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Montgomery JP, Marquez JL, Nord J, Stamper AR, Edwards EA, Valentini N, Frank CJ, Washer LL, Ernst RD, Park JI, Price D, Collins J, Smith-Jeffcoat SE, Hu F, Knox CL, Khan R, Lu X, Kirking HL, Hsu CH. Detection of a Human Adenovirus Outbreak, Including Some Critical Infections, Using Multipathogen Testing at a Large University, September 2022-January 2023. Open Forum Infect Dis 2024; 11:ofae192. [PMID: 38680614 PMCID: PMC11055393 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) can cause outbreaks of flu-like illness in university settings. Most infections in healthy young adults are mild; severe illnesses rarely occur. In Fall 2022, an adenovirus outbreak was identified in university students. Methods HAdV cases were defined as university students 17-26 years old who presented to the University Health Service or nearby emergency department with flu-like symptoms (eg, fever, cough, headache, myalgia, nausea) and had confirmed adenovirus infections by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Demographic and clinical characteristics were abstracted from electronic medical records; clinical severity was categorized as mild, moderate, severe, or critical. We performed contact investigations among critical cases. A subset of specimens was sequenced to confirm the HAdV type. Results From 28 September 2022 to 30 January 2023, 90 PCR-confirmed cases were identified (51% female; mean age, 19.6 years). Most cases (88.9%) had mild illness. Seven cases required hospitalization, including 2 critical cases that required intensive care. Contact investigation identified 44 close contacts; 6 (14%) were confirmed HAdV cases and 8 (18%) reported symptoms but never sought care. All typed HAdV-positive specimens (n = 36) were type 4. Conclusions While most students with confirmed HAdV had mild illness, 7 otherwise healthy students had severe or critical illness. Between the relatively high number of hospitalizations and proportion of close contacts with symptoms who did not seek care, the true number of HAdV cases was likely higher. Our findings illustrate the need to consider a wide range of pathogens, even when other viruses are known to be circulating.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jennifer Nord
- Environment Health and Safety, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | - Nicholas Valentini
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Laraine L Washer
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Robert D Ernst
- University Health Service, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ji In Park
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Deanna Price
- Washtenaw County Health Department, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
| | - Jim Collins
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Communicable Disease Division, Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Sarah E Smith-Jeffcoat
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Fang Hu
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Christine L Knox
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rebia Khan
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Lu
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Hannah L Kirking
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Christopher H Hsu
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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2
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Turcinovic J, Kuhfeldt K, Sullivan M, Landaverde L, Platt JT, Alekseyev YO, Doucette-Stamm L, Hamer DH, Klapperich C, Landsberg HE, Connor JH. Transmission Dynamics and Rare Clustered Transmission Within an Urban University Population Before Widespread Vaccination. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:485-492. [PMID: 37856283 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Universities returned to in-person learning in 2021 while SARS-CoV-2 spread remained high. At the time, it was not clear whether in-person learning would be a source of disease spread. METHODS We combined surveillance testing, universal contact tracing, and viral genome sequencing to quantify introductions and identify likely on-campus spread. RESULTS Ninety-one percent of viral genotypes occurred once, indicating no follow-on transmission. Less than 5% of introductions resulted in >3 cases, with 2 notable exceptions of 40 and 47 cases. Both partially overlapped with outbreaks defined by contact tracing. In both cases, viral genomics eliminated over half the epidemiologically linked cases but added an equivalent or greater number of individuals to the transmission cluster. CONCLUSIONS Public health interventions prevented within-university transmission for most SARS-CoV-2 introductions, with only 2 major outbreaks being identified January to May 2021. The genetically linked cases overlap with outbreaks identified by contact tracing; however, they persisted in the university population for fewer days and rounds of transmission than estimated via contact tracing. This underscores the effectiveness of test-trace-isolate strategies in controlling undetected spread of emerging respiratory infectious diseases. These approaches limit follow-on transmission in both outside-in and internal transmission conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacquelyn Turcinovic
- Department of Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
- Program in Bioinformatics
| | | | | | - Lena Landaverde
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Precision Diagnostics Center
- BU Clinical Testing Laboratory, Research Department
| | | | | | | | - Davidson H Hamer
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
- Precision Diagnostics Center
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
- Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Policy and Research, Boston University, Massachusetts
| | - Catherine Klapperich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Precision Diagnostics Center
- BU Clinical Testing Laboratory, Research Department
| | | | - John H Connor
- Department of Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories
- Program in Bioinformatics
- Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Policy and Research, Boston University, Massachusetts
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3
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Ciubotariu II, Wilkes RP, Kattoor JJ, Christian EN, Carpi G, Kitchen A. Investigating the rise of Omicron variant through genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in a highly vaccinated university population. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001194. [PMID: 38334271 PMCID: PMC10926704 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Novel variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to emerge as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic extends into its fourth year. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 circulation in university populations is vital for effective interventions in higher education settings and will inform public health policy during pandemics. In this study, we generated 793 whole-genome sequences collected over an entire academic year in a university population in Indiana, USA. We clearly captured the rapidity with which Delta variant was wholly replaced by Omicron variant across the West Lafayette campus over the length of two academic semesters in a community with high vaccination rates. This mirrored the emergence of Omicron throughout the state of Indiana and the USA. Further, phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that there was a more diverse set of potential geographic origins for Omicron viruses introduction into campus when compared to Delta. Lastly, statistics indicated that there was a more significant role for international and out-of-state migration in the establishment of Omicron variants at Purdue. This surveillance workflow, coupled with viral genomic sequencing and phylogeographic analyses, provided critical insights into SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics and variant arrival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilinca I. Ciubotariu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Rebecca P. Wilkes
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Jobin J. Kattoor
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Erin N. Christian
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Giovanna Carpi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Andrew Kitchen
- Department of Anthropology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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4
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Scotch M, Lauer K, Wieben ED, Cherukuri Y, Cunningham JM, Klee EW, Harrington JJ, Lau JS, McDonough SJ, Mutawe M, O'Horo JC, Rentmeester CE, Schlicher NR, White VT, Schneider SK, Vedell PT, Wang X, Yao JD, Pritt BS, Norgan AP. Genomic epidemiology reveals the dominance of Hennepin County in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Minnesota from 2020 to 2022. mSphere 2023; 8:e0023223. [PMID: 37882516 PMCID: PMC10871168 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00232-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE We analyzed over 22,000 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes of patient samples tested at Mayo Clinic Laboratories during a 2-year period in the COVID-19 pandemic, which included Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants of concern to examine the roles and relationships of Minnesota virus transmission. We found that Hennepin County, the most populous county, drove the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the state after including the formation of earlier clades including 20A, 20C, and 20G, as well as variants of concern Alpha and Delta. We also found that Hennepin County was the source for most of the county-to-county introductions after an initial predicted introduction with the virus in early 2020 from an international source, while other counties acted as transmission "sinks." In addition, major policies, such as the end of the lockdown period in 2020 or the end of all restrictions in 2021, did not appear to have an impact on virus diversity across individual counties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Scotch
- Research Affiliate, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Kimberly Lauer
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eric D. Wieben
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Julie M. Cunningham
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eric W. Klee
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Julie S. Lau
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Mark Mutawe
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - John C. O'Horo
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Chad E. Rentmeester
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nicole R. Schlicher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Valerie T. White
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Susan K. Schneider
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Peter T. Vedell
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xiong Wang
- Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph D. Yao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bobbi S. Pritt
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Andrew P. Norgan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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5
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Lee J, Acosta N, Waddell BJ, Du K, Xiang K, Van Doorn J, Low K, Bautista MA, McCalder J, Dai X, Lu X, Chekouo T, Pradhan P, Sedaghat N, Papparis C, Buchner Beaudet A, Chen J, Chan L, Vivas L, Westlund P, Bhatnagar S, Stefani S, Visser G, Cabaj J, Bertazzon S, Sarabi S, Achari G, Clark RG, Hrudey SE, Lee BE, Pang X, Webster B, Ghali WA, Buret AG, Williamson T, Southern DA, Meddings J, Frankowski K, Hubert CRJ, Parkins MD. Campus node-based wastewater surveillance enables COVID-19 case localization and confirms lower SARS-CoV-2 burden relative to the surrounding community. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 244:120469. [PMID: 37634459 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has been established as a powerful tool that can guide health policy at multiple levels of government. However, this approach has not been well assessed at more granular scales, including large work sites such as University campuses. Between August 2021 and April 2022, we explored the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater using qPCR assays from multiple complimentary sewer catchments and residential buildings spanning the University of Calgary's campus and how this compared to levels from the municipal wastewater treatment plant servicing the campus. Real-time contact tracing data was used to evaluate an association between wastewater SARS-CoV-2 burden and clinically confirmed cases and to assess the potential of WBS as a tool for disease monitoring across worksites. Concentrations of wastewater SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 RNA varied significantly across six sampling sites - regardless of several normalization strategies - with certain catchments consistently demonstrating values 1-2 orders higher than the others. Relative to clinical cases identified in specific sewersheds, WBS provided one-week leading indicator. Additionally, our comprehensive monitoring strategy enabled an estimation of the total burden of SARS-CoV-2 for the campus per capita, which was significantly lower than the surrounding community (p≤0.001). Allele-specific qPCR assays confirmed that variants across campus were representative of the community at large, and at no time did emerging variants first debut on campus. This study demonstrates how WBS can be efficiently applied to locate hotspots of disease activity at a very granular scale, and predict disease burden across large, complex worksites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jangwoo Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Nicole Acosta
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada
| | - Barbara J Waddell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada
| | - Kristine Du
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada
| | - Kevin Xiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Jennifer Van Doorn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Kashtin Low
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Maria A Bautista
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Janine McCalder
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Xiaotian Dai
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Xuewen Lu
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Thierry Chekouo
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Puja Pradhan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Navid Sedaghat
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Chloe Papparis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Alexander Buchner Beaudet
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada
| | - Jianwei Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Leslie Chan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Laura Vivas
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | | | - Srijak Bhatnagar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Faculty of Science and Technology, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
| | - September Stefani
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada
| | - Gail Visser
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada
| | - Jason Cabaj
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada; Provincial Population & Public Health, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | | | - Shahrzad Sarabi
- Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Gopal Achari
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Rhonda G Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Steve E Hrudey
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Bonita E Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Women & Children's Health Research Institute, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Pang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Precision Laboratories, Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brendan Webster
- Occupational Health Staff Wellness, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - William Amin Ghali
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Centre for Health Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Andre Gerald Buret
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Tyler Williamson
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Centre for Health Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Danielle A Southern
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Centre for Health Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Jon Meddings
- Department of Medicine, University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada
| | - Kevin Frankowski
- Advancing Canadian Water Assets, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Casey R J Hubert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Michael D Parkins
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 2V5, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada; O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
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6
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Andrews KR, New DD, Gour DS, Francetich K, Minnich SA, Robison BD, Hovde CJ. Genomic surveillance identifies potential risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission at a mid-sized university in a small rural town. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7902. [PMID: 37193760 PMCID: PMC10185956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34625-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in institutions of higher education (IHEs) is important because these settings have potential for rapid viral spread. Here, we used genomic surveillance to retrospectively investigate transmission dynamics throughout the 2020-2021 academic year for the University of Idaho ("University"), a mid-sized IHE in a small rural town. We generated genome assemblies for 1168 SARS-CoV-2 samples collected during the academic year, representing 46.8% of positive samples collected from the University population and 49.8% of positive samples collected from the surrounding community ("Community") at the local hospital during this time. Transmission dynamics differed for the University when compared to the Community, with more infection waves that lasted shorter lengths of time, potentially resulting from high-transmission congregate settings along with mitigation efforts implemented by the University to combat outbreaks. We found evidence for low transmission rates between the University and Community, with approximately 8% of transmissions into the Community originating from the University, and approximately 6% of transmissions into the University originating from the Community. Potential transmission risk factors identified for the University included congregate settings such as sorority and fraternity events and residences, holiday travel, and high caseloads in the surrounding community. Knowledge of these risk factors can help the University and other IHEs develop effective mitigation measures for SARS-CoV-2 and similar pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly R Andrews
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA.
| | - Daniel D New
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Digpal S Gour
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | | | - Scott A Minnich
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Barrie D Robison
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Carolyn J Hovde
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
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7
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Scotch M, Lauer K, Wieben ED, Cherukuri Y, Cunningham JM, Klee EW, Harrington JJ, Lau JS, McDonough SJ, Mutawe M, O’Horo JC, Rentmeester CE, Schlicher NR, White VT, Schneider SK, Vedell PT, Wang X, Yao JD, Pritt BS, Norgan AP. Genomic epidemiology reveals the dominance of Hennepin County in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Minnesota from 2020-2022. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2022.07.24.22277978. [PMID: 35923324 PMCID: PMC9347287 DOI: 10.1101/2022.07.24.22277978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has had an unprecedented impact on human health and highlights the need for genomic epidemiology studies to increase our understanding of virus evolution and spread, and to inform policy decisions. We sequenced viral genomes from over 22,000 patient samples tested at Mayo Clinic Laboratories between 2020-2022 and use Bayesian phylodynamics to describe county and regional spread in Minnesota. The earliest introduction into Minnesota was to Hennepin County from a domestic source around January 22, 2020; six weeks before the first confirmed case in the state. This led to the virus spreading to Northern Minnesota, and eventually, the rest of the state. International introductions were most abundant in Hennepin (home to the Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP) airport) totaling 45 (out of 107) over the two-year period. Southern Minnesota counties were most common for domestic introductions with 19 (out of 64), potentially driven by bordering states such as Iowa and Wisconsin as well as Illinois which is nearby. Hennepin also was, by far, the most dominant source of in-state transmissions to other Minnesota locations (n=772) over the two-year period. We also analyzed the diversity of the location source of SARS-CoV-2 viruses in each county and noted the timing of state-wide policies as well as trends in clinical cases. Neither the number of clinical cases or major policy decisions, such as the end of the lockdown period in 2020 or the end of all restrictions in 2021, appeared to have impact on virus diversity across each individual county.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Scotch
- Research Affiliate, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ USA
- Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona USA
| | - Kimberly Lauer
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Eric D. Wieben
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Julie M Cunningham
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eric W Klee
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Julie S Lau
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Mark Mutawe
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - John C. O’Horo
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Chad E. Rentmeester
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, MN, USA
| | - Nicole R Schlicher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Valerie T White
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Susan K Schneider
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Peter T Vedell
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Xiong Wang
- Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Joseph D Yao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bobbi S Pritt
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Andrew P Norgan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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8
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Arcos S, Han AX, Te Velthuis AJW, Russell CA, Lauring AS. Mutual information networks reveal evolutionary relationships within the influenza A virus polymerase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.16.528850. [PMID: 36824962 PMCID: PMC9949103 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.16.528850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
The influenza A (IAV) RNA polymerase is an essential driver of IAV evolution. Mutations that the polymerase introduces into viral genome segments during replication are the ultimate source of genetic variation, including within the three subunits of the IAV polymerase (PB2, PB1, and PA). Evolutionary analysis of the IAV polymerase is complicated, because changes in mutation rate, replication speed, and drug resistance involve epistatic interactions among its subunits. In order to study the evolution of the human seasonal H3N2 polymerase since the 1968 pandemic, we identified pairwise evolutionary relationships among ∼7000 H3N2 polymerase sequences using mutual information (MI), which measures the information gained about the identity of one residue when a second residue is known. To account for uneven sampling of viral sequences over time, we developed a weighted MI metric (wMI) and demonstrate that wMI outperforms raw MI through simulations using a well-sampled SARS-CoV-2 dataset. We then constructed wMI networks of the H3N2 polymerase to extend the inherently pairwise wMI statistic to encompass relationships among larger groups of residues. We included HA in the wMI network to distinguish between functional wMI relationships within the polymerase and those potentially due to hitchhiking on antigenic changes in HA. The wMI networks reveal coevolutionary relationships among residues with roles in replication and encapsidation. Inclusion of HA highlighted polymerase-only subgraphs containing residues with roles in the enzymatic functions of the polymerase and host adaptability. This work provides insight into the factors that drive and constrain the rapid evolution of influenza viruses.
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9
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Petros BA, Turcinovic J, Welch NL, White LF, Kolaczyk ED, Bauer MR, Cleary M, Dobbins ST, Doucette-Stamm L, Gore M, Nair P, Nguyen TG, Rose S, Taylor BP, Tsang D, Wendlandt E, Hope M, Platt JT, Jacobson KR, Bouton T, Yune S, Auclair JR, Landaverde L, Klapperich CM, Hamer DH, Hanage WP, MacInnis BL, Sabeti PC, Connor JH, Springer M. Early Introduction and Rise of the Omicron Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variant in Highly Vaccinated University Populations. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 76:e400-e408. [PMID: 35616119 PMCID: PMC9213864 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is highly transmissible in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. The dynamics that govern its establishment and propensity toward fixation (reaching 100% frequency in the SARS-CoV-2 population) in communities remain unknown. Here, we describe the dynamics of Omicron at 3 institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the greater Boston area. METHODS We use diagnostic and variant-specifying molecular assays and epidemiological analytical approaches to describe the rapid dominance of Omicron following its introduction into 3 IHEs with asymptomatic surveillance programs. RESULTS We show that the establishment of Omicron at IHEs precedes that of the state and region and that the time to fixation is shorter at IHEs (9.5-12.5 days) than in the state (14.8 days) or region. We show that the trajectory of Omicron fixation among university employees resembles that of students, with a 2- to 3-day delay. Finally, we compare cycle threshold values in Omicron vs Delta variant cases on college campuses and identify lower viral loads among college affiliates who harbor Omicron infections. CONCLUSIONS We document the rapid takeover of the Omicron variant at IHEs, reaching near-fixation within the span of 9.5-12.5 days despite lower viral loads, on average, than the previously dominant Delta variant. These findings highlight the transmissibility of Omicron, its propensity to rapidly dominate small populations, and the ability of robust asymptomatic surveillance programs to offer early insights into the dynamics of pathogen arrival and spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A Petros
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard/Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MD-PhD Program, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Turcinovic
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicole L Welch
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Program in Virology, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura F White
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric D Kolaczyk
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew R Bauer
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael Cleary
- Harvard University Clinical Laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sabrina T Dobbins
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lynn Doucette-Stamm
- Boston University Clinical Testing Laboratory, Boston University Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mitch Gore
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc, Coralville, Iowa, USA
| | - Parvathy Nair
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Tien G Nguyen
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scott Rose
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc, Coralville, Iowa, USA
| | - Bradford P Taylor
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel Tsang
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc, Coralville, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Michele Hope
- Harvard University Clinical Laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Judy T Platt
- Boston University Student Health Services, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karen R Jacobson
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tara Bouton
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Seyho Yune
- Student Affairs, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jared R Auclair
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Life Sciences Testing Center, Northeastern University, Burlington, Massachusetts, USA.,Biopharmaceutical Analysis and Training Laboratory, Burlington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lena Landaverde
- Boston University Clinical Testing Laboratory, Boston University Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine M Klapperich
- Boston University Clinical Testing Laboratory, Boston University Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Boston University Student Health Services, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Boston University Precision Diagnostics Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Davidson H Hamer
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Boston University Precision Diagnostics Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William P Hanage
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bronwyn L MacInnis
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA.,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John H Connor
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael Springer
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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10
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Bendall EE, Paz-Bailey G, Santiago GA, Porucznik CA, Stanford JB, Stockwell MS, Duque J, Jeddy Z, Veguilla V, Major C, Rivera-Amill V, Rolfes MA, Dawood FS, Lauring AS. SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Diversity in Households Highlights the Challenges of Sequence-Based Transmission Inference. mSphere 2022; 7:e0040022. [PMID: 36377913 PMCID: PMC9769559 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00400-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The reliability of sequence-based inference of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission is not clear. Sequence data from infections among household members can define the expected genomic diversity of a virus along a defined transmission chain. SARS-CoV-2 cases were identified prospectively among 2,369 participants in 706 households. Specimens with a reverse transcription-PCR cycle threshold of ≤30 underwent whole-genome sequencing. Intrahost single-nucleotide variants (iSNV) were identified at a ≥5% frequency. Phylogenetic trees were used to evaluate the relationship of household and community sequences. There were 178 SARS-CoV-2 cases in 706 households. Among 147 specimens sequenced, 106 yielded a whole-genome consensus with coverage suitable for identifying iSNV. Twenty-six households had sequences from multiple cases within 14 days. Consensus sequences were indistinguishable among cases in 15 households, while 11 had ≥1 consensus sequence that differed by 1 to 2 mutations. Sequences from households and the community were often interspersed on phylogenetic trees. Identification of iSNV improved inference in 2 of 15 households with indistinguishable consensus sequences and in 6 of 11 with distinct ones. In multiple-infection households, whole-genome consensus sequences differed by 0 to 1 mutations. Identification of shared iSNV occasionally resolved linkage, but the low genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 limits the utility of "sequence-only" transmission inference. IMPORTANCE We performed whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from prospectively identified cases in three longitudinal household cohorts. In a majority of multi-infection households, SARS-CoV-2 consensus sequences were indistinguishable, and they differed by 1 to 2 mutations in the rest. Importantly, even with modest genomic surveillance of the community (3 to 5% of cases sequenced), it was not uncommon to find community sequences interspersed with household sequences on phylogenetic trees. Identification of shared minority variants only occasionally resolved these ambiguities in transmission linkage. Overall, the low genomic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 limits the utility of "sequence-only" transmission inference. Our work highlights the need to carefully consider both epidemiologic linkage and sequence data to define transmission chains in households, hospitals, and other transmission settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Bendall
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Gabriela Paz-Bailey
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventiongrid.416738.f, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Christina A. Porucznik
- Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Joseph B. Stanford
- Division of Public Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Melissa S. Stockwell
- Division of Child and Adolescent Health, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Zuha Jeddy
- Abt Associates, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Vic Veguilla
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventiongrid.416738.f, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chelsea Major
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventiongrid.416738.f, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Vanessa Rivera-Amill
- Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Melissa A. Rolfes
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventiongrid.416738.f, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Fatimah S. Dawood
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventiongrid.416738.f, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Adam S. Lauring
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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11
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Petros BA, Paull JS, Tomkins-Tinch CH, Loftness BC, DeRuff KC, Nair P, Gionet GL, Benz A, Brock-Fisher T, Hughes M, Yurkovetskiy L, Mulaudzi S, Leenerman E, Nyalile T, Moreno GK, Specht I, Sani K, Adams G, Babet SV, Baron E, Blank JT, Boehm C, Botti-Lodovico Y, Brown J, Buisker AR, Burcham T, Chylek L, Cronan P, Dauphin A, Desreumaux V, Doss M, Flynn B, Gladden-Young A, Glennon O, Harmon HD, Hook TV, Kary A, King C, Loreth C, Marrs L, McQuade KJ, Milton TT, Mulford JM, Oba K, Pearlman L, Schifferli M, Schmidt MJ, Tandus GM, Tyler A, Vodzak ME, Krohn Bevill K, Colubri A, MacInnis BL, Ozsoy AZ, Parrie E, Sholtes K, Siddle KJ, Fry B, Luban J, Park DJ, Marshall J, Bronson A, Schaffner SF, Sabeti PC. Multimodal surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at a university enables development of a robust outbreak response framework. MED 2022; 3:883-900.e13. [PMID: 36198312 PMCID: PMC9482833 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Universities are vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks, making them ideal environments to study transmission dynamics and evaluate mitigation and surveillance measures. Here, we analyze multimodal COVID-19-associated data collected during the 2020-2021 academic year at Colorado Mesa University and introduce a SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and response framework. METHODS We analyzed epidemiological and sociobehavioral data (demographics, contact tracing, and WiFi-based co-location data) alongside pathogen surveillance data (wastewater and diagnostic testing, and viral genomic sequencing of wastewater and clinical specimens) to characterize outbreak dynamics and inform policy. We applied relative risk, multiple linear regression, and social network assortativity to identify attributes or behaviors associated with contracting SARS-CoV-2. To characterize SARS-CoV-2 transmission, we used viral sequencing, phylogenomic tools, and functional assays. FINDINGS Athletes, particularly those on high-contact teams, had the highest risk of testing positive. On average, individuals who tested positive had more contacts and longer interaction durations than individuals who never tested positive. The distribution of contacts per individual was overdispersed, although not as overdispersed as the distribution of phylogenomic descendants. Corroboration via technical replicates was essential for identification of wastewater mutations. CONCLUSIONS Based on our findings, we formulate a framework that combines tools into an integrated disease surveillance program that can be implemented in other congregate settings with limited resources. FUNDING This work was supported by the National Science Foundation, the Hertz Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Flu Lab, and the Audacious Project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A Petros
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology PhD Program, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jillian S Paull
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology PhD Program, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Christopher H Tomkins-Tinch
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Bryn C Loftness
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA; Complex Systems and Data Science PhD Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
| | | | - Parvathy Nair
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | | | - Aaron Benz
- Degree Analytics, Inc., Austin, TX 78758, USA
| | | | | | - Leonid Yurkovetskiy
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Shandukani Mulaudzi
- Harvard Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Thomas Nyalile
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Gage K Moreno
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ivan Specht
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kian Sani
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Gordon Adams
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Simone V Babet
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Emily Baron
- COVIDCheck Colorado, LLC, Denver, CO 80202, USA
| | - Jesse T Blank
- Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | - Chloe Boehm
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Princeton University Molecular Biology Department, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Jeremy Brown
- Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | | | | | - Lily Chylek
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Paul Cronan
- Fathom Information Design, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ann Dauphin
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Valentine Desreumaux
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Megan Doss
- Warrior Diagnostics, Inc., Loveland, CO 80538, USA
| | - Belinda Flynn
- Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | | | | | | | - Thomas V Hook
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Anton Kary
- Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | - Clay King
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | | | - Libby Marrs
- Fathom Information Design, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kyle J McQuade
- Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | - Thorsen T Milton
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Jada M Mulford
- Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | - Kyle Oba
- Fathom Information Design, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Leah Pearlman
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | - Grace M Tandus
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Andy Tyler
- Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | - Megan E Vodzak
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kelly Krohn Bevill
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | - Andres Colubri
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | | | - A Zeynep Ozsoy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | - Eric Parrie
- COVIDCheck Colorado, LLC, Denver, CO 80202, USA
| | - Kari Sholtes
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA; Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Katherine J Siddle
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Ben Fry
- Fathom Information Design, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jeremy Luban
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel J Park
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - John Marshall
- Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | - Amy Bronson
- Physician Assistant Program, Department of Kinesiology, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501, USA
| | | | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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12
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Yaglom HD, Maurer M, Collins B, Hojnacki J, Monroy-Nieto J, Bowers JR, Packard S, Erickson DE, Barrand ZA, Simmons KM, Brock BN, Lim ES, Smith S, Hepp CM, Engelthaler DM. One health genomic surveillance and response to a university-based outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta AY.25 lineage, Arizona, 2021. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272830. [PMID: 36315517 PMCID: PMC9621446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic surveillance and wastewater tracking strategies were used to strengthen the public health response to an outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta AY.25 lineage associated with a university campus in Arizona. Epidemiologic and clinical data routinely gathered through contact tracing were matched to SARS-CoV-2 genomes belonging to an outbreak of AY.25 identified through ongoing phylogenomic analyses. Continued phylogenetic analyses were conducted to further describe the AY.25 outbreak. Wastewater collected twice weekly from sites across campus was tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR, and subsequently sequenced to identify variants. The AY.25 outbreak was defined by a single mutation (C18804T) and comprised 379 genomes from SARS-CoV-2 positive cases associated with the university and community. Several undergraduate student gatherings and congregate living settings on campus likely contributed to the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the university with secondary transmission into the community. The clade defining mutation was also found in wastewater samples collected from around student dormitories a week before the semester began, and 9 days before cases were identified. Genomic, epidemiologic, and wastewater surveillance provided evidence that an AY.25 clone was likely imported into the university setting just prior to the onset of the Fall 2021 semester, rapidly spread through a subset of the student population, and then subsequent spillover occurred in the surrounding community. The university and local public health department worked closely together to facilitate timely reporting of cases, identification of close contacts, and other necessary response and mitigation strategies. The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and potential threat of other infectious disease outbreaks on university campuses presents an opportunity for future comprehensive One Health genomic data driven, targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley D. Yaglom
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Matthew Maurer
- Coconino County Health and Human Services, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Brooke Collins
- Coconino County Health and Human Services, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jacob Hojnacki
- Coconino County Health and Human Services, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Juan Monroy-Nieto
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jolene R. Bowers
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Samuel Packard
- Coconino County Health and Human Services, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Daryn E. Erickson
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Zachary A. Barrand
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Kyle M. Simmons
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Breezy N. Brock
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Efrem S. Lim
- Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Sandra Smith
- Campus Health Services, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Crystal M. Hepp
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - David M. Engelthaler
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
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13
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Cramer EY, Snyder T, Ravenhurst J, Lover AA. Optimizing the implementation of a participant-collected, mail-based SARS-CoV-2 serological survey in university-affiliated populations: lessons learned and practical guidance. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1907. [PMID: 36224583 PMCID: PMC9556138 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14234-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 is largely driven by pre-symptomatic or mildly symptomatic individuals transmitting the virus. Serological tests to identify antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are important tools to characterize subclinical infection exposure. During the summer of 2020, a mail-based serological survey with self-collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples was implemented among university affiliates and their household members in Massachusetts, USA. Described are challenges faced and novel procedures used during the implementation of this study to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies amid the pandemic. Important challenges included user-friendly remote and contact-minimized participant recruitment, limited availability of some commodities and laboratory capacity, a potentially biased sample population, and policy changes impacting the distribution of clinical results to study participants. Methods and lessons learned to surmount these challenges are presented to inform design and implementation of similar sero-studies. This study design highlights the feasibility and acceptability of self-collected bio-samples and has broad applicability for other serological surveys for a range of pathogens. Key lessons relate to DBS sampling, supply requirements, the logistics of packing and shipping packages, data linkages to enrolled household members, and the utility of having an on-call nurse available for participant concerns during sample collection. Future research might consider additional recruitment techniques such as conducting studies during academic semesters when recruiting in a university setting, partnerships with supply and shipping specialists, and using a stratified sampling approach to minimize potential biases in recruitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estee Y Cramer
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, USA
| | - Teah Snyder
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, USA
| | - Johanna Ravenhurst
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, USA
| | - Andrew A Lover
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, USA.
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Bharti N, Lambert B, Exten C, Faust C, Ferrari M, Robinson A. Large university with high COVID-19 incidence is not associated with excess cases in non-student population. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3313. [PMID: 35228585 PMCID: PMC8885693 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07155-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Large US colleges and universities that re-opened campuses in the fall of 2020 and the spring of 2021 experienced high per capita rates of COVID-19. Returns to campus were controversial because they posed a potential risk to surrounding communities. A large university in Pennsylvania that returned to in-person instruction for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters reported high incidence of COVID-19 among students. However, the co-located non-student resident population in the county experienced fewer COVID-19 cases per capita than reported in neighboring counties. Activity patterns from mobile devices indicate that the non-student resident population near the university restricted their movements during the pandemic more than residents of neighboring counties. Respiratory virus prevention and management in student and non-student populations requires different, specifically targeted strategies.
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