Overview of genomic surveillance related to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom Coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2)

Since the start of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, several thousand of variants circulated and others are emerging. Therefore, genomic surveillance is crucial, which aims to detect the emergence of new variants, in particular Variants of Concern (VOC) and to assess the impact of priority mutations on the transmissibility and lethality of the virus, the performance of viral diagnostic methods and vaccine efficiency. An overview of available papers was performed to understand conduct, tools and utility of genomic sequencing and surveillance related to Covid-19 disease. We also report the experience of Morocco in this filed through available data. A national SARS-Cov-2 genomic consortium has been established in order to continuously inform the health authorities of the genetic evolution of circulating strains in Morocco. Genomic sequencing shows that Moroccan genomes spread did not show a predominant SARS-CoV-2 lineage. Genomes are dispersed across the evolutionary tree of SARS-CoV-2 and held between 4 and 16 mutations. As the pandemic ongoing, continuous genomic surveillance and regular sequencing are fundamental to understand the spread of SARS-CoV-2, to rapidly identify potential global transmission networks and to consolidate response strategies especially targeted Covid-19 vaccination.

Encroaching genomics: adapting large-scale science to small academic laboratories

Einarson, Margret B., and Erica A. Golemis. Encroaching genomics: adapting large-scale science to small academic laboratories. Physiol Genomics 2: 85–92, 2000.—The process of conducting biological research is undergoing a profound metamorphosis due to the technological innovations and torrent of information resulting from the execution of multiple species genome projects. The further tasks of mapping polymorphisms and characterizing genome-wide protein-protein interaction (the characterization of the proteome) will continue to garner resources, talent, and public attention. Although some elements of these whole genome size projects can only be addressed by large research groups, consortia, or industry, the impact of these projects has already begun to transform the process of research in many small laboratories. Although the impact of this transformation is generally positive, laboratories engaged in types of research destined to be dominated by the efforts of a genomic consortium may be negatively impacted if they cannot rapidly adjust strategies in the face of new large-scale competition. The focus of this report is to outline a series of strategies that have been productively utilized by a number of small academic laboratories that have attempted to integrate such genomic resources into research plans with the goal of developing novel physiological insights.