Whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in Estonia

KoroGeno-EST-3 consortium's aim is to sequence SARS-CoV-2 from SARS-CoV-2 positive persons in Estonia during May to September 2021. The goal of this consortium is to generate genetical information (sequences) of SARS-CoV-2 which in combination with epidemiological and clinical data has the potential to inform interventions and policy decisions during the current COVID-19 epidemic in Estonia. The sequencing capacity will enable to monitor SARS-CoV-2 genetics in Estonia: (i) to determine variants of concern and variants of interest, their prevalence and the evolution of the virus; (ii) to determine the transmission networks; and (iii) to evaluate relationships between SARS-CoV-2 genetics and patients' clinical outcomes. In the future, this data could be linked with individuals' clinical data, COVID-19 outcomes, human genomics and metagenomics data, giving an opportunity to generate detailed insight into the COVID-19 disease.

KoroGeno-EST-3 联合体的研究目标为：对2021年5月至9月期间爱沙尼亚境内新冠病毒（SARS-CoV-2）检测呈阳性的人群开展SARS-CoV-2基因组测序。该联合体的核心目标是获取SARS-CoV-2的遗传信息（即病毒基因组序列），结合流行病学与临床数据，为当前爱沙尼亚新冠（COVID-19）疫情中的防控干预措施与政策制定提供科学决策依据。本次测序能力将支撑爱沙尼亚境内SARS-CoV-2的遗传监测工作，具体涵盖以下三方面：（i）确定关注变异株（variants of concern）与待关注变异株（variants of interest）的流行情况及病毒演化路径；（ii）解析病毒传播网络；（iii）评估SARS-CoV-2遗传特征与患者临床结局之间的关联。未来，该数据集可与个体临床数据、新冠感染转归、人类基因组学及宏基因组学数据进行关联，为深入解析新冠疾病的病理生理与临床特征提供详实的研究视角。