Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia

SARS-CoV-2 infection has reached pandemic status in numerous countries worldwide, including Malaysia. Monitoring the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for identifying the emergence and prevalence of novel variants in different geographical areas. From May to October 2021, this research en...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kon, Ken Wong, Noor Zetti Zainol Rashid, Umi Kalsom Ali, Nur Hazlin Chong, Shairah Abdul Razak, Najma Kori, Petrick Periyasamy, Alfizah Hanafiah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24333/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24333/1/SL%204.pdf
_version_ 1848816073578643456
author Kon, Ken Wong
Noor Zetti Zainol Rashid,
Umi Kalsom Ali,
Nur Hazlin Chong,
Shairah Abdul Razak,
Najma Kori,
Petrick Periyasamy,
Alfizah Hanafiah,
author_facet Kon, Ken Wong
Noor Zetti Zainol Rashid,
Umi Kalsom Ali,
Nur Hazlin Chong,
Shairah Abdul Razak,
Najma Kori,
Petrick Periyasamy,
Alfizah Hanafiah,
author_sort Kon, Ken Wong
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description SARS-CoV-2 infection has reached pandemic status in numerous countries worldwide, including Malaysia. Monitoring the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for identifying the emergence and prevalence of novel variants in different geographical areas. From May to October 2021, this research endeavor analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 genome of 40 COVID-19 patients diagnosed using real-time RT-PCR at the local hospital HCTM-UKM. The process involved extracting RNA from these patients, which was subsequently subjected to whole genome sequencing. Our discovery underscores the primary strains responsible for the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia in May 2021 were the Beta variant, primarily associated with the B.1.351 lineage. However, by October 2021, the Delta variant had become predominant and was categorized within the AV.59 and AV.79 lineages. Genomic epidemiological analysis showed about 19 amino acid mutations in the spike protein that were prevalent during the Beta variant outbreak. Among these, the N501Y mutation is particularly noteworthy as it significantly enhances the virus’s ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor. Additionally, 32 amino acid mutations were identified during the Delta variant outbreak, with the T478K mutation being linked to increased viral infectivity and affecting the virus’s affinity for human cells. Throughout our research, we consistently noted the presence of Spike D614G mutations in all the strains we collected which is known to reduce S1 shedding and increase infectivity. These findings could contribute significantly to our understanding of specific variants due to their clinical implications and rapid spread within the community.
first_indexed 2025-11-15T01:00:05Z
format Article
id oai:generic.eprints.org:24333
institution Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-15T01:00:05Z
publishDate 2024
publisher Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:243332024-10-11T02:43:24Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24333/ Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia Kon, Ken Wong Noor Zetti Zainol Rashid, Umi Kalsom Ali, Nur Hazlin Chong, Shairah Abdul Razak, Najma Kori, Petrick Periyasamy, Alfizah Hanafiah, SARS-CoV-2 infection has reached pandemic status in numerous countries worldwide, including Malaysia. Monitoring the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for identifying the emergence and prevalence of novel variants in different geographical areas. From May to October 2021, this research endeavor analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 genome of 40 COVID-19 patients diagnosed using real-time RT-PCR at the local hospital HCTM-UKM. The process involved extracting RNA from these patients, which was subsequently subjected to whole genome sequencing. Our discovery underscores the primary strains responsible for the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia in May 2021 were the Beta variant, primarily associated with the B.1.351 lineage. However, by October 2021, the Delta variant had become predominant and was categorized within the AV.59 and AV.79 lineages. Genomic epidemiological analysis showed about 19 amino acid mutations in the spike protein that were prevalent during the Beta variant outbreak. Among these, the N501Y mutation is particularly noteworthy as it significantly enhances the virus’s ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor. Additionally, 32 amino acid mutations were identified during the Delta variant outbreak, with the T478K mutation being linked to increased viral infectivity and affecting the virus’s affinity for human cells. Throughout our research, we consistently noted the presence of Spike D614G mutations in all the strains we collected which is known to reduce S1 shedding and increase infectivity. These findings could contribute significantly to our understanding of specific variants due to their clinical implications and rapid spread within the community. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24333/1/SL%204.pdf Kon, Ken Wong and Noor Zetti Zainol Rashid, and Umi Kalsom Ali, and Nur Hazlin Chong, and Shairah Abdul Razak, and Najma Kori, and Petrick Periyasamy, and Alfizah Hanafiah, (2024) Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia. Sains Malaysiana, 53 (8). pp. 1767-1776. ISSN 0126-6039 https://www.ukm.my/jsm/english_journals/vol53num8_2024/contentsVol53num8_2024.html
spellingShingle Kon, Ken Wong
Noor Zetti Zainol Rashid,
Umi Kalsom Ali,
Nur Hazlin Chong,
Shairah Abdul Razak,
Najma Kori,
Petrick Periyasamy,
Alfizah Hanafiah,
Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia
title Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia
title_full Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia
title_fullStr Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia
title_short Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patients with COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Malaysia
title_sort genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of sars-cov-2 isolated from patients with covid-19 in hospital canselor tuanku muhriz (hctm), malaysia
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24333/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24333/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/24333/1/SL%204.pdf