Phylogeography and genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in Morocco

Authors

  • Safae El Mazouri Laboratory of Biotechnology, Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
  • Houda Bendani Laboratory of Biotechnology, Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
  • Nasma Boumajdi Laboratory of Biotechnology, Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8226-2244
  • Tarik Aanniz Laboratory of Biotechnology, Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3308-2607
  • Ilham Kandoussi Laboratory of Biotechnology, Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
  • Saaïd Amzazi Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
  • Lahcen Belyamani Emergency Department, Military Hospital Mohammed V, Rabat Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1464-6649
  • Azeddine Ibrahimi Laboratory of Biotechnology, Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
  • Mouna Ouadghiri Laboratory of Biotechnology, Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2306-9364

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.16513

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, delta variant, AY.33, mutation analysis, spike, phylogeography

Abstract

Introduction: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has continuously evolved with many variants of concern emerging across the world.

Methodology: In order to monitor the evolution of these variants in Morocco, we analyzed a total of 2130 genomes of the delta variant circulating around the world. We also included 164 Moroccan delta variant sequences in our analysis.

Results: Our findings suggest at least four introductions from multiple international sources and a rise of a dominant delta sub-lineage AY.33 in Morocco. Moreover, we report three mutations in the N-terminal domain of the S protein specific to the Moroccan AY.33 isolates, T29A, T250I and T299I. The effect of these mutations on the secondary structure and the dynamic behavior of the S protein N-terminal domain was further determined.

Conclusions: We conclude that these mutations might have functional consequences on the S protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Downloads

Published

2022-08-30

How to Cite

1.
El Mazouri S, Bendani H, Boumajdi N, Aanniz T, Kandoussi I, Amzazi S, Belyamani L, Ibrahimi A, Ouadghiri M (2022) Phylogeography and genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in Morocco. J Infect Dev Ctries 16:1258–1268. doi: 10.3855/jidc.16513

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 08: August 2022

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC