Filenews 12 June 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
The continuous influx of strains of coronavirus, from other countries, maintains the presence of infection on the island, "leading to the establishment of an ever-evolving and multiracial" virus in Cyprus.
This is found by the continuous and detailed genetic analysis of data from Cyprus, through the study conducted for months by the Head of the Research Laboratory of Biotechnology and Moleculariology at the University of Cyprus, Professor Leontios Kostrikis.
The updated findings of the study were even published on 9 June in the reputable scientific journal "Viruses" of the publishing house MDPI, based in Basel, Switzerland.
The scientific study is entitled "A Comprehensive Molecular Scientific Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Cyprus from April 2020 to January 20 21: Evidence of a Highly Polyphyletic and Analysing Epidemic" (https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/6/1098/htm), and is the world's first in-depth molecular epidemiological analysis of COVID-19 infection in any country. It covers the period of infection between April 2020 and January 2021 and the study is carried out, in collaboration with Famagusta Hospital, as a reference hospital for coronavirus, NIPD Genetics and researchers at Rega University in Belgium.
The primary purpose of the study was to assess the communicability of virus strains in Cyprus and in its context, a "thorough analysis of the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 was carried out in 596 nasopharyngeal clinical samples taken from diagnostic centres and hospitalized patients".
From the "phylogenetic analyses", that is, from the comparison of the genetic material of the samples analysed, 34 different strains of the virus were identified in Cyprus. Of these, B.1.258, B.1.1.29, B.1.177, B.1.2, B.1,B.1 and B.1.1.7 ('British' strain) prevailed during the period under investigation.
Similarly, the 'phylodynamic analysis', i.e. the genetic diversity of the virus in relation to the detection period, showed a particularly dynamic epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with three successive waves characterized by specific strains.
In particular, from April to June 2020, B.1.1.29 was the predominant strain. From September 2020 to January 2021, B.1.258 was the predominant strain, while from December 2020 to January 2021, B.1.1.7, the British strain of the virus, had started to prevail.
With regard to genetic sequencing, the entire genome of the specific strains of the virus was found to show the presence of specific mutations in the spike protein (S) (L18F, DH69/V70, S898F, DY144, S162G, A222V, N439K, N501Y, A570D, D614G, P681H, S982A and D1118H) which, according to the researcher, provide the virus with higher communicability and the ability to resist the immune system.
Finally, the 'phylogeographical analysis', which examines the introduction of virus strains from other countries as well as its export from Cyprus, showed that:
- The majority of imports and exports of the virus were to and from the United Kingdom.
- However, many other regions and countries are active members of this virus transmission such as: Southeast Asia, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Chile, USA, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Finland, Switzerland and Pakistan.
In detail in the introduction of virus strains recorded in Cyprus, the following countries contributed most: Eastern Europe, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Southern Europe.
At the same time from Cyprus, these strains of the virus appear to have been "exported" to: United Kingdom, Denmark, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Jordan, Pakistan.
In fact, this data, as it is concluded, shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection in Cyprus is maintained by a continuous influx of strains from many countries, leading to the establishment of an ever-evolving and multiracial virus on the island.
The research team of Professor Leontios Kostrikis, as part of a new research project, will continue the prospective study of the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection for the period of the next two years. Within the framework of this programme, monthly reports of scientific findings and full scientific information will be provided to the competent bodies of the State.
Notes from the lead researcher
"The spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global health crisis. In early 2020, Cyprus along with other European countries were affected by the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic and adopted various measures in March 2020 to limit the initial spread of the virus on the island.
A key condition of the study is the natural genetic evolution of viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
The virus evolves genetically with the main objective of survival, for example avoiding detection by the host's immune system, in this case humans.
In this study, a comprehensive, retrospective analysis of molecular epidemiology (genetics, phylogenetics, phylodynamics and phylogeographical analysis) of SARS-CoV-2 virus samples isolated from individuals in Cyprus who were cases of coronavirus (positive for molecular diagnostics PCR and patients at the Reference Hospital for coronavirus) for the period April 2020 and January 2021 , covering the first ten months of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic on our island".
