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1. Learning-Based Stopping Power Mapping on Dual-Energy CT for Proton Radiation Therapy

Author: Tonghe Wang, PhD, Yang Lei, PhD, Joseph Harms, PhD, Beth Ghavidel, MS, Liyong Lin, PhD, Jonathan J. Beitler, MD, Mark McDonald, MD, Walter J. Curran, MD, Tian Liu, PhD, Jun Zhou, PhD, and Xiaofeng Yang, PhD
Subjects: stopping power, dual-energy ct, proton therapy, machine learning, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine, R895-920, Nuclear and particle physics. Atomic energy. Radioactivity, QC770-798
Abstract: Purpose: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) has been used to derive relative stopping power (RSP) maps by obtaining the energy dependence of photon interactions. The DECT-derived RSP maps could potentially be compromised by image noise levels and the severity of artifacts when using physics-based mapping techniques. This work presents a noise-robust learning-based method to predict RSP maps from DECT for proton radiation therapy. Materials and Methods: The proposed method uses a residual attention cycle-consistent generative adversarial network to bring DECT-to-RSP mapping close to a 1-to-1 mapping by introducing an inverse RSP-to-DECT mapping. To evaluate the proposed method, we retrospectively investigated 20 head-and-neck cancer patients with DECT scans in proton radiation therapy simulation. Ground truth RSP values were assigned by calculation based on chemical compositions and acted as learning targets in the training process for DECT datasets; they were evaluated against results from the proposed method using a leave-one-out cross-validation strategy. Results: The predicted RSP maps showed an average normalized mean square error of 2.83% across the whole body volume and an average mean error less than 3% in all volumes of interest. With additional simulated noise added in DECT datasets, the proposed method still maintained a comparable performance, while the physics-based stoichiometric method suffered degraded inaccuracy from increased noise level. The average differences from ground truth in dose volume histogram metrics for clinical target volumes were less than 0.2 Gy for D95% and Dmax with no statistical significance. Maximum difference in dose volume histogram metrics of organs at risk was around 1 Gy on average. Conclusion: These results strongly indicate the high accuracy of RSP maps predicted by our machine-learning–based method and show its potential feasibility for proton treatment planning and dose calculation.
Published: 2021
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2. The influence of mini-fragment plates on the mechanical properties of long-bone plate fixation

Author: Riley Knox, BS, Patrick Curran, MD, MS, Safa Herfat, PhD, Utku Kandemir, MD, and Meir Marmor, MD
Subjects: Orthopedic surgery, RD701-811
Abstract: Abstract. Objective:. Mini-fragment plates (MFPs) are increasingly used in fracture surgery to provide provisional fixation. After definitive fixation, the surgeon decides whether to remove the plates or leave them in place as additional fixation, based on the perceived biomechanical influence of the MFP. However, there are no current biomechanical studies to guide this decision. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of MFPs on the four-point bending and torsional stiffness of long bone transverse and simple wedge fracture fixation constructs. Methods:. Fourth-generation composite bone cylinders were cut to produce transverse (AO-OTA classification 12-A3) and simple wedge (AO-OTA classification 12-B2) fracture models. The specimens were fixed using a low-contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP) and MFPs. Specimens were tested in four-point bending and torsion utilizing 3 different MFP orientations. Results:. No statistically significant differences in bending stiffness were found between control and MFP groups for transverse fracture constructs. MFPs significantly increased the bending stiffness for wedge fracture constructs under certain loading conditions. This increase was observed when MFPs were positioned both orthogonal (85.1% increase, P = .034) and opposite (848.2% increase, P
Published: 2019
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3. Cholangioscopy-guided electrohydraulic lithotripsy of a large bile duct stone through a percutaneous T-tube tract

Author: Muhammad Raheel Anjum, MBBS, MRCP, FCPS, Jules Dyer, BSc, MRCP, FRCR, Frank Curran, MD, FRCS, and Shyam Menon, MSc, MD, FRCP
Subjects: Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology, RC799-869
Published: 2018
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4. SARS-CoV-2 lineage dynamics in England from September to November 2021: high diversity of Delta sub-lineages and increased transmissibility of AY.4.2

Author: Eales, O, Page, AJ, de Oliveira Martins, L, Wang, H, Bodinier, B, Haw, D, Jonnerby, J, Atchison, C, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Nunez, RTM, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, A, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Lythgoe, K, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, P, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O’Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Chapman, MHS, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, C, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O’Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Peacock, SJ, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Randell, PA, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N - F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, MG, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, MEng, BEWT, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J - P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Smith, K, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, McMurray, CL, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea-Medina, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, Bouzidi, KE, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Turtle, L, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Zamudio, ME, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O’Brien, PS, Rushton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, Whitwham, A, Ashby, D, Barclay, W, Taylor, G, Cooke, G, Ward, H, Darzi, A, Riley, S, Chadeau-Hyam, M, Donnelly, CA, Elliott, P, The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium, Department of Health, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust- BRC Funding, Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK, Commission of the European Communities, Wellcome Trust, National Institute for Health Research, and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust: Research Capability Funding (RCF)
Subjects: Delta variant, Science & Technology, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, 1103 Clinical Sciences, C500, Microbiology, Genetic diversity, B900, Infectious Diseases, England, COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium, 1108 Medical Microbiology, Mutation, Humans, Transmission advantage, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Phylogeny, 0605 Microbiology
Abstract: Background Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, evolutionary pressure has driven large increases in the transmissibility of the virus. However, with increasing levels of immunity through vaccination and natural infection the evolutionary pressure will switch towards immune escape. Genomic surveillance in regions of high immunity is crucial in detecting emerging variants that can more successfully navigate the immune landscape. Methods We present phylogenetic relationships and lineage dynamics within England (a country with high levels of immunity), as inferred from a random community sample of individuals who provided a self-administered throat and nose swab for rt-PCR testing as part of the REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission-1 (REACT-1) study. During round 14 (9 September–27 September 2021) and 15 (19 October–5 November 2021) lineages were determined for 1322 positive individuals, with 27.1% of those which reported their symptom status reporting no symptoms in the previous month. Results We identified 44 unique lineages, all of which were Delta or Delta sub-lineages, and found a reduction in their mutation rate over the study period. The proportion of the Delta sub-lineage AY.4.2 was increasing, with a reproduction number 15% (95% CI 8–23%) greater than the most prevalent lineage, AY.4. Further, AY.4.2 was less associated with the most predictive COVID-19 symptoms (p = 0.029) and had a reduced mutation rate (p = 0.050). Both AY.4.2 and AY.4 were found to be geographically clustered in September but this was no longer the case by late October/early November, with only the lineage AY.6 exhibiting clustering towards the South of England. Conclusions As SARS-CoV-2 moves towards endemicity and new variants emerge, genomic data obtained from random community samples can augment routine surveillance data without the potential biases introduced due to higher sampling rates of symptomatic individuals.
Published: 2022

5. Genomic reconstruction of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in England

Author: Vöhringer, HS, Sanderson, T, Sinnott, M, De Maio, N, Nguyen, T, Goater, R, Schwach, F, Harrison, I, Hellewell, J, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Jackson, DK, Johnston, I, Jung, AW, Saint, C, Sillitoe, J, Suciu, M, Goldman, N, Panovska-Griffiths, J, Abnizova, I, Aigrain, L, Alderton, A, Ali, M, Allen, L, Amato, R, Anderson, R, Ariani, C, Austin-Guest, S, Bala, S, Barrett, J, Bassett, A, Battleday, K, Beal, J, Beale, M, Beaver, C, Bellany, S, Bellerby, T, Bellis, K, Berger, D, Berriman, M, Betteridge, E, Bevan, P, Binley, S, Bishop, J, Blackburn, K, Bonfield, J, Boughton, N, Bowker, S, Brendler-Spaeth, T, Bronner, I, Brooklyn, T, Buddenborg, SK, Bush, R, Caetano, C, Cagan, A, Carter, N, Cartwright, J, Monteiro, TC, Chapman, L, Chillingworth, T-J, Clapham, P, Clark, R, Clarke, A, Clarke, C, Cole, D, Cook, E, Coppola, M, Cornell, L, Cornwell, C, Corton, C, Crackett, A, Cranage, A, Craven, H, Craw, S, Crawford, M, Cutts, T, Dabrowska, M, Davies, M, Davies, R, Dawson, J, Day, C, Densem, A, Dibling, T, Dockree, C, Dodd, D, Dogga, S, Dorman, M, Dougan, G, Dougherty, M, Dove, A, Drummond, L, Drury, E, Dudek, M, Durham, J, Durrant, L, Easthope, E, Eckert, S, Ellis, P, Farr, B, Fenton, M, Ferrero, M, Flack, N, Fordham, H, Forsythe, G, Foulser, L, Francis, M, Fraser, A, Freeman, A, Galvin, A, Garcia-Casado, M, Gedny, A, Girgis, S, Glover, J, Goncalves, S, Goodwin, S, Gould, O, Gourtovaia, M, Gray, A, Gray, E, Griffiths, C, Gu, Y, Guerin, F, Hamilton, W, Hanks, H, Harrison, E, Harrott, A, Harry, E, Harvison, J, Heath, P, Hernandez-Koutoucheva, A, Hobbs, R, Holland, D, Holmes, S, Hornett, G, Hough, N, Huckle, L, Hughes-Hallet, L, Hunter, A, Inglis, S, Iqbal, S, Jackson, A, Jackson, D, James, K, Jamrozy, D, Verdejo, CJ, Jones, M, Kallepally, K, Kane, L, Kay, K, Kay, S, Keatley, J, Keith, A, King, A, Kitchin, L, Kleanthous, M, Klimekova, M, Korlevic, P, Krasheninnkova, K, Lane, G, Langford, C, Laverack, A, Law, K, Lawniczak, M, Lensing, S, Leonard, S, Letchford, L, Lewis, K, Lewis-Wade, A, Liddle, J, Lin, Q, Lindsay, S, Linsdell, S, Livett, R, Lo, S, Long, R, Lovell, J, Ludden, C, Mack, J, Maddison, M, Makunin, A, Mamun, I, Mansfield, J, Marriott, N, Martin, M, Mayho, M, McCarthy, S, McClintock, J, McGuigan, S, McHugh, S, McMinn, L, Meadows, C, Mobley, E, Moll, R, Morra, M, Morrow, L, Murie, K, Nash, S, Nathwani, C, Naydenova, P, Neaverson, A, Nelson, R, Nerou, E, Nicholson, J, Nimz, T, Noell, GG, O’Meara, S, Ohan, V, Oliver, K, Olney, C, Ormond, D, Oszlanczi, A, Palmer, S, Pang, YF, Pardubska, B, Park, N, Parmar, A, Patel, G, Patel, M, Payne, M, Peacock, S, Petersen, A, Plowman, D, Preston, T, Prestwood, L, Puethe, C, Quail, M, Rajan, D, Rajatileka, S, Rance, R, Rawlings, S, Redshaw, N, Reynolds, J, Reynolds, M, Rice, S, Richardson, M, Roberts, C, Robinson, K, Robinson, M, Robinson, D, Rogers, H, Rojo, EM, Roopra, D, Rose, M, Rudd, L, Sadri, R, Salmon, N, Saul, D, Scott, C, Seekings, P, Shirley, L, Simms, A, Sivadasan, S, Siwek, B, Sizer, D, Skeldon, K, Skelton, J, Slater-Tunstill, J, Sloper, L, Smerdon, N, Smith, C, Smith, J, Smith, K, Smith, M, Smith, S, Smith, T, Sneade, L, Soria, CD, Sousa, C, Souster, E, Sparkes, A, Spencer-Chapman, M, Squares, J, Stanley, R, Steed, C, Stickland, T, Still, I, Stratton, MR, Strickland, M, Swann, A, Swiatkowska, A, Sycamore, N, Swift, E, Symons, E, Szluha, S, Taluy, E, Tao, N, Taylor, K, Taylor, S, Thompson, S, Thompson, M, Thomson, M, Thomson, N, Thurston, S, Tonkin-Hill, G, Toombs, D, Topping, B, Tovar-Corona, J, Ungureanu, D, Uphill, J, Urbanova, J, Van Vuuren, PJ, Vancollie, V, Voak, P, Walker, D, Walker, M, Waller, M, Ward, G, Weatherhogg, C, Webb, N, Weldon, D, Wells, A, Wells, E, Westwood, L, Whipp, T, Whiteley, T, Whitton, G, Whitwham, A, Widaa, S, Williams, M, Wilson, M, Wright, S, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, A, Snell, LB, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Lythgoe, K, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, P, Jackson, LM, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O’Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Page, AJ, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, C, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O’Toole, Á, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Peacock, SJ, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Randell, PA, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N-F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, M, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J-P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, McMurray, CL, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L-A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Turtle, L, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, Masters, KM, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Zamudio, ME, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O’Brien, S, Rushton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Redshaw, NM, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Birney, E, Volz, E, Funk, S, Martincorena, I, Barrett, JC, and Gerstung, M
Abstract: The evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus leads to new variants that warrant timely epidemiological characterization. Here we use the dense genomic surveillance data generated by the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium to reconstruct the dynamics of 71 different lineages in each of 315 English local authorities between September 2020 and June 2021. This analysis reveals a series of subepidemics that peaked in early autumn 2020, followed by a jump in transmissibility of the B.1.1.7/Alpha lineage. The Alpha variant grew when other lineages declined during the second national lockdown and regionally tiered restrictions between November and December 2020. A third more stringent national lockdown suppressed the Alpha variant and eliminated nearly all other lineages in early 2021. Yet a series of variants (most of which contained the spike E484K mutation) defied these trends and persisted at moderately increasing proportions. However, by accounting for sustained introductions, we found that the transmissibility of these variants is unlikely to have exceeded the transmissibility of the Alpha variant. Finally, B.1.617.2/Delta was repeatedly introduced in England and grew rapidly in early summer 2021, constituting approximately 98% of sampled SARS-CoV-2 genomes on 26 June 2021.
Published: 2021

6. Future vision for the quality assurance of oncology clinical trials

Author: Thomas eFitzGerald, MD, Maryann eBishop-Jodoin, BS, Walter eBosch, DSc, Walter J. Curran, MD, David eFollowill, PhD, James M. Galvin, DSc, Richard eHanusik, AB, Steven R. King, MS, Michael V Knopp, MD, PhD, Fran eLaurie, BS, Elizabeth eO'Meara, BS, RT(R)(T), Jeff M. Michalski, MD, MBA, Joel H. Saltz, MD, PhD, Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD, Lawrence eSchwartz, MD, Kenneth eUlin, PhD, Ying eXiao, PhD, and Marcia M. Urie, PhD
Subjects: Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Quality Assurance, oncology clinical trials, clinical trials cooperative group program, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
Abstract: The National Cancer Institute clinical cooperative groups have been instrumental over the past 50 years in developing clinical trials and evidence based process improvements for clinical oncology patient care. The cooperative groups are undergoing a transformation process as we further integrate molecular biology into personalized patient care and move to incorporate international partners in clinical trials. To support this vision, data acquisition and data management informatics tools must become both nimble and robust to support transformational research at an enterprise level. Information, including imaging, pathology, molecular biology, radiation oncology, surgery, systemic therapy and patient outcome data needs to be integrated into the clinical trial charter using adaptive clinical trial mechanisms for design of the trial. This information needs to be made available to investigators using digital processes for real time data analysis. Future clinical trials will need to be designed and completed in a timely manner facilitated by nimble informatics processes for data management. This paper discusses both past experience and future vision for clinical trials as we move to develop data management and quality assurance processes to meet the needs of the modern trial.
Published: 2013
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7. An integrated national scale SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance network

Author: Aanensen, DM, Abudahab, K, Adams, A, Afifi, S, Alam, MT, Alderton, A, Alikhan, N-F, Allan, J, Almsaud, M, Alrezaihi, A, Alruwaili, M, Amato, R, Andersson, M, Angyal, A, Aranday-Cortes, E, Ariani, C, Armstrong, SD, Asamaphan, P, Attwood, S, Aydin, A, Badhan, A, Baker, D, Baker, P, Balcazar, CE, Ball, J, Barton, AE, Bashton, M, Baxter, L, Beale, M, Beaver, C, Beckett, A, Beer, R, Beggs, A, Bell, A, Bellis, KL, Bentley, EG, Berriman, M, Betteridge, E, Bibby, D, Bicknell, K, Birchley, A, Black, G, Blane, B, Bloomfield, S, Bolt, F, Bonsall, DG, Bosworth, A, Bourgeois, Y, Boyd, O, Bradshaw, D, Breuer, J, Bridgewater, H, Brooks, T, Broos, A, Brown, JR, Brown, RL, Brunker, K, Bucca, G, Buck, D, Bull, M, Butcher, E, Caddy, SL, Caller, LG, Cambell, S, Carlile, M, Carmichael, S, Carrilero, L, Castellano, S, Chaloner, J, Chand, M, Chapman, MR, Chappell, J, Charles, I, Chauhan, AJ, Chawla, A, Cheng, E, Churcher, CM, Clark, G, Clark, JJ, Collins, J, Colquhoun, R, Connor, TR, Constantinidou, C, Coombes, J, Corden, S, Cottrell, S, Cowell, A, Curran, MD, Curran, T, Dabrera, G, Danesh, J, Darby, AC, De Cesare, M, Martins, LDO, De Silva, TI, Debebe, B, Dervisevic, S, Dewar, RA, Dia, M, Dorman, M, Dougan, G, Dover, L, Downing, F, Drury, E, Du Plessis, L, Dyal, PL, Eccles, R, Edwards, S, Ellaby, N, Elliott, S, Eltringham, G, Elumogo, N, Essex, S, Evans, CM, Evans, J, Nascimento, FF, Fairley, DJ, Farr, B, Feltwell, T, Ferguson, N, Filipe, ADS, Findlay, J, Forrest, LM, Forrest, S, Foulser, L, Francois, S, Fraser, C, Frost, L, Gallagher, E, Gallagher, MD, Garcia-Dorival, I, Gaskin, A, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gavriil, A, Geidelberg, L, Gemmell, M, Gerada, A, Gifford, L, Gilbert, L, Gilmore, P, Gilroy, R, Girgis, S, Glaysher, S, Golubchik, T, Goncalves, S, Goodfellow, I, Goodwin, S, Graham, C, Graham, L, Grammatopoulos, D, Green, A, Green, LR, Greenaway, J, Gregory, R, Groves, DC, Groves, N, Guest, M, Gunson, R, Haldenby, S, Hall, G, Hamilton, WL, Han, X, Harris, KA, Harrison, EM, Hartley, C, Herrera, C, Hesketh, A, Heyburn, D, Hill, V, Hiscox, JA, Holden, M, Holmes, A, Holmes, N, Holt, GS, Hopes, R, Hosmillo, M, Houldcroft, CJ, Howson-Wells, H, Hubb, J, Hughe, J, Hughes, M, Hutchings, S, Impey, R, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Jackson, A, Jackson, B, Jackson, DK, Jahun, AS, James, K, Jamrozy, D, Jeffries, A, Jesudason, N, John, M, Johnson, J, Johnson, KJ, Johnson, N, Johnston, I, Jones, B, Jones, R, Jones, S, Jorgensen, D, Kane, L, Kay, GL, Kay, S, Keatley, J-P, Keeley, AJ, Khakh, M, Khokhar, FA, Kitchen, C, Knight, B, Kolyva, A, Kraemer, M, Kristiansen, M, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, Kwiatkowski, D, Lackenby, A, Langford, C, Lawniczak, M, Thanh, L-V, Lee, D, Letchford, L, Li, K, Li, L, Liggett, S, Lindsey, BB, Livett, R, Lloyd, A, Lo, S, Lockhart, M, Loh, J, Loman, NJ, Loose, M, Lucaci, A, Ludden, C, Luu, L, Lyons, RA, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, MacLean, A, Mair, D, Maksimovic, J, Manley, R, Manso, C, Manson, J, Martincorena, I, Masoli, J, Mather, AE, Mbisa, T, McCluggage, K, McClure, P, McCrone, JT, McDonald, S, McHugh, MP, McKenna, JM, McMinn, L, McMurray, C, Meadows, L, Menegazzo, M, Meredith, LW, Merrick, I, Mestek-Boukhibar, L, Miah, S, Michell, S, Michelsen, ML, Molnar, Z, Moore, C, Moore, N, Morgan, M, Morgan, S, Muddyman, D, Muir, DA, Muir, P, Myers, R, Nastouli, E, Naydenova, P, Nelson, A, Nelson, C, Nelson, R, Nicholls, S, Nichols, J, Niebel, M, Niola, P, Nomikou, K, O'Grady, J, O'Toole, AN, O'Toole, E, Olateju, C, Orton, RJ, Osman, H, Ott, S, Pacchiarini, N, Padgett, D, Page, AJ, Palmer, S, Panchbhaya, YN, Pandey, S, Park, N, Parker, MD, Parkhill, J, Parr, YA, Parsons, PJ, Partridge, DG, Patel, M, Patterson, S, Payne, B, Peacock, SJ, Penrice-Randal, R, Perry, M, Platt, S, Poplawski, R, Prakash, R, Prestwood, L, Price, A, Price, JR, Puethe, C, Pybus, O, Pymont, H, Quail, M, Quick, J, Raghwani, J, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Rahman, S, Rainbow, L, Rajatileka, S, Rambaut, A, Ramsay, M, Randell, PA, Randle, NP, Raviprakash, V, Raza, M, Silva, PR, Rey, S, Richter, A, Robertson, DL, Robinson, TI, Robson, SC, Rooke, S, Rowan, A, Rowe, W, Roy, S, Rudder, S, Ruis, C, Sang, F, Scarlett, G, Schaefer, U, Scott, C, Scott, G, Sethi, D, Shaaban, S, Shah, R, Sharma, P, Shawli, GT, Shepherd, J, Sherriff, N, Shirley, L, Sillitoe, J, Simpson, DA, Singer, JB, Siveroni, I, Smith, C, Smith, CP, Smith, DL, Smith, N, Smith, W, Smith-Palmer, A, Smollett, K, Southgate, J, Spellman, K, Spencer-Chapman, M, Sridhar, S, Stanley, R, Stark, R, Stewart, JP, Stockton, J, Stuart, C, Studholme, D, Swainston, N, Swindells, E, Taha, Y, Tariq, MA, Taylor, B, Taylor, GP, Taylor, S, Taylor-Joyce, G, Tedim, AP, Temperton, B, Templeton, KE, Thomson, EC, Thomson, NM, Thornton, A, Thurston, S, Todd, J, Tong, L, Tonkin-Hill, G, Torok, ME, Trebes, A, Trotter, AJ, Tsoleridis, T, Tucker, RM, Tutill, HJ, Underwood, A, Unnikrishnan, M, Vamos, E, Vasylyeva, T, Vattipally, S, Victoria, A, Vipond, B, Volz, EM, Wain, J, Wang, D, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Wastnedge, E, Watkins, J, Watts, J, Webber, M, Weeks, S, Weldon, D, Whitehead, M, Williams, CA, Williams, C, Williams, D, Williams, R, Williams, TC, Wise, E, Wright, V, Wyles, MD, Wyllie, S, Yakovleva, A, Yasir, M, Yeats, C, Yew, WC, Young, GR, Yu, X, and Zarebski, A
Subjects: Microbiology (medical), Scale (ratio), SARS-CoV-2, viruses, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19, COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortiumcontact@cogconsortium.uk, C500, Genome, Viral, Genomics, Biology, C700, Microbiology, Article, Infectious Diseases, Virology, Humans, Cartography
Abstract: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) was launched in March, 2020, with £20 million support from UK Research and Innovation, the UK Department of Health and Social Care, and Wellcome Trust. The goal of this consortium is to sequence severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for up to 230 000 patients, health-care workers, and other essential workers in the UK with COVID-19, which will help to enable the tracking of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, identify viral mutations, and integrate with health data to assess how the viral genome interacts with cofactors and consequences of COVID-19.
Published: 2020

8. Viral respiratory infections during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) outbreak in the West Midlands Region, UK.

Author: Tanner HE, Curran MD, Boxall EH, and Osman H
Abstract: SUMMARY In spring 2009 a new strain of influenza A(H1N1) emerged and caused a worldwide pandemic. This study utilized a large collection of respiratory specimens from suspected cases of influenza A(H1N1) in the UK West Midlands during the pandemic in order to investigate which other respiratory viruses were circulating and whether they played any role in the increased hospitalization rates seen during that period. Study specimens were selected from community and hospitalized patients positive and negative for influenza A(H1N1) and tested by PCR for other respiratory viruses. A number of infections diagnosed as influenza during the summer influenza outbreak were found to be due to other virus infections (most commonly rhinovirus). No statistically significant difference was found between the rates of respiratory virus co-infection with H1N1 in patients from community or hospital locations suggesting underlying factors were likely to be more significant than viral co-infections in determining severity of influenza A(H1N1) disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2012

9. Genomic reconstruction of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in England

Author: Vöhringer, HS, Sanderson, T, Sinnott, M, De Maio, N, Nguyen, T, Goater, R, Schwach, F, Harrison, I, Hellewell, J, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Jackson, DK, Johnston, I, Jung, AW, Saint, C, Sillitoe, J, Suciu, M, Goldman, N, Panovska-Griffiths, J, Abnizova, I, Aigrain, L, Alderton, A, Ali, M, Allen, L, Amato, R, Anderson, R, Ariani, C, Austin-Guest, S, Bala, S, Barrett, J, Bassett, A, Battleday, K, Beal, J, Beale, M, Beaver, C, Bellany, S, Bellerby, T, Bellis, K, Berger, D, Berriman, M, Betteridge, E, Bevan, P, Binley, S, Bishop, J, Blackburn, K, Bonfield, J, Boughton, N, Bowker, S, Brendler-Spaeth, T, Bronner, I, Brooklyn, T, Buddenborg, SK, Bush, R, Caetano, C, Cagan, A, Carter, N, Cartwright, J, Monteiro, TC, Chapman, L, Chillingworth, TJ, Clapham, P, Clark, R, Clarke, A, Clarke, C, Cole, D, Cook, E, Coppola, M, Cornell, L, Cornwell, C, Corton, C, Crackett, A, Cranage, A, Craven, H, Craw, S, Crawford, M, Cutts, T, Dabrowska, M, Davies, M, Davies, R, Dawson, J, Day, C, Densem, A, Dibling, T, Dockree, C, Dodd, D, Dogga, S, Dorman, M, Dougan, G, Dougherty, M, Dove, A, Drummond, L, Drury, E, Dudek, M, Durham, J, Durrant, L, Easthope, E, Eckert, S, Ellis, P, Farr, B, Fenton, M, Ferrero, M, Flack, N, Fordham, H, Forsythe, G, Foulser, L, Francis, M, Fraser, A, Freeman, A, Galvin, A, Garcia-Casado, M, Gedny, A, Girgis, S, Glover, J, Goncalves, S, Goodwin, S, Gould, O, Gourtovaia, M, Gray, A, Gray, E, Griffiths, C, Gu, Y, Guerin, F, Hamilton, W, Hanks, H, Harrison, E, Harrott, A, Harry, E, Harvison, J, Heath, P, Hernandez-Koutoucheva, A, Hobbs, R, Holland, D, Holmes, S, Hornett, G, Hough, N, Huckle, L, Hughes-Hallet, L, Hunter, A, Inglis, S, Iqbal, S, Jackson, A, Jackson, D, James, K, Jamrozy, D, Verdejo, CJ, Jones, M, Kallepally, K, Kane, L, Kay, K, Kay, S, Keatley, J, Keith, A, King, A, Kitchin, L, Kleanthous, M, Klimekova, M, Korlevic, P, Krasheninnkova, K, Lane, G, Langford, C, Laverack, A, Law, K, Lawniczak, M, Lensing, S, Leonard, S, Letchford, L, Lewis, K, Lewis-Wade, A, Liddle, J, Lin, Q, Lindsay, S, Linsdell, S, Livett, R, Lo, S, Long, R, Lovell, J, Ludden, C, Mack, J, Maddison, M, Makunin, A, Mamun, I, Mansfield, J, Marriott, N, Martin, M, Mayho, M, McCarthy, S, McClintock, J, McGuigan, S, McHugh, S, McMinn, L, Meadows, C, Mobley, E, Moll, R, Morra, M, Morrow, L, Murie, K, Nash, S, Nathwani, C, Naydenova, P, Neaverson, A, Nelson, R, Nerou, E, Nicholson, J, Nimz, T, Noell, GG, O’Meara, S, Ohan, V, Oliver, K, Olney, C, Ormond, D, Oszlanczi, A, Palmer, S, Pang, YF, Pardubska, B, Park, N, Parmar, A, Patel, G, Patel, M, Payne, M, Peacock, S, Petersen, A, Plowman, D, Preston, T, Prestwood, L, Puethe, C, Quail, M, Rajan, D, Rajatileka, S, Rance, R, Rawlings, S, Redshaw, N, Reynolds, J, Reynolds, M, Rice, S, Richardson, M, Roberts, C, Robinson, K, Robinson, M, Robinson, D, Rogers, H, Rojo, EM, Roopra, D, Rose, M, Rudd, L, Sadri, R, Salmon, N, Saul, D, Scott, C, Seekings, P, Shirley, L, Simms, A, Sivadasan, S, Siwek, B, Sizer, D, Skeldon, K, Skelton, J, Slater-Tunstill, J, Sloper, L, Smerdon, N, Smith, C, Smith, J, Smith, K, Smith, M, Smith, S, Smith, T, Sneade, L, Soria, CD, Sousa, C, Souster, E, Sparkes, A, Spencer-Chapman, M, Squares, J, Stanley, R, Steed, C, Stickland, T, Still, I, Stratton, MR, Strickland, M, Swann, A, Swiatkowska, A, Sycamore, N, Swift, E, Symons, E, Szluha, S, Taluy, E, Tao, N, Taylor, K, Taylor, S, Thompson, S, Thompson, M, Thomson, M, Thomson, N, Thurston, S, Tonkin-Hill, G, Toombs, D, Topping, B, Tovar-Corona, J, Ungureanu, D, Uphill, J, Urbanova, J, Van Vuuren, PJ, Vancollie, V, Voak, P, Walker, D, Walker, M, Waller, M, Ward, G, Weatherhogg, C, Webb, N, Weldon, D, Wells, A, Wells, E, Westwood, L, Whipp, T, Whiteley, T, Whitton, G, Whitwham, A, Widaa, S, Williams, M, Wilson, M, Wright, S, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, A, Snell, LB, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Lythgoe, K, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, P, Jackson, LM, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O’Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Page, AJ, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, C, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O’Toole, Á, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Peacock, SJ, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Randell, PA, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, 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Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, MG, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, JP, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, McMurray, CL, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, LA, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, 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C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, P, Jackson, LM, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O’Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Page, AJ, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, C, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O’Toole, Á, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Peacock, SJ, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Randell, PA, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, NF, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, MG, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, JP, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, McMurray, CL, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, LA, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Turtle, L, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, Masters, KMC, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Zamudio, ME, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O’Brien, S, Rushton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Redshaw, NM, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Birney, E, Volz, E, Funk, S, Martincorena, I, Barrett, JC, and Gerstung, M
Abstract: The evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus leads to new variants that warrant timely epidemiological characterization. Here we use the dense genomic surveillance data generated by the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium to reconstruct the dynamics of 71 different lineages in each of 315 English local authorities between September 2020 and June 2021. This analysis reveals a series of subepidemics that peaked in early autumn 2020, followed by a jump in transmissibility of the B.1.1.7/Alpha lineage. The Alpha variant grew when other lineages declined during the second national lockdown and regionally tiered restrictions between November and December 2020. A third more stringent national lockdown suppressed the Alpha variant and eliminated nearly all other lineages in early 2021. Yet a series of variants (most of which contained the spike E484K mutation) defied these trends and persisted at moderately increasing proportions. However, by accounting for sustained introductions, we found that the transmissibility of these variants is unlikely to have exceeded the transmissibility of the Alpha variant. Finally, B.1.617.2/Delta was repeatedly introduced in England and grew rapidly in early summer 2021, constituting approximately 98% of sampled SARS-CoV-2 genomes on 26 June 2021.

10. Investigation of hospital discharge cases and SARS-CoV-2 introduction into Lothian care homes

Author: Cotton, S, McHugh, MP, Dewar, R, Haas, JG, Templeton, K, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, A, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Cutino-Moguel, T, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, P, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Kele, B, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, Peacock, SJ, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O’Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Page, AJ, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, C, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O'Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Heyburn, D, Charalampous, T, Alcolea-Medina, A, Kitchman, K, McNal, A, Pritch, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, Anna, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Randell, PA, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson DipHe, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, M, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Smith, K, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Killough, NF, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Delgado Callico, L, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, Markov, A, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Thomas-McEwen, PMD, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, McMurray, CL, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk Fd, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workma, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O'Brien, S, Rushton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrer, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, Whitwham, A, Cotton, S, McHugh, MP, Dewar, R, Haas, JG, Templeton, K, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, A, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Cutino-Moguel, T, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, P, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Kele, B, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, Peacock, SJ, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O’Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Page, AJ, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, C, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O'Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Heyburn, D, Charalampous, T, Alcolea-Medina, A, Kitchman, K, McNal, A, Pritch, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, Anna, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Randell, PA, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson DipHe, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, M, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Smith, K, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Killough, NF, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Delgado Callico, L, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, Markov, A, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Thomas-McEwen, PMD, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, McMurray, CL, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk Fd, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workma, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O'Brien, S, Rushton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrer, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, and Whitwham, A
Abstract: Summary Background The first epidemic wave of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Scotland resulted in high case numbers and mortality in care homes. In Lothian, over one-third of care homes reported an outbreak, while there was limited testing of hospital patients discharged to care homes. Aim To investigate patients discharged from hospitals as a source of SARS-CoV-2 introduction into care homes during the first epidemic wave. Methods A clinical review was performed for all patients discharges from hospitals to care homes from 1st March 2020 to 31st May 2020. Episodes were ruled out based on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test history, clinical assessment at discharge, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and an infectious period of 14 days. Clinical samples were processed for WGS, and consensus genomes generated were used for analysis using Cluster Investigation and Virus Epidemiological Tool software. Patient timelines were obtained using electronic hospital records. Findings In total, 787 patients discharged from hospitals to care homes were identified. Of these, 776 (99%) were ruled out for subsequent introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into care homes. However, for 10 episodes, the results were inconclusive as there was low genomic diversity in consensus genomes or no sequencing data were available. Only one discharge episode had a genomic, time and location link to positive cases during hospital admission, leading to 10 positive cases in their care home. Conclusion The majority of patients discharged from hospitals were ruled out for introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into care homes, highlighting the importance of screening all new admissions when faced with a novel emerging virus and no available vaccine.

11. SARS-CoV-2 lineage dynamics in England from September to November 2021: high diversity of Delta sub-lineages and increased transmissibility of AY.4.2

Author: Eales, O, Page, AJ, de Oliveira Martins, L, Wang, H, Bodinier, B, Haw, D, Jonnerby, J, Atchison, C, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Nunez, RTM, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, A, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Lythgoe, K, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, P, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O’Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Chapman, MHS, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, C, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O’Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Peacock, SJ, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Randell, PA, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N - F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, 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Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea-Medina, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, Bouzidi, KE, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, 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Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Chapman, MHS, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, C, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O’Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Peacock, SJ, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, 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L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, MG, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, MEng, BEWT, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J - P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Smith, K, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, McMurray, CL, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea-Medina, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, Bouzidi, KE, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Turtle, L, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Zamudio, ME, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O’Brien, PS, Rushton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, Whitwham, A, Ashby, D, Barclay, W, Taylor, G, Cooke, G, Ward, H, Darzi, A, Riley, S, Chadeau-Hyam, M, Donnelly, CA, Elliott, P, and The COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium
Abstract: Background: Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, evolutionary pressure has driven large increases in the transmissibility of the virus. However, with increasing levels of immunity through vaccination and natural infection the evolutionary pressure will switch towards immune escape. Genomic surveillance in regions of high immunity is crucial in detecting emerging variants that can more successfully navigate the immune landscape. Methods: We present phylogenetic relationships and lineage dynamics within England (a country with high levels of immunity), as inferred from a random community sample of individuals who provided a self-administered throat and nose swab for rt-PCR testing as part of the REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission-1 (REACT-1) study. During round 14 (9 September–27 September 2021) and 15 (19 October–5 November 2021) lineages were determined for 1322 positive individuals, with 27.1% of those which reported their symptom status reporting no symptoms in the previous month. Results: We identified 44 unique lineages, all of which were Delta or Delta sub-lineages, and found a reduction in their mutation rate over the study period. The proportion of the Delta sub-lineage AY.4.2 was increasing, with a reproduction number 15% (95% CI 8–23%) greater than the most prevalent lineage, AY.4. Further, AY.4.2 was less associated with the most predictive COVID-19 symptoms (p = 0.029) and had a reduced mutation rate (p = 0.050). Both AY.4.2 and AY.4 were found to be geographically clustered in September but this was no longer the case by late October/early November, with only the lineage AY.6 exhibiting clustering towards the South of England. Conclusions: As SARS-CoV-2 moves towards endemicity and new variants emerge, genomic data obtained from random community samples can augment routine surveillance data without the potential biases introduced due to higher sampling rates of symptomatic individuals. © 2022, The Author(s).

12. The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was associated with increased clinical severity of COVID-19 in Scotland: A genomics-based retrospective cohort analysis

Author: Pascall, DJ, Vink, E, Blacow, R, Bulteel, N, Campbell, A, Campbell, R, Clifford, S, Davis, C, Filipe, ADS, Sakka, NE, Fjodorova, L, Forrest, R, Goldstein, EJ, Gunson, R, Haughney, J, Holden, MTG, Honour, P, Hughes, J, James, E, Lewis, T, Lycett, S, MacLean, O, McHugh, MP, Mollett, G, Onishi, Y, Parcell, B, Ray, S, Robertson, DL, Shabaan, S, Shepherd, JG, Smollett, KL, Templeton, KE, Wastnedge, E, Wilkie, C, Williams, T, Thomson, EC, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, PA, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Lythgoe, PK, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Cutino-Moguel, T, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, PA, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Kele, B, Aggarwal, D, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Peacock, SJ, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O'Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, PD, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, PS, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, PD, Page, AJ, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, CL, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O'Toole, A, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, PJ, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Heyburn, D, Charalampous, T, Alcolea-Medina, A, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, Anna, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N - F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AI, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, M, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J - P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, PP, Smith, PK, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, PM, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Killough, NF, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Callico, LD, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, Markov, A, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Thomas-McEwen, PMD, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, Bouzidi, KE, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, PS, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Keeley, AJ, Ball, PJ, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O'Brien, S, Rushton, PS, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, Whitwham, A, Pascall, DJ, Vink, E, Blacow, R, Bulteel, N, Campbell, A, Campbell, R, Clifford, S, Davis, C, Filipe, ADS, Sakka, NE, Fjodorova, L, Forrest, R, Goldstein, EJ, Gunson, R, Haughney, J, Holden, MTG, Honour, P, Hughes, J, James, E, Lewis, T, Lycett, S, MacLean, O, McHugh, MP, Mollett, G, Onishi, Y, Parcell, B, Ray, S, Robertson, DL, Shabaan, S, Shepherd, JG, Smollett, KL, Templeton, KE, Wastnedge, E, Wilkie, C, Williams, T, Thomson, EC, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, PA, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Lythgoe, PK, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Cutino-Moguel, T, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, PA, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Kele, B, Aggarwal, D, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Peacock, SJ, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O'Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, PD, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, PS, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, PD, Page, AJ, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, CL, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O'Toole, A, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, PJ, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Heyburn, D, Charalampous, T, Alcolea-Medina, A, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, Anna, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N - F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AI, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, M, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J - P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, PP, Smith, PK, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, PM, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Killough, NF, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Callico, LD, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, Markov, A, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Thomas-McEwen, PMD, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, Bouzidi, KE, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, PS, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Keeley, AJ, Ball, PJ, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O'Brien, S, Rushton, PS, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, and Whitwham, A
Abstract: Objectives The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant was associated with increased transmission relative to other variants present at the time of its emergence and several studies have shown an association between Alpha variant infection and increased hospitalisation and 28-day mortality. However, none have addressed the impact on maximum severity of illness in the general population classified by the level of respiratory support required, or death. We aimed to do this. Methods In this retrospective multi-centre clinical cohort sub-study of the COG-UK consortium, 1475 samples from Scottish hospitalised and community cases collected between 1st November 2020 and 30th January 2021 were sequenced. We matched sequence data to clinical outcomes as the Alpha variant became dominant in Scotland and modelled the association between Alpha variant infection and severe disease using a 4-point scale of maximum severity by 28 days: 1. no respiratory support, 2. supplemental oxygen, 3. ventilation and 4. death. Results Our cumulative generalised linear mixed model analyses found evidence (cumulative odds ratio: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.93) of a positive association between increased clinical severity and lineage (Alpha variant versus pre-Alpha variants). Conclusions The Alpha variant was associated with more severe clinical disease in the Scottish population than co-circulating lineages.

13. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 mutations and variants through the COG-UK-Mutation Explorer

Author: Wright, DW, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Cox, M, Peacock, TP, Colquhoun, R, Jackson, B, Orton, R, Nielsen, M, Hsu, NS, Harrison, EM, de Silva, TI, Rambaut, A, Peacock, SJ, Robertson, DL, Carabelli, AM, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Lythgoe, K, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, PA, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Templeton, KE, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O'Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Page, AJ, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, CL, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O'Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N - F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, de Oliveira Martins, L, Hill, V, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J - P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Smith, K, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea-Medina, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huck-Son, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Turtle, L, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Zamudio, ME, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O'Brien, S, Rush-Ton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, Whitwham, A, Wright, DW, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Cox, M, Peacock, TP, Colquhoun, R, Jackson, B, Orton, R, Nielsen, M, Hsu, NS, Harrison, EM, de Silva, TI, Rambaut, A, Peacock, SJ, Robertson, DL, Carabelli, AM, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Lythgoe, K, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, PA, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Templeton, KE, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O'Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Page, AJ, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, CL, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O'Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N - F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, de Oliveira Martins, L, Hill, V, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J - P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Smith, K, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea-Medina, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huck-Son, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Turtle, L, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Zamudio, ME, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O'Brien, S, Rush-Ton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, and Whitwham, A
Abstract: COG-UK Mutation Explorer (COG-UK-ME, https://sars2.cvr.gla.ac.uk/cog-uk/—last accessed date 16 March 2022) is a web resource that displays knowledge and analyses on SARS-CoV-2 virus genome mutations and variants circulating in the UK, with a focus on the observed amino acid replacements that have an antigenic role in the context of the human humoral and cellular immune response. This analysis is based on more than 2 million genome sequences (as of March 2022) for UK SARS-CoV-2 data held in the CLIMB-COVID centralised data environment. COG-UK-ME curates these data and displays analyses that are cross-referenced to experimental data collated from the primary literature. The aim is to track mutations of immunological importance that are accumulating in current variants of concern and variants of interest that could alter the neutralising activity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), convalescent sera, and vaccines. Changes in epitopes recognised by T cells, including those where reduced T cell binding has been demonstrated, are reported. Mutations that have been shown to confer SARS-CoV-2 resistance to antiviral drugs are also included. Using visualisation tools, COG-UK-ME also allows users to identify the emergence of variants carrying mutations that could decrease the neutralising activity of both mAbs present in therapeutic cocktails, e.g. Ronapreve. COG-UK-ME tracks changes in the frequency of combinations of mutations and brings together the curated literature on the impact of those mutations on various functional aspects of the virus and therapeutics. Given the unpredictable nature of SARS-CoV-2 as exemplified by yet another variant of concern, Omicron, continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 remains imperative to monitor virus evolution linked to the efficacy of therapeutics.

14. Spatial growth rate of emerging SARS-CoV-2 lineages in England, September 2020-December 2021

Author: Smallman-Raynor, MR, Cliff, AD, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, A, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Lythgoe, K, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, PA, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O'Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Page, AJ, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, CL, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O'Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Peacock, SJ, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N - F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, M, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J - P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Smith, K, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea-Medina, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Turtle, L, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Zamudio, ME, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O'Brien, S, Rushton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, Whitwham, A, Smallman-Raynor, MR, Cliff, AD, Robson, SC, Connor, TR, Loman, NJ, Golubchik, T, Martinez Nunez, RT, Bonsall, D, Rambaut, A, Snell, LB, Livett, R, Ludden, C, Corden, S, Nastouli, E, Nebbia, G, Johnston, I, Lythgoe, K, Torok, ME, Goodfellow, IG, Prieto, JA, Saeed, K, Jackson, DK, Houlihan, C, Frampton, D, Hamilton, WL, Witney, AA, Bucca, G, Pope, CF, Moore, C, Thomson, EC, Harrison, EM, Smith, CP, Rogan, F, Beckwith, SM, Murray, A, Singleton, D, Eastick, K, Sheridan, LA, Randell, PA, Jackson, LM, Ariani, CV, Gonçalves, S, Fairley, DJ, Loose, MW, Watkins, J, Moses, S, Nicholls, S, Bull, M, Amato, R, Smith, DL, Aanensen, DM, Barrett, JC, Aggarwal, D, Shepherd, JG, Curran, MD, Parmar, S, Parker, MD, Williams, C, Glaysher, S, Underwood, AP, Bashton, M, Pacchiarini, N, Loveson, KF, Byott, M, Carabelli, AM, Templeton, KE, de Silva, TI, Wang, D, Langford, CF, Sillitoe, J, Gunson, RN, Cottrell, S, O'Grady, J, Kwiatkowski, D, Lillie, PJ, Cortes, N, Moore, N, Thomas, C, Burns, PJ, Mahungu, TW, Liggett, S, Beckett, AH, Holden, MTG, Levett, LJ, Osman, H, Hassan-Ibrahim, MO, Simpson, DA, Chand, M, Gupta, RK, Darby, AC, Paterson, S, Pybus, OG, Volz, EM, de Angelis, D, Robertson, DL, Page, AJ, Martincorena, I, Aigrain, L, Bassett, AR, Wong, N, Taha, Y, Erkiert, MJ, Spencer Chapman, MH, Dewar, R, McHugh, MP, Mookerjee, S, Aplin, S, Harvey, M, Sass, T, Umpleby, H, Wheeler, H, McKenna, JP, Warne, B, Taylor, JF, Chaudhry, Y, Izuagbe, R, Jahun, AS, Young, GR, McMurray, CL, McCann, CM, Nelson, A, Elliott, S, Lowe, H, Price, A, Crown, MR, Rey, S, Roy, S, Temperton, B, Shaaban, S, Hesketh, AR, Laing, KG, Monahan, IM, Heaney, J, Pelosi, E, Silviera, S, Wilson-Davies, E, Fryer, H, Adams, H, du Plessis, L, Johnson, R, Harvey, WT, Hughes, J, Orton, RJ, Spurgin, LG, Bourgeois, Y, Ruis, C, O'Toole, Á, Gourtovaia, M, Sanderson, T, Fraser, C, Edgeworth, J, Breuer, J, Michell, SL, Todd, JA, John, M, Buck, D, Gajee, K, Kay, GL, Peacock, SJ, Heyburn, D, Kitchman, K, McNally, A, Pritchard, DT, Dervisevic, S, Muir, P, Robinson, E, Vipond, BB, Ramadan, NA, Jeanes, C, Weldon, D, Catalan, J, Jones, N, da Silva Filipe, A, Fuchs, M, Miskelly, J, Jeffries, AR, Oliver, K, Park, NR, Ash, A, Koshy, C, Barrow, M, Buchan, SL, Mantzouratou, A, Clark, G, Holmes, CW, Campbell, S, Davis, T, Tan, NK, Brown, JR, Harris, KA, Kidd, SP, Grant, PR, Xu-McCrae, L, Cox, A, Madona, P, Pond, M, Withell, KT, Graham, C, Denton-Smith, R, Swindells, E, Turnbull, R, Sloan, TJ, Bosworth, A, Hutchings, S, Pymont, HM, Casey, A, Ratcliffe, L, Jones, CR, Knight, BA, Haque, T, Hart, J, Irish-Tavares, D, Witele, E, Mower, C, Watson, LK, Collins, J, Eltringham, G, Crudgington, D, Macklin, B, Iturriza-Gomara, M, Lucaci, AO, McClure, PC, Carlile, M, Holmes, N, Storey, N, Rooke, S, Yebra, G, Craine, N, Perry, M, Alikhan, N - F, Bridgett, S, Cook, KF, Fearn, C, Goudarzi, S, Lyons, RA, Williams, T, Haldenby, ST, Durham, J, Leonard, S, Davies, RM, Batra, R, Blane, B, Spyer, MJ, Smith, P, Yavus, M, Williams, RJ, Mahanama, AIK, Samaraweera, B, Girgis, ST, Hansford, SE, Green, A, Beaver, C, Bellis, KL, Dorman, MJ, Kay, S, Prestwood, L, Rajatileka, S, Quick, J, Poplawski, R, Reynolds, N, Mack, A, Morriss, A, Whalley, T, Patel, B, Georgana, I, Hosmillo, M, Pinckert, ML, Stockton, J, Henderson, JH, Hollis, A, Stanley, W, Yew, WC, Myers, R, Thornton, A, Adams, A, Annett, T, Asad, H, Birchley, A, Coombes, J, Evans, JM, Fina, L, Gatica-Wilcox, B, Gilbert, L, Graham, L, Hey, J, Hilvers, E, Jones, S, Jones, H, Kumziene-Summerhayes, S, McKerr, C, Powell, J, Pugh, G, Taylor, S, Trotter, AJ, Williams, CA, Kermack, LM, Foulkes, BH, Gallis, M, Hornsby, HR, Louka, SF, Pohare, M, Wolverson, P, Zhang, P, MacIntyre-Cockett, G, Trebes, A, Moll, RJ, Ferguson, L, Goldstein, EJ, Maclean, A, Tomb, R, Starinskij, I, Thomson, L, Southgate, J, Kraemer, MUG, Raghwani, J, Zarebski, AE, Boyd, O, Geidelberg, L, Illingworth, CJ, Jackson, C, Pascall, D, Vattipally, S, Freeman, TM, Hsu, SN, Lindsey, BB, James, K, Lewis, K, Tonkin-Hill, G, Tovar-Corona, JM, Cox, M, Abudahab, K, Menegazzo, M, Taylor, BEW, Yeats, CA, Mukaddas, A, Wright, DW, de Oliveira Martins, L, Colquhoun, R, Hill, V, Jackson, B, McCrone, JT, Medd, N, Scher, E, Keatley, J - P, Curran, T, Morgan, S, Maxwell, P, Smith, K, Eldirdiri, S, Kenyon, A, Holmes, AH, Price, JR, Wyatt, T, Mather, AE, Skvortsov, T, Hartley, JA, Guest, M, Kitchen, C, Merrick, I, Munn, R, Bertolusso, B, Lynch, J, Vernet, G, Kirk, S, Wastnedge, E, Stanley, R, Idle, G, Bradley, DT, Poyner, J, Mori, M, Jones, O, Wright, V, Brooks, E, Churcher, CM, Fragakis, M, Galai, K, Jermy, A, Judges, S, McManus, GM, Smith, KS, Westwick, E, Attwood, SW, Bolt, F, Davies, A, De Lacy, E, Downing, F, Edwards, S, Meadows, L, Jeremiah, S, Smith, N, Foulser, L, Charalampous, T, Patel, A, Berry, L, Boswell, T, Fleming, VM, Howson-Wells, HC, Joseph, A, Khakh, M, Lister, MM, Bird, PW, Fallon, K, Helmer, T, Odedra, M, Shaw, J, Tang, JW, Willford, NJ, Blakey, V, Raviprakash, V, Sheriff, N, Williams, L - A, Feltwell, T, Bedford, L, Cargill, JS, Hughes, W, Moore, J, Stonehouse, S, Atkinson, L, Lee, JCD, Shah, D, Alcolea-Medina, A, Ohemeng-Kumi, N, Ramble, J, Sehmi, J, Williams, R, Chatterton, W, Pusok, M, Everson, W, Castigador, A, Macnaughton, E, El Bouzidi, K, Lampejo, T, Sudhanva, M, Breen, C, Sluga, G, Ahmad, SSY, George, RP, Machin, NW, Binns, D, James, V, Blacow, R, Coupland, L, Smith, L, Barton, E, Padgett, D, Scott, G, Cross, A, Mirfenderesky, M, Greenaway, J, Cole, K, Clarke, P, Duckworth, N, Walsh, S, Bicknell, K, Impey, R, Wyllie, S, Hopes, R, Bishop, C, Chalker, V, Harrison, I, Gifford, L, Molnar, Z, Auckland, C, Evans, C, Johnson, K, Partridge, DG, Raza, M, Baker, P, Bonner, S, Essex, S, Murray, LJ, Lawton, AI, Burton-Fanning, S, Payne, BAI, Waugh, S, Gomes, AN, Kimuli, M, Murray, DR, Ashfield, P, Dobie, D, Ashford, F, Best, A, Crawford, L, Cumley, N, Mayhew, M, Megram, O, Mirza, J, Moles-Garcia, E, Percival, B, Driscoll, M, Ensell, L, Lowe, HL, Maftei, L, Mondani, M, Chaloner, NJ, Cogger, BJ, Easton, LJ, Huckson, H, Lewis, J, Lowdon, S, Malone, CS, Munemo, F, Mutingwende, M, Nicodemi, R, Podplomyk, O, Somassa, T, Beggs, A, Richter, A, Cormie, C, Dias, J, Forrest, S, Higginson, EE, Maes, M, Young, J, Davidson, RK, Jackson, KA, Turtle, L, Keeley, AJ, Ball, J, Byaruhanga, T, Chappell, JG, Dey, J, Hill, JD, Park, EJ, Fanaie, A, Hilson, RA, Yaze, G, Lo, S, Afifi, S, Beer, R, Maksimovic, J, McCluggage, K, Spellman, K, Bresner, C, Fuller, W, Marchbank, A, Workman, T, Shelest, E, Debebe, J, Sang, F, Zamudio, ME, Francois, S, Gutierrez, B, Vasylyeva, TI, Flaviani, F, Ragonnet-Cronin, M, Smollett, KL, Broos, A, Mair, D, Nichols, J, Nomikou, K, Tong, L, Tsatsani, I, O'Brien, S, Rushton, S, Sanderson, R, Perkins, J, Cotton, S, Gallagher, A, Allara, E, Pearson, C, Bibby, D, Dabrera, G, Ellaby, N, Gallagher, E, Hubb, J, Lackenby, A, Lee, D, Manesis, N, Mbisa, T, Platt, S, Twohig, KA, Morgan, M, Aydin, A, Baker, DJ, Foster-Nyarko, E, Prosolek, SJ, Rudder, S, Baxter, C, Carvalho, SF, Lavin, D, Mariappan, A, Radulescu, C, Singh, A, Tang, M, Morcrette, H, Bayzid, N, Cotic, M, Balcazar, CE, Gallagher, MD, Maloney, D, Stanton, TD, Williamson, KA, Manley, R, Michelsen, ML, Sambles, CM, Studholme, DJ, Warwick-Dugdale, J, Eccles, R, Gemmell, M, Gregory, R, Hughes, M, Nelson, C, Rainbow, L, Vamos, EE, Webster, HJ, Whitehead, M, Wierzbicki, C, Angyal, A, Green, LR, Whiteley, M, Betteridge, E, Bronner, IF, Farr, BW, Goodwin, S, Lensing, SV, McCarthy, SA, Quail, MA, Rajan, D, Redshaw, NM, Scott, C, Shirley, L, Thurston, SAJ, Rowe, W, Gaskin, A, Le-Viet, T, Bonfield, J, Liddle, J, and Whitwham, A
Abstract: This paper uses a robust method of spatial epidemiological analysis to assess the spatial growth rate of multiple lineages of SARS-CoV-2 in the local authority areas of England, September 2020–December 2021. Using the genomic surveillance records of the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) Consortium, the analysis identifies a substantial (7.6-fold) difference in the average rate of spatial growth of 37 sample lineages, from the slowest (Delta AY.4.3) to the fastest (Omicron BA.1). Spatial growth of the Omicron (B.1.1.529 and BA) variant was found to be 2.81× faster than the Delta (B.1.617.2 and AY) variant and 3.76× faster than the Alpha (B.1.1.7 and Q) variant. In addition to AY.4.2 (a designated variant under investigation, VUI-21OCT-01), three Delta sublineages (AY.43, AY.98 and AY.120) were found to display a statistically faster rate of spatial growth than the parent lineage and would seem to merit further investigation. We suggest that the monitoring of spatial growth rates is a potentially valuable adjunct to outbreak response procedures for emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in a defined population.

15. Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a novel mecA homologue in human and bovine populations in the UK and Denmark: a descriptive study.

Author: García-Alvarez L, Holden MT, Lindsay H, Webb CR, Brown DF, Curran MD, Walpole E, Brooks K, Pickard DJ, Teale C, Parkhill J, Bentley SD, Edwards GF, Girvan EK, Kearns AM, Pichon B, Hill RL, Larsen AR, Skov RL, and Peacock SJ
Abstract: Background: Animals can act as a reservoir and source for the emergence of novel meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones in human beings. Here, we report the discovery of a strain of S aureus (LGA251) isolated from bulk milk that was phenotypically resistant to meticillin but tested negative for the mecA gene and a preliminary investigation of the extent to which such strains are present in bovine and human populations.Methods: Isolates of bovine MRSA were obtained from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in the UK, and isolates of human MRSA were obtained from diagnostic or reference laboratories (two in the UK and one in Denmark). From these collections, we searched for mecA PCR-negative bovine and human S aureus isolates showing phenotypic meticillin resistance. We used whole-genome sequencing to establish the genetic basis for the observed antibiotic resistance.Findings: A divergent mecA homologue (mecA(LGA251)) was discovered in the LGA251 genome located in a novel staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element, designated type-XI SCCmec. The mecA(LGA251) was 70% identical to S aureus mecA homologues and was initially detected in 15 S aureus isolates from dairy cattle in England. These isolates were from three different multilocus sequence type lineages (CC130, CC705, and ST425); spa type t843 (associated with CC130) was identified in 60% of bovine isolates. When human mecA-negative MRSA isolates were tested, the mecA(LGA251) homologue was identified in 12 of 16 isolates from Scotland, 15 of 26 from England, and 24 of 32 from Denmark. As in cows, t843 was the most common spa type detected in human beings.Interpretation: Although routine culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing will identify S aureus isolates with this novel mecA homologue as meticillin resistant, present confirmatory methods will not identify them as MRSA. New diagnostic guidelines for the detection of MRSA should consider the inclusion of tests for mecA(LGA251).Funding: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Higher Education Funding Council for England, Isaac Newton Trust (University of Cambridge), and the Wellcome Trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Published: 2011
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16. Enhanced diagnosis of severe bacterial and fungal respiratory infection in children using a rapid syndromic array-case report.

Author: Clark JA, Gouliouris T, Conway Morris A, Curran MD, White D, Daubney E, Navapurkar V, Baker S, and Pathan N
Abstract: Background: A microbiological cause of infection is infrequently identified in critically unwell children with a respiratory infection. Molecular diagnostic arrays provide an alternative. These tests are becoming more broadly available, but little is known about how clinicians interpret the results to impact clinical decision making., Case Description: Here we describe three cases of bacterial and fungal lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) diagnosed in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) using a custom 52 respiratory pathogen TaqMan array card (TAC). Firstly, an early diagnosis of Candida albicans pneumonia was made with the support of the TAC in a trauma patient who received prolonged mechanical ventilation. The pathogen was only identified on microbiological cultures after further clinical deterioration had occurred. Secondly, a rare case of psittacosis was identified in an adolescent with acute respiratory distress, initially suspected to have multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Finally, Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia was identified in an infant with recurrent apnoeas, initially treated for meningitis. Two diagnoses would not have been established using commercially available arrays, and pathogen-specific diagnoses were established faster than that of routine microbiological culture., Conclusions: The pathogens included on molecular arrays and interpretation by a multidisciplinary team are crucial in providing value to PICU diagnostic services. Molecular arrays have the potential to enhance early pathogen-specific diagnosis of LRTI in the PICU., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tp.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tp-23-525/coif). J.A.C. received PhD personal funding through the Gates Cambridge Trust and funding for the consumables for the research were provided by the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals. T.G. receives a salary from the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Campus and participates in monitoring the PROMISE study. A.C.M. receives support from the Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist Fellowship and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship, and has received speaker fees from BioMérieux, Boston Scientific and Fisher and Paykel. M.D.C. is the inventor of a patent held by the Secretary of State for Health (UK government) EP2788503, which covers some of the genetic sequences used in this study. V.N. is a founder, director, and shareholder in Cambridge Infection Diagnostics (CID), which is a commercial company aimed at developing molecular diagnostics in infection and antimicrobial and AMR stewardship. A.C.M. and S.B. are advisory board members of the CID. S.B. has received funding from Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals, Wellcome Trust and Action Medical Research. N.P. has received funding from Action Medical Research, the Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals and the Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, and has received speaker fees from BioMérieux. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Translational Pediatrics. All rights reserved.)
Published: 2024
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17. Rapid Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Critically Ill Children Using a Custom TaqMan Array Card.

Author: Clark JA, Curran MD, Gouliouris T, Conway Morris A, Bousfield R, Navapurkar V, Kean IRL, Daubney E, White D, Baker S, and Pathan N
Abstract: Bacteria are identified in only 22% of critically ill children with respiratory infections treated with antimicrobial therapy. Once an organism is isolated, antimicrobial susceptibility results (phenotypic testing) can take another day. A rapid diagnostic test identifying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes could help clinicians make earlier, informed antimicrobial decisions. Here we aimed to validate a custom AMR gene TaqMan Array Card (AMR-TAC) for the first time and assess its feasibility as a screening tool in critically ill children. An AMR-TAC was developed using a combination of commercial and bespoke targets capable of detecting 23 AMR genes. This was validated using isolates with known phenotypic resistance. The card was then tested on lower respiratory tract and faecal samples obtained from mechanically ventilated children in a single-centre observational study of respiratory infection. There were 82 children with samples available, with a median age of 1.2 years. Major comorbidity was present in 29 (35%) children. A bacterial respiratory pathogen was identified in 13/82 (16%) of children, of which 4/13 (31%) had phenotypic AMR. One AMR gene was detected in 49/82 (60%), and multiple AMR genes were detected in 14/82 (17%) children. Most AMR gene detections were not associated with the identification of phenotypic AMR. AMR genes are commonly detected in samples collected from mechanically ventilated children with suspected respiratory infections. AMR-TAC may have a role as an adjunct test in selected children in whom there is a high suspicion of antimicrobial treatment failure.
Published: 2023
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18. The rapid detection of respiratory pathogens in critically ill children.

Author: Clark JA, Conway Morris A, Curran MD, White D, Daubney E, Kean IRL, Navapurkar V, Bartholdson Scott J, Maes M, Bousfield R, Török ME, Inwald D, Zhang Z, Agrawal S, Kanaris C, Khokhar F, Gouliouris T, Baker S, and Pathan N
Subjects: Humans, Child, Prospective Studies, Critical Illness, Bacteria, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid microbiology, Pneumonia diagnosis, Respiratory Tract Infections diagnosis
Abstract: Purpose: Respiratory infections are the most common reason for admission to paediatric intensive care units (PICU). Most patients with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) receive broad-spectrum antimicrobials, despite low rates of bacterial culture confirmation. Here, we evaluated a molecular diagnostic test for LRTI to inform the better use of antimicrobials., Methods: The Rapid Assay for Sick Children with Acute Lung infection Study was a single-centre, prospective, observational cohort study of mechanically ventilated children (> 37/40 weeks corrected gestation to 18 years) with suspected community acquired or ventilator-associated LRTI. We evaluated the use of a 52-pathogen custom TaqMan Array Card (TAC) to identify pathogens in non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-BAL) samples. TAC results were compared to routine microbiology testing. Primary study outcomes were sensitivity and specificity of TAC, and time to result., Results: We enrolled 100 patients, all of whom were tested with TAC and 91 of whom had matching culture samples. TAC had a sensitivity of 89.5% (95% confidence interval (CI 95 ) 66.9-98.7) and specificity of 97.9% (CI 95 97.2-98.5) compared to routine bacterial and fungal culture. TAC took a median 25.8 h (IQR 9.1-29.8 h) from sample collection to result. Culture was significantly slower: median 110.4 h (IQR 85.2-141.6 h) for a positive result and median 69.4 h (IQR 52.8-78.6) for a negative result., Conclusions: TAC is a reliable and rapid adjunct diagnostic approach for LRTI in critically ill children, with the potential to aid early rationalisation of antimicrobial therapy., (© 2023. The Author(s).)
Published: 2023
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19. Multiplex MinION sequencing suggests enteric adenovirus F41 genetic diversity comparable to pre-COVID-19 era.

Author: Maes M, Khokhar F, Wilkinson SAJ, Smith AD, Kovalenko G, Dougan G, Quick J, Loman NJ, Baker S, Curran MD, Skittrall JP, and Houldcroft CJ
Subjects: Humans, Child, Pandemics, Sequence Analysis, Adenoviridae genetics, Genetic Variation, COVID-19 epidemiology, Adenoviridae Infections
Abstract: Human adenovirus F41 causes acute gastroenteritis in children, and has recently been associated with an apparent increase in paediatric hepatitis of unknown aetiology in the UK, with further cases reported in multiple countries. Relatively little is known about the genetic diversity of adenovirus F41 in UK children; and it is unclear what, if any, impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on viral diversity in the UK. Methods that allow F41 to be sequenced from clinical samples without the need for viral culture are required to provide the genomic data to address these questions. Therefore, we evaluated an overlapping-amplicon method of sequencing adenovirus genomes from clinical samples using Oxford Nanopore technology. We applied this method to a small sample of adenovirus-species-F-positive extracts collected as part of standard care in the East of England region in January-May 2022. This method produced genomes with >75 % coverage in 13/22 samples and >50 % coverage in 19/22 samples. We identified two F41 lineages present in paediatric patients in the East of England in 2022. Where F41 genomes from paediatric hepatitis cases were available ( n =2), these genomes fell within the diversity of F41 from the UK and continental Europe sequenced before and after the 2020-2021 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analyses suggest that overlapping amplicon sequencing is an appropriate method for generating F41 genomic data from high-virus-load clinical samples, and currently circulating F41 viral lineages were present in the UK and Europe before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Published: 2023
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20. A qualitative investigation of paediatric intensive care staff attitudes towards the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection in the molecular diagnostics era.

Author: Clark JA, Conway Morris A, Kanaris C, Inwald D, Butt W, Osowicki J, Schlapbach LJ, Curran MD, White D, Daubney E, Agrawal S, Navapurkar V, Török ME, Baker S, and Pathan N
Abstract: Background: In the past decade, molecular diagnostic syndromic arrays incorporating a range of bacterial and viral pathogens have been described. It is unclear how paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) staff diagnose lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and integrate diagnostic array results into antimicrobial decision-making., Methods: An online survey with eleven questions was distributed throughout paediatric intensive care societies in the UK, continental Europe and Australasia with a total of 755 members. Participants were asked to rate the clinical factors and investigations they used when prescribing for LRTI. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with staff who participated in a single-centre observational study of a 52-pathogen diagnostic array., Results: Seventy-two survey responses were received; most responses were from senior doctors. Whilst diagnostic arrays were used less frequently than routine investigations (i.e. microbiological culture), they were of comparable perceived utility when making antimicrobial decisions. Prescribers reported that for arrays to be clinically impactful, they would need to deliver results within 6 h for stable patients and within 1 h for unstable patients to inform their immediate decision to prescribe antimicrobials. From 16 staff interviews, we identified that arrays were helpful for the diagnosis and screening of bacterial LRTI. Staff reported it could be challenging to interpret results in some cases due to the high sensitivity of the test. Therefore, results were considered within the context of the patient and discussed within the multidisciplinary team., Conclusions: Diagnostic arrays were considered of comparable value to microbiological investigations by PICU prescribers. Our findings support the need for further clinical and economic evaluation of diagnostic arrays in a randomised control trial., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04233268. Registered on 18 January 2020., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44253-023-00008-z., Competing Interests: Competing interestsMDC is the inventor of a patent held by the Secretary of State for Health (UK government) EP2788503, which covers some of the genetic sequences used in this study. VN is a founder, director and shareholder in Cambridge Infection Diagnostics (CID), which is a commercial company aimed at developing molecular diagnostics in infection and antimicrobial and AMR stewardship. ACM and SB are members of the Scientific Advisory Board of CID. ACM receives speaking fees from Boston Scientific. NP has received speaker fees from BioMérieux (Marcy-l’Étoile, France). All other authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2023.)
Published: 2023
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21. Development and implementation of a customised rapid syndromic diagnostic test for severe pneumonia.

Author: Navapurkar V, Bartholdson Scott J, Maes M, Hellyer TP, Higginson E, Forrest S, Pereira-Dias J, Parmar S, Heasman-Hunt E, Polgarova P, Brown J, Titti L, Smith WP, Scott J, Rostron A, Routledge M, Sapsford D, Török ME, McMullan R, Enoch DA, Wong V, Curran MD, Brown NM, Simpson AJ, Herre J, Dougan G, and Conway Morris A
Abstract: Background: The diagnosis of pneumonia has been hampered by a reliance on bacterial cultures which take several days to return a result, and are frequently negative. In critically ill patients this leads to the use of empiric, broad-spectrum antimicrobials and compromises good antimicrobial stewardship. The objective of this study was to establish the performance of a syndromic molecular diagnostic approach, using a custom TaqMan array card (TAC) covering 52 respiratory pathogens, and assess its impact on antimicrobial prescribing. Methods: The TAC was validated against a retrospective multi-centre cohort of broncho-alveolar lavage samples. The TAC was assessed prospectively in patients undergoing investigation for suspected pneumonia, with a comparator cohort formed of patients investigated when the TAC laboratory team were unavailable. Co-primary outcomes were sensitivity compared to conventional microbiology and, for the prospective study, time to result. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to validate findings in prospective samples. Antibiotic free days (AFD) were compared between the study cohort and comparator group. Results: 128 stored samples were tested, with sensitivity of 97% (95% confidence interval (CI) 88-100%). Prospectively, 95 patients were tested by TAC, with 71 forming the comparator group. TAC returned results 51 hours (interquartile range 41-69 hours) faster than culture and with sensitivity of 92% (95% CI 83-98%) compared to conventional microbiology. 94% of organisms identified by sequencing were detected by TAC. There was a significant difference in the distribution of AFDs with more AFDs in the TAC group (p=0.02). TAC group were more likely to experience antimicrobial de-escalation (odds ratio 2.9 (95%1.5-5.5)). Conclusions: Implementation of a syndromic molecular diagnostic approach to pneumonia led to faster results, with high sensitivity and impact on antibiotic prescribing., Competing Interests: Competing interests: MDC is the inventor on a patent held by the Secretary of State for Health (UK Government) EP2788503, which covers some of the genetic sequences used in this study. VN is a founder, Director and shareholder in Cambridge Infection Diagnostics Ltd (CID Ltd) which is a commercial company aimed at developing molecular diagnostics in infection and antimicrobial and AMR stewardship. NMB, GD and ACM are members of the Scientific Advisory Board of Cambridge Infection Diagnostics Ltd (CID Ltd). All other authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Navapurkar V et al.)
Published: 2022
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22. Differences in epidemiology of enteropathogens in children pre- and post-rotavirus vaccine introduction in Kilifi, coastal Kenya.

Author: Agoti CN, Curran MD, Murunga N, Ngari M, Muthumbi E, Lambisia AW, Frost SDW, Blacklaws BA, Nokes DJ, and Drumright LN
Abstract: Background: Kenya introduced Rotarix ® (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium) vaccination into its national immunization programme beginning July 2014. The impact of this vaccination program on the local epidemiology of various known enteropathogens is not fully understood., Methods: We used a custom TaqMan Array Card (TAC) to screen for 28 different enteropathogens in 718 stools from children aged less than 13 years admitted to Kilifi County Hospital, coastal Kenya, following presentation with diarrhea in 2013 (before vaccine introduction) and in 2016-2018 (after vaccine introduction). Pathogen positivity rate differences between pre- and post-Rotarix ® vaccination introduction were examined using both univariate and multivariable logistic regression models., Results: In 665 specimens (92.6%), one or more enteropathogen was detected, while in 323 specimens (48.6%) three or more enteropathogens were detected. The top six detected enteropathogens were: enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEC; 42.1%), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC; 30.2%), enterovirus (26.9%), rotavirus group A (RVA; 24.8%), parechovirus (16.6%) and norovirus GI/GII (14.4%). Post-rotavirus vaccine introduction, there was a significant increase in the proportion of samples testing positive for EAggEC (35.7% vs. 45.3%, p = 0.014), cytomegalovirus (4.2% vs. 9.9%, p = 0.008), Vibrio cholerae (0.0% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.019), Strongyloides species (0.8% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.048) and Dientamoeba fragilis (2.1% vs. 7.8%, p = 0.004). Although not reaching statistical significance, the positivity rate of adenovirus 40/41 (5.8% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.444), norovirus GI/GII (11.2% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.089), Shigella species (8.7% vs. 13.0%, p = 0.092) and Cryptosporidium spp. (11.6% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.261) appeared to increase post-vaccine introduction. Conversely, the positivity rate of sapovirus decreased significantly post-vaccine introduction (7.8% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.030) while that of RVA appeared not to change (27.4% vs. 23.5%, p = 0.253). More enteropathogen coinfections were detected per child post-vaccine introduction compared to before (mean: 2.7 vs. 2.3; p = 0.0025)., Conclusions: In this rural Coastal Kenya setting, childhood enteropathogen infection burden was high both pre- and post-rotavirus vaccination introduction. Children who had diarrheal admissions post-vaccination showed an increase in coinfections and changes in specific enteropathogen positivity rates. This study highlights the utility of multipathogen detection platforms such as TAC in understanding etiology of childhood acute gastroenteritis in resource-limited regions., (© 2022. The Author(s).)
Published: 2022
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23. Pathogens that Cause Illness Clinically Indistinguishable from Lassa Fever, Nigeria, 2018.

Author: Ashcroft JW, Olayinka A, Ndodo N, Lewandowski K, Curran MD, Nwafor CD, Madubuike K, Bagnall H, Musa AS, Ahmad A, Akinpelu A, Adeleye A, Martin C, Akano A, Onoja M, Iniobong A, Ukponu W, Arinze C, Ilori E, Mba N, Gannon B, Ahumibe A, and Ihekweazu C
Subjects: Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Lassa virus genetics, Nigeria epidemiology, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Lassa Fever diagnosis, Lassa Fever epidemiology
Abstract: During the 2018 Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria, samples from patients with suspected Lassa fever but negative Lassa virus PCR results were processed through custom gene expression array cards and metagenomic sequencing. Results demonstrated no single etiology, but bacterial and viral pathogens (including mixed co-infections) were detected.
Published: 2022
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24. Emergence of methicillin resistance predates the clinical use of antibiotics.

Author: Larsen J, Raisen CL, Ba X, Sadgrove NJ, Padilla-González GF, Simmonds MSJ, Loncaric I, Kerschner H, Apfalter P, Hartl R, Deplano A, Vandendriessche S, Černá Bolfíková B, Hulva P, Arendrup MC, Hare RK, Barnadas C, Stegger M, Sieber RN, Skov RL, Petersen A, Angen Ø, Rasmussen SL, Espinosa-Gongora C, Aarestrup FM, Lindholm LJ, Nykäsenoja SM, Laurent F, Becker K, Walther B, Kehrenberg C, Cuny C, Layer F, Werner G, Witte W, Stamm I, Moroni P, Jørgensen HJ, de Lencastre H, Cercenado E, García-Garrote F, Börjesson S, Hæggman S, Perreten V, Teale CJ, Waller AS, Pichon B, Curran MD, Ellington MJ, Welch JJ, Peacock SJ, Seilly DJ, Morgan FJE, Parkhill J, Hadjirin NF, Lindsay JA, Holden MTG, Edwards GF, Foster G, Paterson GK, Didelot X, Holmes MA, Harrison EM, and Larsen AR
Subjects: Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents metabolism, Arthrodermataceae genetics, Denmark, Europe, Evolution, Molecular, Geographic Mapping, History, 20th Century, Humans, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus metabolism, New Zealand, One Health, Penicillins biosynthesis, Phylogeny, beta-Lactams metabolism, Anti-Bacterial Agents history, Arthrodermataceae metabolism, Hedgehogs metabolism, Hedgehogs microbiology, Methicillin Resistance genetics, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus genetics, Selection, Genetic genetics
Abstract: The discovery of antibiotics more than 80 years ago has led to considerable improvements in human and animal health. Although antibiotic resistance in environmental bacteria is ancient, resistance in human pathogens is thought to be a modern phenomenon that is driven by the clinical use of antibiotics 1 . Here we show that particular lineages of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-a notorious human pathogen-appeared in European hedgehogs in the pre-antibiotic era. Subsequently, these lineages spread within the local hedgehog populations and between hedgehogs and secondary hosts, including livestock and humans. We also demonstrate that the hedgehog dermatophyte Trichophyton erinacei produces two β-lactam antibiotics that provide a natural selective environment in which methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates have an advantage over susceptible isolates. Together, these results suggest that methicillin resistance emerged in the pre-antibiotic era as a co-evolutionary adaptation of S. aureus to the colonization of dermatophyte-infected hedgehogs. The evolution of clinically relevant antibiotic-resistance genes in wild animals and the connectivity of natural, agricultural and human ecosystems demonstrate that the use of a One Health approach is critical for our understanding and management of antibiotic resistance, which is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development., (© 2022. The Author(s).)
Published: 2022
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25. Evaluation of sample pooling using the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test.

Author: Heaney K, Ritchie AV, Henry R, Harvey AJ, Curran MD, Allain JP, and Lee HH
Subjects: Diagnostic Tests, Routine, Humans, Pandemics, Sensitivity and Specificity, Specimen Handling, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2
Abstract: Background: Screening of infectious asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic individuals for SARS-CoV-2 is at present a key to controling the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to expand testing capability and limit cost, pool testing of asymtomatic individuals has been proposed, provided assay performance is not significantly affected., Methods: Combined nose and throat (N/T) swabs collected from COVID-19 infected or non-infected individuals were tested using SAMBA II individually and in pools of four (one positive and 3 negative). The evaluation was conducted by the manufacturer and an independent NHS site. Ct cycles of individual positives and pooled positives were determined by qRT-PCR., Results: In 42 pools containing a single positive sample with Ct values ranging between 17 and 36, 41 pools (97.6 %) were found positive by the SARS-CoV-2 SAMBA II test. The false-negative pool by SAMBA was also negative by both reference methods used in this evaluation.The individual positive sample in this pool was positive by SAMBA (Orf only) and by one of the reference methods (S gene only, Ct 35) but negative by the second reference method indicating that the sample itself was very low viral load. All 78 pools containing 4 negative swabs were negative (100 % specificity)., Discussion: The preliminary data of the evaluation indicated a high level of performance in both sensitivity and specificity of the SAMBA II assay when used to test pools of 4 patient samples. The implementation of this pooled protocol can increase throughput and reduce cost/test when the prevalence of COVID is low., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Published: 2022
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26. Rapid Assay for Sick Children with Acute Lung infection Study (RASCALS): diagnostic cohort study protocol.

Author: Clark JA, Kean IRL, Curran MD, Khokhar F, White D, Daubney E, Conway Morris A, Navapurkar V, Bartholdson Scott J, Maes M, Bousfield R, Gouliouris T, Agrawal S, Inwald D, Zhang Z, Török ME, Baker S, and Pathan N
Subjects: Child, Cohort Studies, Humans, Lung, Observational Studies as Topic, Prospective Studies, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Pneumonia
Abstract: Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is the most commonly treated infection in critically ill children. Pathogens are infrequently identified on routine respiratory culture, and this is a time-consuming process. A syndromic approach to rapid molecular testing that includes a wide range of bacterial and fungal targets has the potential to aid clinical decision making and reduce unnecessary broad spectrum antimicrobial prescribing. Here, we describe a single-centre prospective cohort study investigating the use of a 52-pathogen TaqMan array card (TAC) for LRTI in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU)., Methods and Analysis: Critically ill children with suspected LRTI will be enrolled to this 100 patient single-centre prospective observational study in a PICU in the East of England. Samples will be obtained via routine non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage which will be sent for standard microbiology culture in addition to TAC. A blood draw will be obtained via any existing vascular access device. The primary outcomes of the study will be (1) concordance of TAC result with routine culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing and (2) time of diagnostic result from TAC versus routine culture. Secondary outcomes will include impact of the test on total antimicrobial prescriptions, a description of the inflammatory profile of the lung and blood in response to pneumonia and a description of the clinical experience of medical and nursing staff using TAC., Ethics and Dissemination: This study has been approved by the Yorkshire and the Humber-Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee (REC reference 20/YH/0089). Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Results will be published in peer-reviewed publications and international conferences., Trial Registration Number: NCT04233268., Competing Interests: Competing interests: MDC is the inventor on a patent held by the Secretary of State for Health (UK government) EP2788503, which covers some of the genetic sequences used in this study. VN is a founder, director and shareholder in Cambridge Infection Diagnostics (CID) which is a commercial company aimed at developing molecular diagnostics in infection and antimicrobial and AMR stewardship. ACM, SB and ED are members of the Scientific Advisory Board of Cambridge Infection Diagnostics (CID). TG has received a research grant from Shionogi. All other authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)
Published: 2021
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27. Development and implementation of a customised rapid syndromic diagnostic test for severe pneumonia.

Author: Navapurkar V, Bartholdson Scott J, Maes M, Hellyer TP, Higginson E, Forrest S, Pereira-Dias J, Parmar S, Heasman-Hunt E, Polgarova P, Brown J, Titti L, Smith WP, Scott J, Rostron A, Routledge M, Sapsford D, Török ME, McMullan R, Enoch DA, Wong V, Curran MD, Brown NM, Simpson AJ, Herre J, Dougan G, and Conway Morris A
Abstract: Background: The diagnosis of pneumonia has been hampered by a reliance on bacterial cultures which take several days to return a result, and are frequently negative. In critically ill patients this leads to the use of empiric, broad-spectrum antimicrobials and compromises good antimicrobial stewardship. The objective of this study was to establish the performance of a syndromic molecular diagnostic approach, using a custom TaqMan array card (TAC) covering 52 respiratory pathogens, and assess its impact on antimicrobial prescribing. Methods: The TAC was validated against a retrospective multi-centre cohort of broncho-alveolar lavage samples. The TAC was assessed prospectively in patients undergoing investigation for suspected pneumonia, with a comparator cohort formed of patients investigated when the TAC laboratory team were unavailable. Co-primary outcomes were sensitivity compared to conventional microbiology and, for the prospective study, time to result. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to validate findings in prospective samples. Antibiotic free days (AFD) were compared between the study cohort and comparator group. Results: 128 stored samples were tested, with sensitivity of 97% (95% confidence interval (CI) 88-100%). Prospectively, 95 patients were tested by TAC, with 71 forming the comparator group. TAC returned results 51 hours (interquartile range 41-69 hours) faster than culture and with sensitivity of 92% (95% CI 83-98%) compared to conventional microbiology. 94% of organisms identified by sequencing were detected by TAC. There was a significant difference in the distribution of AFDs with more AFDs in the TAC group (p=0.02). TAC group were more likely to experience antimicrobial de-escalation (odds ratio 2.9 (95%1.5-5.5)). Conclusions: Implementation of a syndromic molecular diagnostic approach to pneumonia led to faster results, with high sensitivity and impact on antibiotic prescribing., Competing Interests: Competing interests: MDC is the inventor on a patent held by the Secretary of State for Health (UK Government) EP2788503, which covers some of the genetic sequences used in this study. VN is a founder, Director and shareholder in Cambridge Infection Diagnostics Ltd (CID Ltd) which is a commercial company aimed at developing molecular diagnostics in infection and antimicrobial and AMR stewardship. NMB, GD and ACM are members of the Scientific Advisory Board of Cambridge Infection Diagnostics Ltd (CID Ltd). All other authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Navapurkar V et al.)
Published: 2021
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28. Superspreaders drive the largest outbreaks of hospital onset COVID-19 infections.

Author: Illingworth CJ, Hamilton WL, Warne B, Routledge M, Popay A, Jackson C, Fieldman T, Meredith LW, Houldcroft CJ, Hosmillo M, Jahun AS, Caller LG, Caddy SL, Yakovleva A, Hall G, Khokhar FA, Feltwell T, Pinckert ML, Georgana I, Chaudhry Y, Curran MD, Parmar S, Sparkes D, Rivett L, Jones NK, Sridhar S, Forrest S, Dymond T, Grainger K, Workman C, Ferris M, Gkrania-Klotsas E, Brown NM, Weekes MP, Baker S, Peacock SJ, Goodfellow IG, Gouliouris T, de Angelis D, and Török ME
Subjects: Humans, Retrospective Studies, United Kingdom epidemiology, Health Personnel statistics & numerical data, COVID-19 transmission, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 virology, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, Cross Infection epidemiology, Cross Infection transmission, Cross Infection virology, Disease Outbreaks
Abstract: SARS-CoV-2 is notable both for its rapid spread, and for the heterogeneity of its patterns of transmission, with multiple published incidences of superspreading behaviour. Here, we applied a novel network reconstruction algorithm to infer patterns of viral transmission occurring between patients and health care workers (HCWs) in the largest clusters of COVID-19 infection identified during the first wave of the epidemic at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Based upon dates of individuals reporting symptoms, recorded individual locations, and viral genome sequence data, we show an uneven pattern of transmission between individuals, with patients being much more likely to be infected by other patients than by HCWs. Further, the data were consistent with a pattern of superspreading, whereby 21% of individuals caused 80% of transmission events. Our study provides a detailed retrospective analysis of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and sheds light on the need for intensive and pervasive infection control procedures., Competing Interests: CI, WH, BW, MR, AP, CJ, TF, LM, CH, MH, AJ, LC, SC, AY, GH, FK, TF, MP, IG, YC, MC, SP, DS, LR, NJ, SS, SF, TD, KG, CW, MF, EG, NB, MW, SB, SP, IG, TG, Dd, MT No competing interests declared, (© 2021, Illingworth et al.)
Published: 2021
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29. Patterns of within-host genetic diversity in SARS-CoV-2.

Author: Tonkin-Hill G, Martincorena I, Amato R, Lawson ARJ, Gerstung M, Johnston I, Jackson DK, Park N, Lensing SV, Quail MA, Gonçalves S, Ariani C, Spencer Chapman M, Hamilton WL, Meredith LW, Hall G, Jahun AS, Chaudhry Y, Hosmillo M, Pinckert ML, Georgana I, Yakovleva A, Caller LG, Caddy SL, Feltwell T, Khokhar FA, Houldcroft CJ, Curran MD, Parmar S, Alderton A, Nelson R, Harrison EM, Sillitoe J, Bentley SD, Barrett JC, Torok ME, Goodfellow IG, Langford C, and Kwiatkowski D
Subjects: Base Sequence, Humans, Pandemics, Phylogeny, COVID-19 genetics, COVID-19 physiopathology, Genetic Variation, Genome, Viral, Host-Pathogen Interactions genetics, Mutation, SARS-CoV-2 genetics
Abstract: Monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and reconstructing transmission chains has become a major public health focus for many governments around the world. The modest mutation rate and rapid transmission of SARS-CoV-2 prevents the reconstruction of transmission chains from consensus genome sequences, but within-host genetic diversity could theoretically help identify close contacts. Here we describe the patterns of within-host diversity in 1181 SARS-CoV-2 samples sequenced to high depth in duplicate. 95.1% of samples show within-host mutations at detectable allele frequencies. Analyses of the mutational spectra revealed strong strand asymmetries suggestive of damage or RNA editing of the plus strand, rather than replication errors, dominating the accumulation of mutations during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Within- and between-host diversity show strong purifying selection, particularly against nonsense mutations. Recurrent within-host mutations, many of which coincide with known phylogenetic homoplasies, display a spectrum and patterns of purifying selection more suggestive of mutational hotspots than recombination or convergent evolution. While allele frequencies suggest that most samples result from infection by a single lineage, we identify multiple putative examples of co-infection. Integrating these results into an epidemiological inference framework, we find that while sharing of within-host variants between samples could help the reconstruction of transmission chains, mutational hotspots and rare cases of superinfection can confound these analyses., Competing Interests: GT, IM, RA, AL, MG, IJ, DJ, NP, SL, MQ, SG, CA, MS, WH, LM, GH, AJ, YC, MH, MP, IG, AY, LC, SC, TF, FK, CH, MC, SP, AA, RN, EH, JS, SB, JB, MT, IG, CL, DK No competing interests declared, (© 2021, Tonkin-Hill et al.)
Published: 2021
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30. Correction to: Ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Author: Maes M, Higginson E, Pereira-Dias J, Curran MD, Parmar S, Khokhar F, Cuchet-Lourenço D, Lux J, Sharma-Hajela S, Ravenhill B, Hamed I, Heales L, Mahroof R, Soderholm A, Forrest S, Sridhar S, Brown NM, Baker S, Navapurkar V, Dougan G, Scott JB, and Morris AC
Published: 2021
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31. Response.

Author: Hamed I, Shaban N, Nassar M, Cayir D, Love S, Navapurkar V, Mahroof R, Curran MD, Webb S, Yang H, Conway Morris A, Watson K, and Rostron A
Published: 2021
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32. Paired Nasopharyngeal and Deep Lung Testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Reveals a Viral Gradient in Critically Ill Patients: A Multicenter Study.

Author: Hamed I, Shaban N, Nassar M, Cayir D, Love S, Curran MD, Webb S, Yang H, Watson K, Rostron A, Navapurkar V, Mahroof R, and Conway Morris A
Subjects: Adult, Aged, Critical Illness, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Young Adult, COVID-19 virology, Lung virology, Nasopharynx virology, SARS-CoV-2 isolation & purification
Published: 2021
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33. Genomic epidemiology of COVID-19 in care homes in the east of England.

Author: Hamilton WL, Tonkin-Hill G, Smith ER, Aggarwal D, Houldcroft CJ, Warne B, Meredith LW, Hosmillo M, Jahun AS, Curran MD, Parmar S, Caller LG, Caddy SL, Khokhar FA, Yakovleva A, Hall G, Feltwell T, Pinckert ML, Georgana I, Chaudhry Y, Brown CS, Gonçalves S, Amato R, Harrison EM, Brown NM, Beale MA, Spencer Chapman M, Jackson DK, Johnston I, Alderton A, Sillitoe J, Langford C, Dougan G, Peacock SJ, Kwiatowski DP, Goodfellow IG, and Torok ME
Subjects: Aged, 80 and over, COVID-19 virology, Disease Outbreaks, England epidemiology, Female, Humans, Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional, Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient, Male, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Sequence Analysis, Time Factors, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 transmission, Nursing Homes, SARS-CoV-2 genetics
Abstract: COVID-19 poses a major challenge to care homes, as SARS-CoV-2 is readily transmitted and causes disproportionately severe disease in older people. Here, 1167 residents from 337 care homes were identified from a dataset of 6600 COVID-19 cases from the East of England. Older age and being a care home resident were associated with increased mortality. SARS-CoV-2 genomes were available for 700 residents from 292 care homes. By integrating genomic and temporal data, 409 viral clusters within the 292 homes were identified, indicating two different patterns - outbreaks among care home residents and independent introductions with limited onward transmission. Approximately 70% of residents in the genomic analysis were admitted to hospital during the study, providing extensive opportunities for transmission between care homes and hospitals. Limiting viral transmission within care homes should be a key target for infection control to reduce COVID-19 mortality in this population., Competing Interests: WH, GT, ES, DA, CH, BW, LM, MH, AJ, MC, SP, LC, SC, FK, AY, GH, TF, MP, IG, YC, CB, SG, RA, EH, NB, MB, MS, DJ, IJ, AA, JS, CL, GD, SP, DK, IG No competing interests declared, MT I have received grant support from the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Health Foundation, and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. I have also received book royalties from Oxford University Press and honoraria from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, (© 2021, Hamilton et al.)
Published: 2021
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34. Specificity and positive predictive value of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification testing in a low-prevalence setting.

Author: Skittrall JP, Wilson M, Smielewska AA, Parmar S, Fortune MD, Sparkes D, Curran MD, Zhang H, and Jalal H
Subjects: Adult, Aged, COVID-19 epidemiology, Diagnostic Tests, Routine, England epidemiology, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Prevalence, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, Sensitivity and Specificity, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing methods, Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques methods, SARS-CoV-2 isolation & purification
Abstract: Objectives: When the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is low, many positive test results are false positives. Confirmatory testing reduces overdiagnosis and nosocomial infection and enables real-world estimates of test specificity and positive predictive value. This study estimates these parameters to evaluate the impact of confirmatory testing and to improve clinical diagnosis, epidemiological estimation and interpretation of vaccine trials., Methods: Over 1 month we took all respiratory samples from our laboratory with a patient's first detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA (Hologic Aptima SARS-CoV-2 assay or in-house RT-PCR platform), and repeated testing using two platforms. Samples were categorized by source, and by whether clinical details suggested COVID-19 or corroborative testing from another laboratory. We estimated specificity and positive predictive value using approaches based on maximum likelihood., Results: Of 19 597 samples, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 107; 52 corresponded to first-time detection (0.27% of tests on samples without previous detection). Further testing detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA once or more ('confirmed') in 29 samples (56%), and failed to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA ('not confirmed') in 23 (44%). Depending upon assumed parameters, point estimates for specificity and positive predictive value were 99.91-99.98% and 61.8-89.8% respectively using the Hologic Aptima SARS-CoV-2 assay, and 97.4-99.1% and 20.1-73.8% respectively using an in-house assay., Conclusions: Nucleic acid amplification testing for SARS-CoV-2 is highly specific. Nevertheless, when prevalence is low a significant proportion of initially positive results fail to confirm, and confirmatory testing substantially reduces the detection of false positives. Omitting additional testing in samples with higher prior detection probabilities focuses testing where it is clinically impactful and minimizes delay., (Copyright © 2020 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. All rights reserved.)
Published: 2021
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35. Ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Author: Maes M, Higginson E, Pereira-Dias J, Curran MD, Parmar S, Khokhar F, Cuchet-Lourenço D, Lux J, Sharma-Hajela S, Ravenhill B, Hamed I, Heales L, Mahroof R, Soderholm A, Forrest S, Sridhar S, Brown NM, Baker S, Navapurkar V, Dougan G, Bartholdson Scott J, and Conway Morris A
Subjects: Aged, COVID-19 diagnosis, Female, Humans, Intensive Care Units trends, Male, Middle Aged, Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated diagnosis, Retrospective Studies, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 therapy, Critical Illness epidemiology, Critical Illness therapy, Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated epidemiology
Abstract: Background: Pandemic COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has a high incidence of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Many of these patients require admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for invasive ventilation and are at significant risk of developing a secondary, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)., Objectives: To study the incidence of VAP and bacterial lung microbiome composition of ventilated COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients., Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we compared the incidence of VAP and secondary infections using a combination of microbial culture and a TaqMan multi-pathogen array. In addition, we determined the lung microbiome composition using 16S RNA analysis in a subset of samples. The study involved 81 COVID-19 and 144 non-COVID-19 patients receiving invasive ventilation in a single University teaching hospital between March 15th 2020 and August 30th 2020., Results: COVID-19 patients were significantly more likely to develop VAP than patients without COVID (Cox proportional hazard ratio 2.01 95% CI 1.14-3.54, p = 0.0015) with an incidence density of 28/1000 ventilator days versus 13/1000 for patients without COVID (p = 0.009). Although the distribution of organisms causing VAP was similar between the two groups, and the pulmonary microbiome was similar, we identified 3 cases of invasive aspergillosis amongst the patients with COVID-19 but none in the non-COVID-19 cohort. Herpesvirade activation was also numerically more frequent amongst patients with COVID-19., Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of VAP, which is not fully explained by the prolonged duration of ventilation. The pulmonary dysbiosis caused by COVID-19, and the causative organisms of secondary pneumonia observed are similar to that seen in critically ill patients ventilated for other reasons.
Published: 2021
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36. Pilot Study of the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Consensus Treatment Plans: A CARRA Registry Study.

Author: Liu K, Tomlinson G, Reed AM, Huber AM, Saarela O, Bout-Tabaku SM, Curran M, Dvergsten JA, Eberhard BA, Jung LK, Kim S, Ringold S, Rouster-Steven KA, Tesher M, Wahezi DM, and Feldman BM
Subjects: Child, Consensus, Humans, Pilot Projects, Registries, Arthritis, Juvenile, Dermatomyositis drug therapy, Rheumatology
Abstract: Objectives: To determine the feasibility of comparing the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology ResearchAlliance (CARRA) consensus treatment plans (CTP) in treating moderate new-onset juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) using the CARRA registry, and to establish appropriate analytic methods to control for confounding by indication and missing data., Methods: A pilot cohort of 39 patients with JDM from the CARRA registry was studied. Patients were assigned by the treating physician, considering patient/family preferences, to 1 of 3 CTP: methotrexate (MTX) and prednisone (MP); intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone, MTX, and prednisone (MMP); or IV methylprednisolone, MTX, prednisone, and IV immunoglobulin (MMPI). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving moderate improvement at 6 months under each CTP. Statistical methods including multiple imputation and inverse probability of treatment weighting were used to handle missing data and confounding by indication., Results: Patients received MP (n = 13), MMP (n = 18) and MMPI (n = 8). Patients in all CTP had significant improvement in disease activity. Of the 36 patients who remained in our pilot study at 6 months, 16 (44%) of them successfully achieved moderate improvement at 6 months (6/13, 46% for MP; 7/15, 47% for MMP; 3/8, 38% for MMPI). After correcting for confounding, there were no statistically significant pairwise differences between the CTP ( P = 0.328-0.88)., Conclusion: We gained valuable experience and insight from our pilot study that can be used to guide the design and analysis of comparative effectiveness studies using the CARRA registry CTP approach. Our analytical methods can be adopted for future comparative effectiveness studies and applied to other rare disease observational studies.
Published: 2021
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37. Performance Evaluation of the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 Test for Point-of-Care Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Author: Assennato SM, Ritchie AV, Nadala C, Goel N, Tie C, Nadala LM, Zhang H, Datir R, Gupta RK, Curran MD, and Lee HH
Subjects: Humans, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques methods, Point-of-Care Testing, Polyproteins genetics, RNA, Viral genetics, SARS-CoV-2 genetics, Sensitivity and Specificity, COVID-19 diagnosis, COVID-19 Testing methods, Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins genetics, Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques methods, Viral Proteins genetics
Abstract: Nucleic acid amplification for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in respiratory samples is the standard method for diagnosis. The majority of this testing is centralized and therefore has turnaround times of several days. Point-of-care (POC) testing with rapid turnaround times would allow more effective triage in settings where patient management and infection control decisions need to be made rapidly. The inclusivity and specificity of the Simple AMplification-Based Assay (SAMBA) II SARS-CoV-2 test were determined by both in silico analyses of the primers and probes and wet testing. The SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test was evaluated for performance characteristics. Clinical performance was evaluated in residual combined throat/nose swabs and compared to that of the Public Health England real-time PCR assay targeting the RdRp gene. The SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test has an analytical sensitivity of 250 copies/ml for detecting two regions of the genome (open reading frame 1ab [ORF1ab] and nucleocapsid protein [N]). The clinical performance was evaluated in 172 residual combined nose/throat swabs provided by the Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge (CMPHL), which showed an estimated positive percent agreement of 98.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 93.83 to 99.97) and negative percent agreement of 96.4% (95% CI, 89.92 to 99.26) compared to testing by the CMPHL. The data show that the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test performs equivalently to the centralized testing methods, but with a shorter turnaround time of 86 to 101 min. Point-of-care tests such as SAMBA should enable rapid patient management and effective implementation of infection control measures., (Copyright © 2020 Assennato et al.)
Published: 2020
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38. Rapid implementation of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing to investigate cases of health-care associated COVID-19: a prospective genomic surveillance study.

Author: Meredith LW, Hamilton WL, Warne B, Houldcroft CJ, Hosmillo M, Jahun AS, Curran MD, Parmar S, Caller LG, Caddy SL, Khokhar FA, Yakovleva A, Hall G, Feltwell T, Forrest S, Sridhar S, Weekes MP, Baker S, Brown N, Moore E, Popay A, Roddick I, Reacher M, Gouliouris T, Peacock SJ, Dougan G, Török ME, and Goodfellow I
Subjects: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, COVID-19, Child, Child, Preschool, Coronavirus Infections virology, Cross Infection virology, England epidemiology, Female, Genome, Viral genetics, Hospitals, University, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Safety, Phylogeny, Pneumonia, Viral virology, Polymerase Chain Reaction methods, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Prospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2, Whole Genome Sequencing methods, Young Adult, Betacoronavirus genetics, Coronavirus Infections epidemiology, Coronavirus Infections prevention & control, Cross Infection epidemiology, Cross Infection prevention & control, Infection Control methods, Pandemics prevention & control, Pneumonia, Viral epidemiology, Pneumonia, Viral prevention & control
Abstract: Background: The burden and influence of health-care associated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections is unknown. We aimed to examine the use of rapid SARS-CoV-2 sequencing combined with detailed epidemiological analysis to investigate health-care associated SARS-CoV-2 infections and inform infection control measures., Methods: In this prospective surveillance study, we set up rapid SARS-CoV-2 nanopore sequencing from PCR-positive diagnostic samples collected from our hospital (Cambridge, UK) and a random selection from hospitals in the East of England, enabling sample-to-sequence in less than 24 h. We established a weekly review and reporting system with integration of genomic and epidemiological data to investigate suspected health-care associated COVID-19 cases., Findings: Between March 13 and April 24, 2020, we collected clinical data and samples from 5613 patients with COVID-19 from across the East of England. We sequenced 1000 samples producing 747 high-quality genomes. We combined epidemiological and genomic analysis of the 299 patients from our hospital and identified 35 clusters of identical viruses involving 159 patients. 92 (58%) of 159 patients had strong epidemiological links and 32 (20%) patients had plausible epidemiological links. These results were fed back to clinical, infection control, and hospital management teams, leading to infection-control interventions and informing patient safety reporting., Interpretation: We established real-time genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK hospital and showed the benefit of combined genomic and epidemiological analysis for the investigation of health-care associated COVID-19. This approach enabled us to detect cryptic transmission events and identify opportunities to target infection-control interventions to further reduce health-care associated infections. Our findings have important implications for national public health policy as they enable rapid tracking and investigation of infections in hospital and community settings., Funding: COVID-19 Genomics UK funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, UK Research and Innovation, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Published: 2020
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39. Evaluating the use of a 22-pathogen TaqMan array card for rapid diagnosis of respiratory pathogens in intensive care.

Author: Jones NK, Conway Morris A, Curran MD, Parmar S, Sule O, Enoch DA, Aliyu SH, Zhang H, Jalal H, Navapurkar V, and Murphy ME
Subjects: Adult, Bacteria isolation & purification, Critical Care methods, Female, Fungi isolation & purification, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Male, Middle Aged, Polymerase Chain Reaction methods, Retrospective Studies, Sensitivity and Specificity, United Kingdom, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques methods, Pneumonia diagnosis, Respiratory Tract Infections diagnosis
Abstract: Introduction. Pneumonia is highly prevalent in intensive care units (ICUs), with high associated mortality. Empirical treatment prioritizes breadth of coverage while awaiting laboratory diagnosis, often at the expense of antimicrobial stewardship. Microarrays use multiple parallel polymerase chain reactions to enable a rapid syndromic approach to laboratory diagnosis. Aim. To evaluate the clinical and laboratory implications of introducing a bespoke 22-pathogen TaqMan Array Card (TAC) for rapid pathogen detection in deep respiratory samples from adult ICUs. Methodology. TAC results from all ICU patients prospectively tested over a 9-month period at Cambridge's Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory were compared to those of corresponding conventional microbiological assays (culture-, PCR- or serology-based) in terms of result agreement and time-to-result availability. Clinical impact was assessed by retrospective review of medical records. Results. Seventy-one patients were included [45 (63 %) male, median age 59). Overall result agreement was 94 %, with TAC detecting more pathogens than conventional methods. TAC detected Streptococcus pneumoniae more readily than culture (7 vs 0 cases; P =0.02). TAC did not detect Aspergillus spp. in eight culture- or galactomannan-positive cases. The median turnaround time (1 day) was significantly shorter than that of bacterial/fungal culture, Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR and galactomannan testing (each 3 days; P <0.001), atypical bacteria serology (13 days; P <0.001) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture (46 days; P <0.001). Earlier result availability prompted discontinuation of unnecessary antimicrobials in 15/71 (21 %) cases, but had no bearing on patient isolation/deisolation. Conclusion. TAC provided greater overall yield of pathogen detection and faster turnaround times, permitting earlier discontinuation of unnecessary antimicrobials.
Published: 2020
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40. Towards accurate exclusion of neonatal bacterial meningitis: a feasibility study of a novel 16S rDNA PCR assay.

Author: Abelian A, Mund T, Curran MD, Savill SA, Mitra N, Charan C, Ogilvy-Stuart AL, Pelham HRB, and Dear PH
Subjects: Bacteria genetics, DNA, Ribosomal genetics, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Newborn, Diseases microbiology, Meningitis, Bacterial diagnosis, Sensitivity and Specificity, Cerebrospinal Fluid microbiology, Meningitis, Bacterial microbiology, Polymerase Chain Reaction methods
Abstract: Background: PCRctic is an innovative assay based on 16S rDNA PCR technology that has been designed to detect a single intact bacterium in a specimen of cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). The assay's potential for accurate, fast and inexpensive discrimination of bacteria-free CSF makes it an ideal adjunct for confident exclusion of bacterial meningitis in newborn babies where the negative predictive value of bacterial culture is poor. This study aimed to stress-test and optimize PCRctic in the "field conditions" to attain a clinically useful level of specificity., Methods: The specificity of PCRctic was evaluated in CSF obtained from newborn babies investigated for meningitis on a tertiary neonatal unit. Following an interim analysis, the method of skin antisepsis was changed to increase bactericidal effect, and snap-top tubes (Eppendorf™) replaced standard universal containers for collection of CSF to reduce environmental contamination., Results: The assay's specificity was 90.5% in CSF collected into the snap-top tubes - up from 60% in CSF in the universal containers. The method of skin antisepsis had no effect on the specificity. All CSF cultures were negative and no clinical cases of neonatal bacterial meningitis occurred during the study., Conclusions: A simple and inexpensive optimization of CSF collection resulted in a high specificity output. The low prevalence of neonatal bacterial meningitis means that a large multi-centre study will be required to validate the assay's sensitivity and its negative predictive value.
Published: 2020
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41. Effective control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between healthcare workers during a period of diminished community prevalence of COVID-19.

Author: Jones NK, Rivett L, Sparkes D, Forrest S, Sridhar S, Young J, Pereira-Dias J, Cormie C, Gill H, Reynolds N, Wantoch M, Routledge M, Warne B, Levy J, Córdova Jiménez WD, Samad FNB, McNicholas C, Ferris M, Gray J, Gill M, Curran MD, Fuller S, Chaudhry A, Shaw A, Bradley JR, Hannon GJ, Goodfellow IG, Dougan G, Smith KG, Lehner PJ, Wright G, Matheson NJ, Baker S, and Weekes MP
Subjects: Adult, Asymptomatic Diseases, Betacoronavirus genetics, Betacoronavirus isolation & purification, COVID-19, COVID-19 Testing, Community-Acquired Infections transmission, Contact Tracing, Coronavirus Infections diagnosis, Coronavirus Infections epidemiology, Coronavirus Infections prevention & control, Disease Transmission, Infectious prevention & control, England epidemiology, Family Characteristics, Female, Hospital Units, Hospitals, Teaching organization & administration, Hospitals, Teaching statistics & numerical data, Hospitals, University organization & administration, Hospitals, University statistics & numerical data, Humans, Infection Control, Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional statistics & numerical data, Male, Mass Screening organization & administration, Middle Aged, Nasopharynx virology, Occupational Diseases epidemiology, Patient Admission statistics & numerical data, Pneumonia, Viral diagnosis, Pneumonia, Viral epidemiology, Pneumonia, Viral prevention & control, Prevalence, Program Evaluation, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, SARS-CoV-2, Symptom Assessment, Clinical Laboratory Techniques statistics & numerical data, Coronavirus Infections transmission, Health Personnel, Mass Screening statistics & numerical data, Occupational Diseases prevention & control, Pandemics prevention & control, Pneumonia, Viral transmission
Abstract: Previously, we showed that 3% (31/1032)of asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) from a large teaching hospital in Cambridge, UK, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in April 2020. About 15% (26/169) HCWs with symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (Rivett et al., 2020). Here, we show that the proportion of both asymptomatic and symptomatic HCWs testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 rapidly declined to near-zero between 25th April and 24th May 2020, corresponding to a decline in patient admissions with COVID-19 during the ongoing UK 'lockdown'. These data demonstrate how infection prevention and control measures including staff testing may help prevent hospitals from becoming independent 'hubs' of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and illustrate how, with appropriate precautions, organizations in other sectors may be able to resume on-site work safely., Competing Interests: NJ, LR, DS, SF, SS, JY, JP, CC, HG, NR, MW, MR, BW, JL, WC, FS, CM, MF, JG, MG, MC, SF, AS, JB, GH, GW No competing interests declared, AC Afzal Chaudhry reports grants from Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre at CUHNFT, during the conduct of the study. IG Ian Goodfellow reports grants from Wellcome Trust (Senior Research Fellowships), grants from Wellcome Trust (Collaborative Award), grants from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, during the conduct of the study. GD Gordon Dougan reports grants from NIHR, during the conduct of the study. KS Kenneth GC Smith reports grants from Wellcome Trust, during the conduct of the study. PL Paul J Lehner reports grants from Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellowship, grants from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, during the conduct of the study. NM Nicholas J Matheson reports grants from Medical Research Council (Clinician Scientist Fellowship), grants from NHS Blood and Transfusion, during the conduct of the study. SB Stephen Baker reports grants from Wellcome Trust (Senior Research Fellowships), from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, during the conduct of the study. MW Michael P Weekes reports grants from Wellcome Trust (Senior Research Fellowships), from Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, during the conduct of the study., (© 2020, Jones et al.)
Published: 2020
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42. Severe Acute Hepatitis E in a Woman with an Autoimmune Background.

Author: Nascimento MS, Almeida-Santos M, Fernandes M, Maltez F, Lino S, Curran MD, and Mesquita JR
Subjects: Acute Disease, Adult, Autoimmune Diseases, Female, Humans, Severity of Illness Index, Hepatitis E diagnosis
Abstract: Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 infections are normally asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals. Symptomatic cases of acute icteric hepatitis E are seldom observed among women, younger men and children but are particularly seen in middle-aged/elderly men. We report a case of severe acute hepatitis E caused by genotype 3 in an immunocompetent 40-year-old woman that required prolonged hospitalization. Her medical history included an autoimmune background, namely atrophic gastritis and Graves' disease. She presented an extensive hepatic necrosis as revealed by the high levels of aminotransferases (ALT 4893 U/L; AST 3138 U/L). She showed also a coagulation disorder (prothrombin time; INR = 1.33). Serological markers for hepatitis viruses A, B and C were negative but serum was positive for hepatitis E virus RNA. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the hepatitis E virus strain belonged to subgenotype 3a. This is suggestive of an association between the severe acute hepatitis E virus genotype 3 infection and the autoimmune background.
Published: 2020
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43. Molecular epidemiology and socio-demographic risk factors of sexually transmitted infections among women in Lebanon.

Author: Hanna J, Yassine R, El-Bikai R, Curran MD, Azar M, Yeretzian J, Skaf R, Afif C, Saber T, Itani S, Hubeish M, El Jisr T, Hamzeh F, and El Chaar M
Subjects: Adult, Cervix Uteri microbiology, Cervix Uteri parasitology, Cervix Uteri virology, Chlamydia trachomatis genetics, Chlamydia trachomatis isolation & purification, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Gardnerella vaginalis genetics, Gardnerella vaginalis isolation & purification, Humans, Lebanon epidemiology, Male, Molecular Epidemiology, Mycoplasma Infections epidemiology, Mycoplasma genitalium genetics, Mycoplasma genitalium isolation & purification, Mycoplasma hominis genetics, Mycoplasma hominis isolation & purification, Neisseria gonorrhoeae genetics, Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolation & purification, Papillomaviridae genetics, Papillomaviridae isolation & purification, Risk Factors, Sexually Transmitted Diseases microbiology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases parasitology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases virology, Trichomonas vaginalis genetics, Trichomonas vaginalis isolation & purification, Ureaplasma genetics, Ureaplasma isolation & purification, Vagina microbiology, Vagina parasitology, Vagina virology, Vaginal Smears, Young Adult, Sexually Transmitted Diseases epidemiology
Abstract: Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) cause a major public health problem that affect both men and women in developing and developed countries. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of 11 STIs among women who voluntarily participated in the study, while seeking gynecological checkup. The existence of an association between the presence of pathogens and symptoms and various sociodemographic risk factors was assessed., Methods: A total of 505 vaginal and cervical specimens were collected from women above 18 years of age, with or without symptoms related to gynecological infections. Nucleic acid was extracted and samples were tested by real-time PCR for the following pathogens: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Urealplasma parvum, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma girerdii, Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida albicans and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Positive HPV samples underwent genotyping using a microarray system., Results: Of the 505 samples, 312 (62%) were screened positive for at least one pathogen. Of these, 36% were positive for Gardnerella vaginalis, 35% for Ureaplasma parvum, 8% for Candida albicans, 6.7% for HPV, 4.6% for Ureaplasma urealyticum, 3.6% for Mycoplasma hominis, 2% for Trichomonas vaginalis, 0.8% for Chlamydia trachomatis, 0.4% for Mycoplasma girerdii, 0.2% for Mycoplasma genitalium and 0.2% for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Lack of symptoms was reported in 187 women (37%), among whom 61% were infected. Thirty-four samples were HPV positive, with 17 high risk HPV genotypes (HR-HPV); the highest rates being recorded for types 16 (38%), 18 (21%) and 51 (18%). Out of the 34 HPV positives, 29 participants had HR-HPV. Association with various risk factors were reported., Conclusions: This is the first study that presents data about the presence of STIs among women in Lebanon and the MENA region by simultaneous detection of 11 pathogens. In the absence of systematic STI surveillance in Lebanon, concurrent screening for HPV and PAP smear is warranted.
Published: 2020
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44. Screening of healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 highlights the role of asymptomatic carriage in COVID-19 transmission.

Author: Rivett L, Sridhar S, Sparkes D, Routledge M, Jones NK, Forrest S, Young J, Pereira-Dias J, Hamilton WL, Ferris M, Torok ME, Meredith L, Curran MD, Fuller S, Chaudhry A, Shaw A, Samworth RJ, Bradley JR, Dougan G, Smith KG, Lehner PJ, Matheson NJ, Wright G, Goodfellow IG, Baker S, and Weekes MP
Subjects: Betacoronavirus physiology, COVID-19, COVID-19 Testing, COVID-19 Vaccines, Coronavirus Infections diagnosis, Coronavirus Infections epidemiology, Coronavirus Infections transmission, Female, Humans, Infection Control, Male, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral diagnosis, Pneumonia, Viral epidemiology, Pneumonia, Viral transmission, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, SARS-CoV-2, United Kingdom epidemiology, Asymptomatic Infections, Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Health Personnel
Abstract: Significant differences exist in the availability of healthcare worker (HCW) SARS-CoV-2 testing between countries, and existing programmes focus on screening symptomatic rather than asymptomatic staff. Over a 3 week period (April 2020), 1032 asymptomatic HCWs were screened for SARS-CoV-2 in a large UK teaching hospital. Symptomatic staff and symptomatic household contacts were additionally tested. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect viral RNA from a throat+nose self-swab. 3% of HCWs in the asymptomatic screening group tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 17/30 (57%) were truly asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic. 12/30 (40%) had experienced symptoms compatible with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)>7 days prior to testing, most self-isolating, returning well. Clusters of HCW infection were discovered on two independent wards. Viral genome sequencing showed that the majority of HCWs had the dominant lineage B∙1. Our data demonstrates the utility of comprehensive screening of HCWs with minimal or no symptoms. This approach will be critical for protecting patients and hospital staff., Competing Interests: LR, SS, DS, MR, NJ, SF, JY, JP, WH, MF, LM, MC, SF, AS, JB, GW No competing interests declared, MT Reports grants from Academy of Medical Sciences and the Health Foundation, non-financial support from National Institute of Health Research, grants from Medical Research Council, grants from Global Challenges Research Fund, personal fees from Wellcome Sanger Institute, personal fees from University of Cambridge, personal fees from Oxford University Press, AC Reports grants from Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre at CUHNFT, RS Reports grants from EPSRC fellowship, GD Reports grants from NIHR, KS, MW Reports grants from Wellcome Trust, PL, IG, SB Reports grants from Wellcome Trust and Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, NM Reports grants from MRC (UK) and NHS Blood and Transfusion, (© 2020, Rivett et al.)
Published: 2020
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45. Epidemiology and clinical impact of viral, atypical, and fungal respiratory pathogens in symptomatic immunocompromised patients: a two-center study using a multi-parameter customized respiratory Taqman® array card.

Author: Steensels D, Reynders M, Descheemaeker P, Curran MD, Hites M, Etienne I, and Montesinos I
Subjects: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bacteria isolation & purification, Coinfection microbiology, Coinfection virology, Female, Fungi isolation & purification, Humans, Male, Microarray Analysis, Middle Aged, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques instrumentation, Prevalence, Respiratory Tract Infections diagnosis, Respiratory Tract Infections microbiology, Respiratory Tract Infections virology, Retrospective Studies, Viruses isolation & purification, Young Adult, Bacterial Infections epidemiology, Coinfection epidemiology, Immunocompromised Host, Mycoses epidemiology, Respiratory Tract Infections epidemiology, Virus Diseases epidemiology
Abstract: The prevalence of respiratory viruses in immunocompromised adult patients and the association with clinical outcomes is still underexplored. Our goal was to assess the epidemiology and the potential clinical impact of respiratory viral infections in a high-risk patient population. Two large hospitals performed a respiratory Taqman array card (TAC), targeting 24 viruses, 8 bacteria, and 2 fungi simultaneously, on 435 samples from 397 symptomatic immunocompromised patients. Clinical details were collected retrospectively using a structured case report form. An overall positivity rate of 68% was found (51% mono- and 17% co-infections). Pathogen distribution was as follows: influenza A (20.7%), rhinoviruses (15.2%), coronaviruses (7.8%), Pneumocystis jirovecii (7.4%), RSV (7.1%), and CMV (6.0%) were the most frequently encountered, followed by HSV (5.5%), hMPV (4.4%), parainfluenza viruses (3.9%), influenza B (3.7%), and Aspergillus species (3.7%). Other pathogens were not detected or detected only in ≤ 1% of samples. Hospital and ICU admission rates were 84% and 11%, respectively. The presence of a pathogen was strongly associated with higher need for supplemental oxygen (p = 0.001), but it had no impact on ICU admission, mechanical ventilation requirement, antibacterial therapy, or mortality. In conclusion, our study described the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in a large group of symptomatic immunocompromised patients and provides evidence of a relationship between pathogen detection and the need for supplemental oxygen. This association was still found after the exclusion of the results positive for influenza viruses, suggesting that non-influenza viruses contribute to severe respiratory illness in patients with compromised immunity.
Published: 2019
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46. Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 1 Cases Imported to Portugal from India, 2016.

Author: Mesquita JR, Almeida-Santos M, Fernandes M, Maltez F, Lino S, Alves L, Abreu-Silva J, Oliveira RMS, Curran MD, and Nascimento MSJ
Subjects: Adult, Emigrants and Immigrants, Emigration and Immigration, Genotype, Hepatitis E diagnosis, Hepatitis E therapy, Hepatitis E virus pathogenicity, Humans, India, Male, Middle Aged, Portugal, Severity of Illness Index, Treatment Outcome, DNA, Viral genetics, Hepatitis E virology, Hepatitis E virus genetics
Abstract: Hepatitis E in industrialized countries is mainly associated with genotype 3 hepatitis E virus (HEV) and normally causes a sporadic self-limiting disease in immunocompetent individuals. Unlike genotype 3, genotypes 1 and 2 circulate in developing countries, produce severe disease and occur in the epidemic form. Hepatitis E occurring in travellers returning from endemic areas in developing countries is not a novel epidemiological occurrence, however the vast majority of cases remain to be genetically studied. The present study describes two cases of severe acute hepatitis E that required hospitalization for 6 and 9 days in two individuals of Indian nationality that had recently migrated to Portugal to work. The retrieved HEV sequences both belonged to genotype 1 and had a high degree of nucleotide sequence identity, clustering with strains isolated in India and Nepal, in 2013 and 2014. Confirmed HEV genotypes of increased pathogenicity like genotype 1 are being introduced into otherwise naïve populations of industrialized countries such as European countries with consequences difficult to predict. As far as we know the present study is the first in Portugal to describe and genetically characterize imported cases of hepatitis E infection caused by HEV genotype 1.
Published: 2018
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47. Performance evaluation of direct fluorescent antibody, Focus Diagnostics Simplexa™ Flu A/B & RSV and multi-parameter customized respiratory Taqman® array card in immunocompromised patients.

Author: Steensels D, Reynders M, Descheemaeker P, Curran MD, Jacobs F, Denis O, Delforge ML, and Montesinos I
Subjects: Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Algorithms, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid virology, Coinfection virology, Female, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct instrumentation, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct standards, Humans, Influenza, Human virology, Male, Microarray Analysis methods, Microarray Analysis standards, Middle Aged, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques economics, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques instrumentation, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques standards, Nasopharynx virology, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction instrumentation, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections virology, Sensitivity and Specificity, Young Adult, Coinfection diagnosis, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct methods, Immunocompromised Host, Influenza, Human diagnosis, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques methods, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction methods, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections diagnosis
Abstract: Background: Molecular assays for diagnosis of Flu A, Flu B, and RSV with short turn-around-time (TAT) are of considerable clinical importance. In addition, rapid and accurate diagnosis of a large panel of viral and atypical pathogens can be crucial in immunocompromised patients., Objectives: First, to evaluate the performance of the Simplexa™ Direct assay system in comparison with direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) and customized Taqman® Array Card (TAC) testing for RSV, Flu A, and Flu B in immunocompromised patients. Second, to evaluate different algorithms for the detection of respiratory pathogens in terms of cost, turn-around-time (TAT) and diagnostic yield., Study Design: We collected 125 nasopharyngeal swabs (NTS) and 25 BAL samples from symptomatic immunocompromised patients. Samples for which Simplexa™ and TAC results were discordant underwent verification testing. The TAC assay is based on singleplex RT-PCR, targeting 24 viruses, 8 bacteria and 2 fungi simultaneously., Results: The overall sensitivity was significantly lower for DFA testing than for the two molecular methods (p<0.05). Performance characteristics of Simplexa™ testing were not significantly different compared to TAC testing (p>0.1). For BAL samples only, the sensitivity and specificity of the Simplexa™ assay was 100%. In total, 6.7, 16 and 18% of samples were positive for Flu A, Flu B or RSV by DFA, Simplexa™ and TAC testing, respectively. When considering not only these pathogens but also all results for TAC, the method identified 93 samples with one or more respiratory pathogens (62%). A co-infection rate of 15.3% was found by TAC. The estimated costs and TAT were 8.2€ and 2h for DFA, 31.8€ and 1.5h for Simplexa™ and 55€ and 3h for TAC testing., Conclusions: Performing the Simplexa™ test 24h a day/7 days a week instead of DFA would considerably improve the overall sensitivity and time-to-result, albeit at a higher cost generated in the laboratory. Performing the TAC would increase the diagnostic yield and detection of co-infections significantly., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Published: 2017
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48. Viral load is strongly associated with length of stay in adults hospitalised with viral acute respiratory illness.

Author: Clark TW, Ewings S, Medina MJ, Batham S, Curran MD, Parmar S, and Nicholson KG
Subjects: Acute Disease, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Coinfection, Female, Humans, Influenza, Human virology, Male, Middle Aged, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Respiratory Tract Infections drug therapy, Viruses genetics, Length of Stay, Respiratory Tract Infections virology, Viral Load, Virus Diseases virology, Viruses isolation & purification
Abstract: Background: Respiratory viruses are detectable in a large proportion of adults hospitalised with acute respiratory illness. For influenza and other viruses there is evidence that viral load and persistence are associated with certain clinical outcomes but it is not known if there is an association between viral load and hospital length of stay., Methods: 306 adults hospitalised with viral acute respiratory illness were studied. Associations between viral load and length of stay were examined. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to control for age, comorbidity, influenza vaccine status, duration of illness prior to hospitalisation, bacterial co-infection, clinical group and virus subtype., Results: High viral load was associated with a longer duration of hospitalisation for all patients (p < 0.0001). This remained significant across all virus types and clinical groups and when adjusted for age, comorbidity, duration of illness prior to hospitalisation, bacterial co-infection and other factors., Conclusions: High viral loads are associated with prolonged hospital length of stay in adults with viral acute respiratory illness. This further supports existing evidence demonstrating that viral acute respiratory illness is a viral load driven process and suggests that viral load could be used in clinical practise to predict prolonged hospitalisation and prioritise antivirals. International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 21521552., (Copyright Â© 2016 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Published: 2016
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49. Analysis of TaqMan Array Cards Data by an Assumption-Free Improvement of the maxRatio Algorithm Is More Accurate than the Cycle-Threshold Method.

Author: Marongiu L, Shain E, Drumright L, Lillestøl R, Somasunderam D, and Curran MD
Subjects: DNA genetics, England, Feces chemistry, Humans, Observer Variation, Public Health methods, Reproducibility of Results, Algorithms, DNA analysis, Polymerase Chain Reaction methods, Polymerase Chain Reaction statistics & numerical data
Abstract: Quantitative PCR diagnostic platforms are moving towards increased sample throughput, with instruments capable of carrying out thousands of reactions at once already in use. The need for a computational tool to reliably assist in the validation of the results is therefore compelling. In the present study, 328 residual clinical samples provided by the Public Health England at Addenbrooke's Hospital (Cambridge, UK) were processed by TaqMan Array Card assay, generating 15 744 reactions from 54 targets. The amplification data were analysed by the conventional cycle-threshold (CT) method and an improvement of the maxRatio (MR) algorithm developed to filter out the reactions with irregular amplification profiles. The reactions were also independently validated by three raters and a consensus was generated from their classification. The inter-rater agreement by Fleiss' kappa was 0.885; the agreement between either CT or MR with the raters gave Fleiss' kappa 0.884 and 0.902, respectively. Based on the consensus classification, the CT and MR methods achieved an assay accuracy of 0.979 and 0.987, respectively. These results suggested that the assumption-free MR algorithm was more reliable than the CT method, with clear advantages for the diagnostic settings., Competing Interests: The commercial affiliation of ES does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. Such affiliation did not affect in any way the rigorousness and objectivity of the scientific method applied to the presented work.
Published: 2016
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50. Etiology, seasonality, and clinical characterization of viral respiratory infections among hospitalized children in Beirut, Lebanon.

Author: Finianos M, Issa R, Curran MD, Afif C, Rajab M, Irani J, Hakimeh N, Naous A, Hajj MJ, Hajj P, El Jisr T, and El Chaar M
Subjects: Acute Disease, Adolescent, Bronchiolitis diagnosis, Bronchiolitis etiology, Bronchiolitis virology, Child, Child, Preschool, Coinfection virology, Female, Hospitalization, Human bocavirus isolation & purification, Human bocavirus pathogenicity, Humans, Infant, Lebanon epidemiology, Male, Metapneumovirus isolation & purification, Metapneumovirus pathogenicity, Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction, Pneumonia, Viral virology, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections diagnosis, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections epidemiology, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections virology, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human isolation & purification, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human pathogenicity, Respiratory Tract Infections diagnosis, Rhinovirus isolation & purification, Rhinovirus pathogenicity, Seasons, Viruses isolation & purification, Viruses pathogenicity, Pneumonia, Viral epidemiology, Respiratory Tract Infections epidemiology, Respiratory Tract Infections virology, Virus Diseases epidemiology, Virus Diseases virology
Abstract: Acute respiratory tract viral infections occur worldwide and are one of the major global burdens of diseases in children. The aim of this study was to determine the viral etiology of respiratory infections in hospitalized children, to understand the viral seasonality in a major Lebanese hospital, and to correlate disease severity and the presence of virus. Over a 1-year period, nasal and throat swabs were collected from 236 pediatric patients, aged 16-year old or less and hospitalized for acute respiratory illness. Samples collected were tested for the presence of 17 respiratory viruses using multiplex real-time RT-PCR. Pathogens were identified in 165 children (70%) and were frequently observed during fall and winter seasons. Co-infection was found in 37% of positive samples. The most frequently detected pathogens were human Rhinovirus (hRV, 23%), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV, 19%), human Bocavirus (hBov, 15%), human Metapneumovirus (hMPV, 10%), and human Adenovirus (hAdV, 10%). A total of 48% of children were diagnosed with bronchiolitis and 25% with pneumonia. While bronchiolitis was often caused by RSV single virus infection and hAdV/hBoV coinfection, pneumonia was significantly associated with hBoV and HP1V1 infections. No significant correlation was observed between a single viral etiology infection and a specific clinical symptom. This study provides relevant facts on the circulatory pattern of respiratory viruses in Lebanon and the importance of using PCR as a useful tool for virus detection. Early diagnosis at the initial time of hospitalization may reduce the spread of the viruses in pediatric units. J. Med. Virol. 88:1874-1881, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
Published: 2016
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