Effects of a major deletion in the SARS-CoV-2 genome on the severity of infection and the inflammatory response: an observational cohort study
Item
Click for External Resource*
Click to read full article*
*The link above may share a zip file (.zip) hosted on repository.netecweb.org. Zip files will download automatically.
*All other links are external and will open in a new window. If you click an external link, you are leaving the NETEC site, and we do not maintain, review, or endorse these materials. See our terms of use.
Item Type
PublicationTerms of Use
By accessing these materials you are agreeing to our terms of use, which may be found here: Terms of Use.
Title
Effects of a major deletion in the SARS-CoV-2 genome on the severity of infection and the inflammatory response: an observational cohort study
Subject
Description
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with a 382-nucleotide deletion (∆382) in the open reading frame 8 (ORF8) region of the genome have been detected in Singapore and other countries. We investigated the effect of this deletion on the clinical features of infection.
Date
2020-08-18
Type
Citation
Young, Barnaby E., Siew-Wai Fong, Yi-Hao Chan, Tze-Minn Mak, Li Wei Ang, Danielle E. Anderson, Cheryl Yi-Pin Lee, Siti Naqiah Amrun, Bernett Lee, Yun Shan Goh, Yvonne C. F. Su, Wycliffe E. Wei, Shirin Kalimuddin, Louis Yi Ann Chai, Surinder Pada, Seow Yen Tan, Louisa Sun, Purnima Parthasarathy, Yuan Yi Constance Chen, Timothy Barkham, Raymond Tzer Pin Lin, Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, Yee-Sin Leo, Lin-Fa Wang, Laurent Renia, Vernon J. Lee, Gavin J. D. Smith, David Chien Lye, and Lisa F. P. Ng. 2020. "Effects of a major deletion in the SARS-CoV-2 genome on the severity of infection and the inflammatory response: an observational cohort study." The Lancet.
Abstract
Summary
Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with a 382-nucleotide deletion (∆382) in the open reading frame 8 (ORF8) region of the genome have been detected in Singapore and other countries. We investigated the effect of this deletion on the clinical features of infection.
Methods
We retrospectively identified patients who had been screened for the ∆382 variant and recruited to the PROTECT study—a prospective observational cohort study conducted at seven public hospitals in Singapore. We collected clinical, laboratory, and radiological data from patients' electronic medical records and serial blood and respiratory samples taken during hospitalisation and after discharge. Individuals infected with the ∆382 variant were compared with those infected with wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Exact logistic regression was used to examine the association between the infection groups and the development of hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen (an indicator of severe COVID-19, the primary endpoint). Follow-up for the study's primary endpoint is completed.
Findings
Between Jan 22 and March 21, 2020, 278 patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were screened for the ∆382 deletion and 131 were enrolled onto the study, of whom 92 (70%) were infected with the wild-type virus, ten (8%) had a mix of wild-type and ∆382-variant viruses, and 29 (22%) had only the ∆382 variant. Development of hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen was less frequent in the ∆382 variant group (0 [0%] of 29 patients) than in the wild-type only group (26 [28%] of 92; absolute difference 28% [95% CI 14–28]). After adjusting for age and presence of comorbidities, infection with the ∆382 variant only was associated with lower odds of developing hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen (adjusted odds ratio 0·07 [95% CI 0·00–0·48]) compared with infection with wild-type virus only.
Interpretation
The ∆382 variant of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be associated with a milder infection. The observed clinical effects of deletions in ORF8 could have implications for the development of treatments and vaccines.
Funding
National Medical Research Council Singapore.
Accessibility
Free online on Lancet site.
Was this resource helpful?