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联盟的目标是，于2021年5月至9月期间，在爱沙尼亚境内对新冠病毒（SARS-CoV-2）检测呈阳性的个体开展病毒基因组测序工作。该联盟的核心目标是获取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，为爱沙尼亚当前新冠疫情（COVID-19）期间的防控干预措施制定与政策决策提供科学支撑。此次测序能力将实现对爱沙尼亚境内SARS-CoV-2基因组特征的监测：（i）明确关注变异株（Variants of Concern）与待关注变异株（Variants of Interest）的流行率及病毒演化趋势；（ii）解析病毒传播网络；（iii）评估SARS-CoV-2基因组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、新冠感染结局、人类基因组学及宏基因组学数据进行关联整合，从而为深入解析新冠疾病的发病机制提供详实的研究视角。