GENOMIC Epidemiology and surveillance of SARS-Cov-2

Purdue SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance Initiative

Our group is leading SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance to track variants and uncover how SARS-CoV-2 is spreading in our community, and Indiana. In collaboration with the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) and Protect Purdue, we have paired genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 with active and passive surveillance since December 2020. We have detected the introduction of B.1.1.7 (Alpha) in January 2021, followed by B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), B.1.429 (Epsilon), and B.1.617.2 (Delta) in our community over time, which are classified as variants of concern by the CDC, in addition to other variants of interest such as B.1.526 (Iota) and P.2 (Zeta).

We are continuing prospective and retrospective sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases to better understand transmission dynamics and the spread of variants in the local community through time, monitor changes of variant frequencies, and detect instances of breakthrough infections and reinfections.

In addition to our contributions to the understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 spreads through populations and how vaccines and other mitigation strategies are working, our data helps inform policymakers, ensuring authorities have the best and most accurate, up-to-date information possible to implement interventions and adequate response for disease mitigation.

Pre-prints

Ciubotariu II, Dorman J, Perry NM, Gorenstein L, Kattoor JJ, Fola AA, Zine A, Hendrix KG, Wilkes RP, Kitchen A, Carpi G. Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in a university community: insights into tracking variants, transmission, and spread of Gamma (P.1) variant. medRxiv 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.02.25.22271521

Ramirez E, Wilkes RP, Carpi G, Dorman J, Bowen C, Smith S. Breakthrough Infections in Fully Vaccinated Individuals. medRxiv 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.21.21258990

General Approaches Used

COVID-19 News Coverage