Project
Inter- and intra-community dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 spread by whole-genome sequencing and phylodynamic analysis (Analysis)
Since the introduction of SARS-CoV-2, the virus has been spreading
very rapidly and has caused severe respiratory pathology around the world. A pandemie ensued within
a short time. The virus originated from a zoonotic event, where likely a bat or even a pangolin was
carrying the virus and infected a human by animal-to-human transmission. This means that the virus
is still seeking an optimal fit with its new host, the human. This is, for example, illustrated by
a still suboptimal binding between the human ACE2-receptor and the receptor-binding domain of the
viral spike protein. This evolutionary pressure drives mutations that allows us to closely follow
the evolution of the virus. Our research question in this project proposal is how does this new
coronavirus spread among the population bath at micro level (e.g. in a school, or hospita!) and at
macro level (nationwide)? We propose to study the spatial distribution of Belgian SARS-CoV-2
clusters by a combination of full-length sequencing and phylodynamic analysis to assess how the
spatio-temporal distribution of Belgian clusters evolved during the lockdown in March and April,
during the release of these measures in May and June, and trom the past summer period (June to
August). Furthermore, we aim to investigate new positive cases during the next 12 months in a near
real-time fashion to describe the evolution of the circulation dynamics
through time and assess the impact of COVID19 measures on spatial transmission over time.