2022•Research SquareOpen access
Comparing the evolutionary dynamics of predominant SARS-CoV-2 virus lineages co-circulating in Mexico
Hugo G. Castelán‐Sánchez, Luis Delaye, Rhys Inward, Simon Dellicour, Bernardo Gutiérrez, Natalia Martínez de la Viña, Oliver G. Pybus, Guillermo de Anda‐Jáuregui, Plinio Guzmán, Marisol Flores-Garrido, Óscar Fontanelli, Maribel Hernández-Rosales, Amilcar Meneses‐Viveros, Alfredo Herrera‐Estrella, Gabriela Olmedo‐Álvarez, Célia Boukadida, Alejandro Sánchez‐Flores, José Esteban Muñoz‐Medina, Andreu Comas‐García, Bruno Gómez‐Gil, Selene Zárate, Blanca Taboada, Susana López, Carlos F. Arias, Moritz U. G. Kraemer, Antonio Lazcano, Marina Escalera‐Zamudio
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Abstract
Abstract Up to November 2021, over 200 different SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulated in Mexico. To investigate lineage replacement dynamics, we applied a phylodynamic approach to explore the evolutionary trajectories of five dominant lineages that circulated during the first year of the local epidemic. For most lineages, peaks in sampling frequencies coincided with different epidemiological waves of infection in the country. Lineages B.1.1.222 and B.1.1.519 showed comparable dynamics, represented by clades likely originating in Mexico and persisting for over a year. Lineages B.1.1.7, P.1 and B.1.617.2 also displayed similar dynamics, characterized by multiple introduction events leading to a few successful extended local transmission chains that persisted for several months. We further explored viral movements across the country, applied within the largest clades identified (belonging to lineage B.1.617.2). Many clades were located within the south region of the country, suggesting that this area played a key role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico.
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