Novel Mutations Associated with N-Gene Target Failure in SARS-COV-2 Genome in Iran, Case Series
Precision tracking and monitoring viral genome mutations are critical during a viral pandemic such as COVID-19. As molecular assays for diagnosing numerous infectious agents are being developed, RT-PCR is still deployed as the gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2. Despite its proofreading capa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pasteur Institute of Iran
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-484-en.html |
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| Summary: | Precision tracking and monitoring viral genome mutations are critical during a
viral pandemic such as COVID-19. As molecular assays for diagnosing
numerous infectious agents are being developed, RT-PCR is still deployed as
the gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2. Despite its proofreading
capability, SARS-CoV-2, like other RNA viruses, adopts several changes in its
genome. If these mutations, especially deletions, occur in the target areas of
primers and probes, they will hinder molecular detection methods from
identifying the given gene. The authors describe the cases in which, despite the
lack of the N gene detection, the ORF1ab gene was discovered with a relatively
low cycle of threshold (Ct). Following sequencing, changes were discovered in
the annealing region of the forward and reverse primers and probes used in the
SARS-CoV-2 detection kit. Among the most significant mutations is a large
deletion of 15 nucleotides in the N gene, which has never been seen in prior
variants. This highlights the importance of persistent monitoring of
hypervariable regions in the SARS-CoV-2 genome through sequencing and
updating the molecular detection kits during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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| ISSN: | 2345-5349 2345-5330 |