Genome Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in the Kurdistan region of Iraq

Sevan O Majed; Suhad A Mustafa; Paywast J Jalal; Mohammed H Fatah; Abdulkarim Y Karim; Sahar Hassannejad; Monika H Miasko

doi:10.3855/jidc.18519

Genome Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in the Kurdistan region of Iraq

Authors

Sevan O Majed Biology Department, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3636-7723
Suhad A Mustafa General Directorate of Scientific Research Center, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq
Paywast J Jalal Biology Department, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7498-532X
Mohammed H Fatah Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Kalar Technical College, Garmian Polytechnic University, Kalar, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6366-4216
Abdulkarim Y Karim Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8829-9769
Sahar Hassannejad Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Science, Knowledge University, Erbil, Iraq
Monika H Miasko Medical Analysis Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.18519

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, delta variant, B.1.617.2, illumina covidseq method, mutation

Abstract

Introduction: Since its isolation in the UK, the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant has become an epidemic. This study aimed to decipher the viral appearance and genomic characterization of the Delta variant isolated from patients in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Methodology: Samples were collected from the West Erbil Emergency Hospital, and infection by SARS-CoV2 was confirmed using Real-Time PCR. The sequenced samples were analyzed and compared to the previously published data on Delta variants.

Results: The analysis showed that the variant belongs to SARS-CoV2 Delta variant B.1.617.2, including most of the previously detected mutations in India. The variant includes 13 mutations (11 substitutions and 2 deletions) on the spike region. Some substitutions are the same as the previous Delta isolate (T19R, G142D, T478K, D614G, L452R, P681R, and D950N). However, other substitutions (E156G, T250I, T19A, and L861W) were unique in the spike protein of the Delta variant (EPI_ISL_7405941) found in the Iraq variants.

Conclusions: The impact of the novel mutations needs more study, but the common ones are shown to enhance transmission and escape from immunity. Future studies need to focus on the impact of the different vaccines in the Kurdish population on the Delta variant and the effect of the novel mutations on transmissibility and escape from immunity.

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Published

2024-11-30

How to Cite

Majed SO, Mustafa SA, Jalal PJ, Fatah MH, Karim AY, Hassannejad S, Miasko MH (2024) Genome Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. J Infect Dev Ctries 18:1653–1662. doi: 10.3855/jidc.18519

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Issue

Vol. 18 No. 11: November 2024

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic

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