Since its emergence, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron clade has shown a marked degree of variability and different clinical presentation compared with previous clades. Here we demonstrate that at least four Omicron lineages circulated in children since December 2021, and studied until November 2022: BA.1 (33.6%), BA.2 (40.6%), BA.5 (23.7%) and BQ.1 (2.1%). At least 70% of infections concerned children under 1 year, most of them being infected with BA.2 lineages (n = 201, 75.6%). Looking at SARS-CoV-2 genetic variability, 69 SNPs were found to be significantly associated in pairs, (phi <  - 0.3 or > 0.3 and p-value < 0.001). 16 SNPs were involved in 4 distinct clusters (bootstrap > 0.75). One of these clusters (A23040G, A27259C, T23617G, T23620G) was also positively associated with moderate/severe COVID-19 presentation (AOR [95% CI] 2.49 [1.26-4.89] p-value: 0.008) together with comorbidities (AOR [95% CI] 2.67 [1.36-5.24] p-value: 0.004). Overall, these results highlight the extensive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron circulation in children, mostly aged < 1 year, and provide insights on viral diversification even considering low-abundant SNPs, finally suggesting the potential contribution of viral diversification in affecting disease severity.

Molecular characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron clade and clinical presentation in children / R. Scutari, V. Fox, V. Fini, A. Granaglia, A.C. Vittucci, A. Smarrazzo, L. Lancella, F. Calo’ Carducci, L. Romani, L. Cursi, P. Bernaschi, C. Russo, A. Campana, S. Bernardi, A. Villani, C.F. Perno, C. Alteri. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 14:1(2024), pp. 5325.1-5325.11. [10.1038/s41598-024-55599-0]

Molecular characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron clade and clinical presentation in children

C. Alteri
Ultimo
2024

Abstract

Since its emergence, SARS-CoV-2 Omicron clade has shown a marked degree of variability and different clinical presentation compared with previous clades. Here we demonstrate that at least four Omicron lineages circulated in children since December 2021, and studied until November 2022: BA.1 (33.6%), BA.2 (40.6%), BA.5 (23.7%) and BQ.1 (2.1%). At least 70% of infections concerned children under 1 year, most of them being infected with BA.2 lineages (n = 201, 75.6%). Looking at SARS-CoV-2 genetic variability, 69 SNPs were found to be significantly associated in pairs, (phi <  - 0.3 or > 0.3 and p-value < 0.001). 16 SNPs were involved in 4 distinct clusters (bootstrap > 0.75). One of these clusters (A23040G, A27259C, T23617G, T23620G) was also positively associated with moderate/severe COVID-19 presentation (AOR [95% CI] 2.49 [1.26-4.89] p-value: 0.008) together with comorbidities (AOR [95% CI] 2.67 [1.36-5.24] p-value: 0.004). Overall, these results highlight the extensive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron circulation in children, mostly aged < 1 year, and provide insights on viral diversification even considering low-abundant SNPs, finally suggesting the potential contribution of viral diversification in affecting disease severity.
COVID-19 in children; Minority variants; Omicron clade; SARS-CoV-2 genomic evolution
Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica
   One Health Basic and Translational Research Actions addressing Unmet Need on Emerging Infectious Diseases (INF-ACT)
   INF-ACT
   MINISTERO DELL'UNIVERSITA' E DELLA RICERCA
   PE00000007
2024
4-mar-2024
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/1037728
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