Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants that emerged shortly after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began have altered epidemiological and clinical findings; and these variants changed the course of this health crisis. METHODOLOGY: Whole-genome sequencing was performed on SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from 21 patients with COVID-19. The frequency of structural changes in the virus and their effects on clinical findings of the disease were analyzed. RESULTS: The spike Q493R mutation was detected more frequently in patients who had received four or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine (p = 0.043). The clinical effect of the spike R346K and A263T mutations (reported in Türkiye for the first time) detected in a patient who had received four doses of the vaccine in the 3 months prior to being infected with COVID-19 could be related to escape from the antibody response. The spike R21T mutation may increase the virus's entry into intestinal cells; and, as a result it may be responsible for severe clinical course and gastrointestinal symptoms. The patient infected with the Omicron BA.2 subvariant with the spike L452M mutation exhibited a significant increase in inflammatory parameters; suggesting that this mutation may trigger an excessive immune response and hyperinflammation. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study based in Türkiye that evaluated the clinical impact of variations in the sequences of SARS-CoV-2 variants. There is a need for further investigation into the clinical impact of these results in a larger population spread over more centers, and more sequencing studies.
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.19720
Institution: Pamukkale University
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $394
Funder: Pamukkale Üniversitesi
OpenAlex ID: W4414938229
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