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  • 1
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance
    American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) ; 2022
    In:  Science Vol. 378, No. 6615 ( 2022-10-07)
    Details
    In: Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Vol. 378, No. 6615 ( 2022-10-07)
    Abstract: Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century. Expanse of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing capacity in Africa. ( A ) African countries (shaded in gray) and institutions (red circles) with on-site sequencing facilities that are capable of producing SARS-CoV-2 whole genomes locally. ( B ) The number of SARS-CoV-2 genomes produced per country and the proportion of those genomes that were produced locally, regionally within Africa, or abroad. ( C ) Decreased turnaround time of sequencing output in Africa to an almost real-time release of genomic data.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 0036-8075 , 1095-9203
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.1126/science.abq5358
    RVK:
    TA 1000
    RVK:
    WA 15000
    Language: English
    Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
    Publication Date: 2022
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    SSG: 11
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
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  • 2
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics
    Wiley ; 2020
    In:  Ecology Vol. 101, No. 11 ( 2020-11)
    Details
    In: Ecology, Wiley, Vol. 101, No. 11 ( 2020-11)
    Abstract: Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal‐central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus , Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. ( n = 37,782), Sus scrofa ( n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris ( n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., S yncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans ). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set ( n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata , and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation‐related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data.
    Type of Medium: Online Resource
    ISSN: 0012-9658 , 1939-9170
    URL: Issue
    URL: Article
    DOI: 10.1002/ecy.v101.11
    DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3115
    RVK:
    WA 15000
    Language: English
    Publisher: Wiley
    Publication Date: 2020
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    detail.hit.zdb_id: 2010140-5
    SSG: 12
    Location Call Number Limitation Availability
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