Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco: Insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024
This study investigates the evolution and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in Morocco to track the spread, clade distributions and mutations of the virus across various regions from February 2020 to June 2024. The genome sequences were retrieved from the GISAID database. A total o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Virus Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168170225000061 |
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| author | Hamza GHAMMAZ Marouane MELLOUL Ahlam MBARKI Mouhssine HEMLALI Taha CHOUATI Hicham EL ANNAZ Nadia TOUIL Mostafa ELOUENNASS Khalid ENNIBI Elmostafa EL FAHIME |
| author_facet | Hamza GHAMMAZ Marouane MELLOUL Ahlam MBARKI Mouhssine HEMLALI Taha CHOUATI Hicham EL ANNAZ Nadia TOUIL Mostafa ELOUENNASS Khalid ENNIBI Elmostafa EL FAHIME |
| author_sort | Hamza GHAMMAZ |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the evolution and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in Morocco to track the spread, clade distributions and mutations of the virus across various regions from February 2020 to June 2024. The genome sequences were retrieved from the GISAID database. A total of 2630 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were analyzed using bioinformatic tools such as Nextclade, followed by phylogenetic and statistical analyses. The study highlights the predominance of the GRA clade (Omicron variant) since November 2021, while clades such as G, GH, GR, and GRY were identified earlier. The GRA clade exhibited the highest number of non-synonymous mutations, particularly in the Spike (S) gene, suggesting strong evolutionary pressure. The correlation analysis between structural and non-structural proteins revealed key interactions between S and NSP5, providing insights into the viral replication and assembly processes. This work gives new insights to the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco and underscores the importance of ongoing genomic surveillance to respond to emerging variants and potential future outbreaks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-49dc260b84da40e5ab68c76d7d3755cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1872-7492 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Virus Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-49dc260b84da40e5ab68c76d7d3755cc2025-02-02T05:26:39ZengElsevierVirus Research1872-74922025-03-01353199530Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco: Insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024Hamza GHAMMAZ0Marouane MELLOUL1Ahlam MBARKI2Mouhssine HEMLALI3Taha CHOUATI4Hicham EL ANNAZ5Nadia TOUIL6Mostafa ELOUENNASS7Khalid ENNIBI8Elmostafa EL FAHIME9Molecular Biology and Functional Genomics Platform, National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco; Genomic Centre for Human Pathologies (GENOPATH), Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Research Team, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, MoroccoMolecular Biology and Functional Genomics Platform, National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco; Microbiology and Molecular Biology Team, Center of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biodiversity, and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, MoroccoMolecular Biology and Functional Genomics Platform, National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco; Microbiology and Molecular Biology Team, Center of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biodiversity, and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, MoroccoMolecular Biology and Functional Genomics Platform, National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco; Genomic Centre for Human Pathologies (GENOPATH), Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Research Team, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, MoroccoMolecular Biology and Functional Genomics Platform, National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco; Genomic Centre for Human Pathologies (GENOPATH), Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Research Team, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, MoroccoCell Culture Unit, Center of Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, the Mohammed V Military Training Hospital, Rabat, MoroccoCell Culture Unit, Center of Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, the Mohammed V Military Training Hospital, Rabat, MoroccoDepartment of Bacteriology, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Rabat, MoroccoCell Culture Unit, Center of Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, the Mohammed V Military Training Hospital, Rabat, Morocco; Immunopathology Research Team (ERIP), Faculty of Medicine of Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, MoroccoMolecular Biology and Functional Genomics Platform, National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco; Genomic Centre for Human Pathologies (GENOPATH), Neuroscience and Neurogenetics Research Team, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco; University Mohammed VI of Science and Health (UM6SS), Casablanca, Morocco; Genomics and Molecular Biology, Mohammed Vi Center for Research and Innovation (CM6RI), Rabat, Morocco; Corresponding author.This study investigates the evolution and genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in Morocco to track the spread, clade distributions and mutations of the virus across various regions from February 2020 to June 2024. The genome sequences were retrieved from the GISAID database. A total of 2630 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences were analyzed using bioinformatic tools such as Nextclade, followed by phylogenetic and statistical analyses. The study highlights the predominance of the GRA clade (Omicron variant) since November 2021, while clades such as G, GH, GR, and GRY were identified earlier. The GRA clade exhibited the highest number of non-synonymous mutations, particularly in the Spike (S) gene, suggesting strong evolutionary pressure. The correlation analysis between structural and non-structural proteins revealed key interactions between S and NSP5, providing insights into the viral replication and assembly processes. This work gives new insights to the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco and underscores the importance of ongoing genomic surveillance to respond to emerging variants and potential future outbreaks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168170225000061SARS-CoV-2 variantscladesMoroccoGenomic surveillance in Morocco |
| spellingShingle | Hamza GHAMMAZ Marouane MELLOUL Ahlam MBARKI Mouhssine HEMLALI Taha CHOUATI Hicham EL ANNAZ Nadia TOUIL Mostafa ELOUENNASS Khalid ENNIBI Elmostafa EL FAHIME Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco: Insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024 Virus Research SARS-CoV-2 variants clades Morocco Genomic surveillance in Morocco |
| title | Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco: Insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024 |
| title_full | Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco: Insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024 |
| title_fullStr | Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco: Insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco: Insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024 |
| title_short | Genomic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Morocco: Insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024 |
| title_sort | genomic evolution of sars cov 2 in morocco insights from whole genome sequences collected from 2020 to 2024 |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 variants clades Morocco Genomic surveillance in Morocco |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168170225000061 |
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