (Mar 2023)

Genetic Diversity and Spatiotemporal Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant in India

  • Jahnavi Parasar,
  • Rudra Kumar Pandey,
  • Yashvant Patel,
  • Prajjval Pratap Singh,
  • Anshika Srivastava,
  • Rahul Kumar Mishra,
  • Bhupendra Kumar,
  • Niraj Rai,
  • Vijaya Nath Mishra,
  • Pankaj Shrivastava,
  • P. B. Kavi Kishor,
  • Prashanth Suravajhala,
  • Rakesh Tamang,
  • Ajai Kumar Pathak,
  • Gyaneshwer Chaubey

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/covid3040035
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 4
pp. 472 – 479

Abstract

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After the spill to humans, in the evolutionary timeline of SARS-CoV-2, several positively selected variants have emerged. A phylogeographic study on these variants can reveal their spatial and temporal distribution. In December 2020, the alpha variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which has been designated as a variant of concern (VOC) by the WHO, was discovered in the south-eastern United Kingdom (UK). Slowly, it expanded across India, with a considerable number of cases, particularly in North India. This study focuses on determining the prevalence and expansion of the Alpha variants in various parts of India mainly by using phylospatial analysis. The genetic diversity estimation has helped us to understand various evolutionary forces that have shaped the spatial distribution of this variant during its peak. Overall, our study paves the way to understanding the evolution and expansion of a virus variant, which may help to mitigate in the case of any future wave.

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