Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Thailand reveals mixed imported populations, a local lineage expansion and a virus with truncated ORF7a
Batty E., Kochakarn T., Panthan B., Kumpornsin K., Jiaranai P., Wangwiwatsin A., Kotanan N., Jaruampornpan P., Watthanachockchai T., Rakmanee K., Sensorn I., Sungkanuparph S., Pasomsub E., Chookajorn T., Chantratita W.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global public health threat. Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 was implemented during March 2020 at a major diagnostic hub in Bangkok, Thailand. Several virus lineages supposedly originated in many countries were found, and a Thai-specific lineage, designated A/Thai-1, has expanded to be predominant in Thailand. A virus sample in the SARS-CoV-2 A/Thai-1 lineage contains a frame-shift deletion at ORF7a, encoding a putative host antagonizing factor of the virus.