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16306 Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 across New Mexico and the Mountain West

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2021

Daryl Domman
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Kurt Schwalm
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Twila Kunde
Affiliation:
New Mexico Department of Health
Joseph Hicks
Affiliation:
New Mexico Department of Health
Michael Edwards
Affiliation:
New Mexico Department of Health
Noah Hull
Affiliation:
Wyoming Public Health Laboratory
Wanda Manley
Affiliation:
Wyoming Public Health Laboratory
Ethan Romero-Severson
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Darrell Dinwiddie
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
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Abstract

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ABSTRACT IMPACT: Genomic data can be used by policy and decision makers to guide, and assess the impact of, public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Our objective is to investigate the transmission and population dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in New Mexico and other Mountain West states using whole genome sequencing. Understanding how the virus is spreading within and between communities is vital for the design of rational, evidence-based control measures. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We obtained an aliquot of 500ul - 1 ml of inactivated viral transport media (VTM) from positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swabs as determined by qPCR from the New Mexico Department of Health, TriCore Reference Laboratory, Idaho Bureau of Laboratories, and Wyoming Public Health Laboratory. We extracted viral RNA from the VTM, and sequenced the genomes using the methodology as described by the widely adopted ARTIC amplicon tiling protocol for SARS-CoV-2. Viral genomes were then sequenced on either an Illumina MiSeq or an Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) GridION. We placed these samples within the context of globally representative sequences made available via the GISAID database. Consensus sequences were aligned and added into this global dataset using the Nextstrain augur pipeline. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We sequenced over 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes thus far from New Mexico (n=861), Wyoming (n=213) and Idaho (n=44). We used this sequence data to infer the transmission dynamics and spread of the virus, both within states and in context of regional and international spread. We inferred at least 128 separate introductions of the virus into New Mexico and at least 29 introductions into Wyoming. The origins of these introductions are diverse, spread across multiple regions in the US and abroad. We also sequenced samples from an individual who had multiple positive tests over time. Our results suggest that this individual was re-infected with a different strain than that of the initial infection. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Our data show that New Mexico and other Mountain West states have continually experienced many introductions of the virus that then seed local outbreaks. By understanding the number of introductions over time, we can assess the impact of travel restrictions on transmission. Our data also supports that some individuals can be re-infected.

Type
Translational Science, Policy, & Health Outcomes Science
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Association for Clinical and Translational Science 2021