COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance in Bangui (Central African Republic) Reveals a 
Landscape of Circulating Variants Linked to Validated Antiviral Targets of 
SARS-CoV-2 Proteome

Vickos, Ulrich; Camasta, Marianna; Grandi, Nicole; Scognamiglio, Sante; Schindler, Tobias; Belizaire, Marie Roseline Darnycka; Lango-Yaya, Ernest; Koyaweda, Giscard Wilfried; Senzongo, Oscar; Pounguinza, Simon; Estime, Kaleb Kandou Jephte Francis; N'yetobouko, Stephanie; Gadia, Christelle Luce Bobossi; Feiganazoui, Dominos-Alfred; Le Faou, Alain; Orsini, Massimiliano; Perno, Carlo Federico; Zinzula, Luca; Rafai, Clotaire Donatien

doi:10.3390/v15122309

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COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance in Bangui (Central African Republic) Reveals a Landscape of Circulating Variants Linked to Validated Antiviral Targets of SARS-CoV-2 Proteome

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Camasta, Marianna
Baumeister, Wolfgang / Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Max Planck Society;

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Zinzula, Luca
Baumeister, Wolfgang / Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

Vickos, U., Camasta, M., Grandi, N., Scognamiglio, S., Schindler, T., Belizaire, M. R. D., et al. (2023). COVID-19 Genomic Surveillance in Bangui (Central African Republic) Reveals a Landscape of Circulating Variants Linked to Validated Antiviral Targets of SARS-CoV-2 Proteome. Viruses, 15(12): 2309. doi:10.3390/v15122309.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000E-4BA4-5

Abstract

Since its outbreak, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly, causing the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Even with the vaccines' administration, the virus continued to circulate due to inequal access to prevention and therapeutic measures in African countries. Information about COVID-19 in Africa has been limited and contradictory, and thus regional studies are important. On this premise, we conducted a genomic surveillance study about COVID-19 lineages circulating in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). We collected 2687 nasopharyngeal samples at four checkpoints in Bangui from 2 to 22 July 2021. Fifty-three samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and viral genomes were sequenced to look for the presence of different viral strains. We performed phylogenetic analysis and described the lineage landscape of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the CAR along 15 months of pandemics and in Africa during the study period, finding the Delta variant as the predominant Variant of Concern (VoC). The deduced aminoacidic sequences of structural and non-structural genes were determined and compared to reference and reported isolates from Africa. Despite the limited number of positive samples obtained, this study provides valuable information about COVID-19 evolution at the regional level and allows for a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in the CAR.