Uzbekistan reports about previously unknown COVID-19 mutations

Tashkent, June 29, 2022. /Kabar/. The complete genome of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus isolated from 39 moderate and severe patients was read in Uzbekistan in July-August 2021. The press service of the Uzbek Ministry of Innovative Development reported.

"Full genome analysis of the clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 revealed a total of 223 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of which 34 were deletions," the report said.

In addition, 2 previously unpublished new mutations were identified, namely A85P and Y479N.

SARS-CoV-2 variants in clinical isolates were analyzed using Nextstrain. According to the results, Delta (82%), Alpha (10.3%), and 20A (7.7%) strains were the most common variants in Uzbekistan in July-August 2021.

According to the map of geographical distribution, Delta strain can be divided into groups of Russia, Denmark, USA, Egypt and Bangladesh. It has become known that the ORF7a:P45L amino acid exchange in Delta strains plays an important role in the more severe course of the disease.

As of June 28, 2022, the number of registered cases of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan makes 240,667 (+98).

An increase in coronavirus cases is observed in Uzbekistan since June 17 this year.