Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (Nov 2021)
One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar
- Fatiha M. Benslimane,
- Hebah A. Al Khatib,
- Ola Al-Jamal,
- Dana Albatesh,
- Sonia Boughattas,
- Ayeda A Ahmed,
- Meryem Bensaad,
- Shameem Younuskunju,
- Yasmin A. Mohamoud,
- Mashael Al Badr,
- Abdalla A. Mohamed,
- Reham A. El-Kahlout,
- Tasneem Al-Hamad,
- Dina Elgakhlab,
- Fatima H. Al-Kuwari,
- Chadi Saad,
- Andrew Jeremijenko,
- Abdullatif Al-Khal,
- Muna A. Al-Maslamani,
- Roberto Bertollini,
- Einas A. Al-Kuwari,
- Hamad E. Al-Romaihi,
- Salih Al-Marri,
- Mohammed Al-Thani,
- Radja M. Badji,
- Hamdi Mbarek,
- Yasser Al-Sarraj,
- Joel A. Malek,
- Joel A. Malek,
- Said I. Ismail,
- Laith J. Abu-Raddad,
- Laith J. Abu-Raddad,
- Laith J. Abu-Raddad,
- Peter V. Coyle,
- Asmaa A. Al Thani,
- Hadi M. Yassine,
- Hadi M. Yassine
Affiliations
- Fatiha M. Benslimane
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Hebah A. Al Khatib
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Ola Al-Jamal
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Dana Albatesh
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Sonia Boughattas
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Ayeda A Ahmed
- Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Meryem Bensaad
- Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Shameem Younuskunju
- Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Yasmin A. Mohamoud
- Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Mashael Al Badr
- National Reference Laboratory Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
- Abdalla A. Mohamed
- National Reference Laboratory Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
- Reham A. El-Kahlout
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Tasneem Al-Hamad
- Qatar Biobank, Doha, Qatar
- Dina Elgakhlab
- Qatar Biobank, Doha, Qatar
- Fatima H. Al-Kuwari
- Qatar Genome Program, Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- Chadi Saad
- Qatar Genome Program, Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- Andrew Jeremijenko
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Abdullatif Al-Khal
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Muna A. Al-Maslamani
- Communicable Diseases Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Roberto Bertollini
- Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
- Einas A. Al-Kuwari
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Hamad E. Al-Romaihi
- Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
- Salih Al-Marri
- Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
- Mohammed Al-Thani
- Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
- Radja M. Badji
- Qatar Genome Program, Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- Hamdi Mbarek
- Qatar Genome Program, Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- Yasser Al-Sarraj
- Qatar Genome Program, Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- Joel A. Malek
- Genomics Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Joel A. Malek
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Said I. Ismail
- Qatar Genome Program, Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- Laith J. Abu-Raddad
- 0Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Laith J. Abu-Raddad
- 1Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Laith J. Abu-Raddad
- 2World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar, Doha, Qatar
- Peter V. Coyle
- Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Asmaa A. Al Thani
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Hadi M. Yassine
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Hadi M. Yassine
- 3Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.768883
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 11
Abstract
Qatar, a country with a strong health system and a diverse population consisting mainly of expatriate residents, has experienced two large waves of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we report on 2634 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from infected patients in Qatar between March-2020 and March-2021, representing 1.5% of all positive cases in this period. Despite the restrictions on international travel, the viruses sampled from the populace of Qatar mirrored nearly the entire global population’s genomic diversity with nine predominant viral lineages that were sustained by local transmission chains and the emergence of mutations that are likely to have originated in Qatar. We reported an increased number of mutations and deletions in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in a short period. These findings raise the imperative need to continue the ongoing genomic surveillance that has been an integral part of the national response to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 profile and re-emergence in Qatar.
Keywords
