The performance of diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays can be impacted by SARS-CoV-2 variability as this is dependent on the full complementarity between PCR primers/probes and viral target templates. Here, we investigate the genetic variability of SARS-CoV-2 regions recognized by primers/probes utilized by PCR diagnostic assays based on nucleotide mismatching analysis. We evaluated the genetic variation in the binding regions of 73 primers/probes targeting the Nucleocapsid (N, N = 36), Spike (S, N = 22), and RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase/Helicase (RdRp/Hel, N = 15) of the publicly available PCR-based assays. Over 4.9 million high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were retrieved from GISAID and were divided into group-A (all except Omicron, >4.2 million) and group-B (only Omicron, >558 thousand). In group-A sequences, a large range of variability in primers/probes binding regions in most PCR assays was observed. Particularly, 87.7% (64/73) of primers/probes displayed >= 1 mismatch with their viral targets, while 8.2% (6/73) contained >= 2 mismatches and 2.7% (2/73) contained >= 3 mismatches. In group-B sequences, 32.9% (24/73) of primers/probes were characterized by >= 1 mismatch, 13.7% (10/73) by >= 2 mismatches, and 5.5% (4/73) by >= 3 mismatches. The high rate of single and multiple mismatches- found in the target regions of molecular assays used worldwide for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis reinforces the need to optimize and constantly update these assays according to SARS-CoV-2 genetic evolution and the future emergence of novel variants.

Alkhatib, M., Carioti, L., D'Anna, S., Ceccherini-Silberstein, F., Svicher, V., Salpini, R. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 Mutations and Variants May Muddle the Sensitivity of COVID-19 Diagnostic Assays. MICROORGANISMS, 10(8), 1559 [10.3390/microorganisms10081559].

SARS-CoV-2 Mutations and Variants May Muddle the Sensitivity of COVID-19 Diagnostic Assays

Ceccherini-Silberstein, Francesca;Svicher, Valentina;Salpini, Romina
2022-08-02

Abstract

The performance of diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays can be impacted by SARS-CoV-2 variability as this is dependent on the full complementarity between PCR primers/probes and viral target templates. Here, we investigate the genetic variability of SARS-CoV-2 regions recognized by primers/probes utilized by PCR diagnostic assays based on nucleotide mismatching analysis. We evaluated the genetic variation in the binding regions of 73 primers/probes targeting the Nucleocapsid (N, N = 36), Spike (S, N = 22), and RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase/Helicase (RdRp/Hel, N = 15) of the publicly available PCR-based assays. Over 4.9 million high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were retrieved from GISAID and were divided into group-A (all except Omicron, >4.2 million) and group-B (only Omicron, >558 thousand). In group-A sequences, a large range of variability in primers/probes binding regions in most PCR assays was observed. Particularly, 87.7% (64/73) of primers/probes displayed >= 1 mismatch with their viral targets, while 8.2% (6/73) contained >= 2 mismatches and 2.7% (2/73) contained >= 3 mismatches. In group-B sequences, 32.9% (24/73) of primers/probes were characterized by >= 1 mismatch, 13.7% (10/73) by >= 2 mismatches, and 5.5% (4/73) by >= 3 mismatches. The high rate of single and multiple mismatches- found in the target regions of molecular assays used worldwide for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis reinforces the need to optimize and constantly update these assays according to SARS-CoV-2 genetic evolution and the future emergence of novel variants.
2-ago-2022
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Sì, ma tipo non specificato
Settore MED/07 - MICROBIOLOGIA E MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
English
COVID-19
PCR
SARS-CoV-2
diagnostic-escape
mutations
primer-mismatches
variants
Alkhatib, M., Carioti, L., D'Anna, S., Ceccherini-Silberstein, F., Svicher, V., Salpini, R. (2022). SARS-CoV-2 Mutations and Variants May Muddle the Sensitivity of COVID-19 Diagnostic Assays. MICROORGANISMS, 10(8), 1559 [10.3390/microorganisms10081559].
Alkhatib, M; Carioti, L; D'Anna, S; Ceccherini-Silberstein, F; Svicher, V; Salpini, R
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/308896
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