Project name: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Description: Vaccination is the pillar of public health policies. Vaccines have been developed empirically and, therefore, many studies are necessary for the continuous development of this biological product. The effectiveness of vaccines is evaluated by the reduction of infection or disease among vaccinated individuals and is influenced by several factors such as demographic factors, immune factors and circulating pathogens. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the rapid response potential of the Butantan Institute, via its Scientific Development Center, to the challenges, through the necessary technical adaptation and managerial training for the integration between the areas scientific and administrative areas, such as the Municipal and State Health Departments. based on successful experience, we present the present project that aims to monitor some of these factors with theobjective of obtaining a continuous improvement of the viral vaccines for Influenza, COVID-19 and Dengue. we will start our work carrying out a constant genomic surveillance of circulating Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and DENV viruses in the State of SP, in the country and in neighboring countries. The data obtained will allow (i) studies on the evolutionary history of these viruses and (ii) to know the viral variants circulating in the regions studied. To know the capacity protection of the vaccines used, we will investigate whether (i) sera from vaccinated individuals neutralize the infection of the circulating variants and (ii) how is the cellular response of vaccinated individuals against the viral lineage used in theimmunization and against the variants circulating in the population. This work will allow the creation of a biobank of viral variants, from a serum library of vaccinated individuals and from a bank of mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood from vaccinated individuals that may also be used in future projects. In parallel,we will analyze the effectiveness of vaccines according to sociodemographic, health and environmental data, comparing the effectiveness of vaccines according to viral variants. The results obtained will be continuously sent to assistance bodies in the three administrative spheres: municipal, state and federal government, with the aim of contributing significantly to the direction of actions in policies public. We will thus be contributing to the health system to face it, with subsidies more rigorous, the challenges imposed by the viruses that will be studied here.

Data type: genome sequencing and assembly

Sample scope: Multiisolate

Relevance: Medical

Last updated: 2022-08-03