@article{cb2a3e5be4574982825a92489ca3016e,
title = "A high-resolution melt curve toolkit to identify lineage-defining SARS-CoV-2 mutations",
abstract = "The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs), with mutations linked to increased transmissibility, vaccine escape and virulence, has necessitated the widespread genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. This has placed a strain on global sequencing capacity, especially in areas lacking the resources for large scale sequencing activities. Here we have developed three separate multiplex high-resolution melting assays to enable the identification of Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron VOCs. The assays were evaluated against whole genome sequencing on upper-respiratory swab samples collected during the Alpha, Delta and Omicron [BA.1] waves of the UK pandemic. The sensitivities of the eight individual primer sets were all 100%, and specificity ranged from 94.6 to 100%. The multiplex HRM assays have potential as a tool for high throughput surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs, particularly in areas with limited genomics facilities.",
keywords = "Humans, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2/genetics, Mutation, Biological Assay, Genomics",
author = "Fraser, {Alice J.} and Caitlin Greenland-Bews and Daniel Kelly and Williams, {Christopher T.} and {CONDOR Steering Group} and {LSTM Diagnostics Group} and Rick Body and Adams, {Emily R.} and {Cubas Atienzar}, Ana and Thomas Edwards and Allen, {David J.} and Paul Dark",
note = "Funding Information: This work was partially funded by UK Aid from the Department of Health and Social Care (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/official-development-assistance-oda--2) via the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team Research Programme (Grant No. RST6_00_03, EPIDZK3828). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.This work was supported by the National Environment Research Council [grant number NE/V010441/1].We acknowledge the support of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network, which supports delivery of the FALCON study. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, or the Department of Health and Social Care. ERA acknowledges support from the Wellcome Trust and the NIHR HPRU EZI. The CONDOR study team comprises partners from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust{\textquoteright}s Diagnostic and Technology Accelerator (DiTA), AHSN North East and North Cumbria (NENC), UK National Measurement Laboratory, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, Yorkshire and Humber AHSN, and NIHR MedTech and In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operatives (MICs) based in Oxford, Leeds, London and Newcastle. For CONDOR steering group, contact Prof Richard Body (Richard.Body@mft.nhs.uk). For LSTM diagnostics group, contact Dr Helen Savage (helen.savage@lstmed.ac.uk). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023, The Author(s).",
year = "2023",
month = mar,
day = "8",
doi = "10.1038/s41598-023-30754-1",
language = "English",
volume = "13",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
issn = "2045-2322",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
number = "1",
}
