The Changing Landscape of SARS-CoV-2 Variants in BC

Presenters: Dr. John R Tyson PhD has a background in molecular cell biology and genomics, with a particular focus on next generation sequencing technologies and molecular diagnostics. He has recently joined the BCCDC as a Senior Scientist focusing on microbial genomics. Over the last year in collaboration with local and international colleges he has helped developed cost effective, and widely adopted, SARS-CoV-2 sequencing methods (ARTIC network amplicon sequencing). His work has continued within the BCCDC on tracking and characterizing the genetic drift observed in the SARS-CoV-2 genome lineages here in BC and the emergence of variants of concern (VoC). Dr. Catherine Hogan MD MSc recently joined the BCCDC as a medical microbiologist. Her research interests include novel diagnostic methods, metabolomics for infectious diseases diagnostics and tropical medicine. She has been very active in investigating diagnostic aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from large-scale healthcare worker screening to novel molecular testing, and contributing directly-applicable knowledge with the goal of improving public health and clinical outcomes. Summary: The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern has triggered a need to go beyond a simple positive diagnosis. In BC, an integrated approach incorporating both rapid variant-specific qPCR detection and whole genome sequencing (WGS) has been used to provide timely genetic characterization. These approaches enable the identification and tracking of specific mutations upon arrival and upon onward transmission. This is particularly important in the early days of novel variant emergence and provides an opportunity for implementation of enhanced mitigation strategies. How this approach will evolve as VoCs become established in BC will be discussed and the changes required as the landscape of variants shifts with new variants anticipated to emerge secondary to vaccination roll-out. Knowledge of the shifting SARS-CoV-2 genetic landscape integrated into the rich epidemiological data available here in BC will assist efforts going forward tracking the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and any specific impact they may have.

BC CDC Presenters

3/30/2021 7:00:00 PM